SD Indicator 49: Health inequality http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/progress/national/49.

htm

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49. Health inequality*

(a) Infant mortality: differences between socio-economic groups, 1994-6 to 2003-5

(i) England and Wales

(ii) Northern Ireland

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SD Indicator 49: Health inequality http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/progress/national/49.htm

(iii) Scotland

(b) Life expectancy: differences in average life expectancy between local authority areas,
2003-5

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SD Indicator 49: Health inequality http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/progress/national/49.htm

(c) Life expectancy: differences in average life expectancy between deprived areas in
England and the national average, 1991-3 to 2003-5

Infant mortality differences since: 1994 1999

Life expectancy differences since: 1991 1999

Although infant mortality rates have fallen for all socio-economic groups in England and

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SD Indicator 49: Health inequality http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/progress/national/49.htm

Wales, the difference between those socio-economic groups with the lowest and highest
rates has widened. In England and Wales in 1994-6, there were 3.3 more infant deaths per
1,000 live births for those in ‘semi-routine’ occupations than for those who were large
employers or higher managerial. In 2003-5 the difference was 4 infant deaths per 1000 live
births, although the difference had narrowed slightly since the previous year.
In Scotland, overall infant mortality rates have declined slightly since 1996-8. However, the
difference between socio-economic groups with the highest and lowest rates has not
changed. In 2003-5 there were 3 more infant deaths per 1,000 live births for those in
routine occupations compared with large employers or higher managerial, the same as in
1996-98.
In Northern Ireland the overall infant mortality rate fell between 1994-6 and 2003-5. During
this period, the difference narrowed between those with the highest rate, in routine
occupations, and those with the lowest, higher managerial or professional.
Average life expectancy can be estimated for each local authority area. Comparing across
the UK, overall average life expectancies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are
broadly similar, but the average is lower in Scotland.
Although overall average life expectancy has increased (see Healthy life expectancy
overleaf), the differences in average expected years of life between local authorities with
the highest and lowest averages have widened.
In 1991-3 (not shown) the difference in average life expectancy for men between local
authority areas in the UK with the highest and lowest average life expectancy was 9.7
years. This widened to 12.3 years in 2003-5. For women the difference was 7.5 years in
1991-3 and widened to 9.5 years in 2003-2005.
In 2003-5, in comparison with average life expectancy in England, life expectancy in areas
with the worst health and deprivation was 2.0 fewer years for men, and 1.6 fewer years for
women.
The gap between life expectancy for men and women is also greater in areas with the worst
health and deprivation; in 2003-5 it was 4.7 years compared with the England average of
4.2 years.

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Updated: 27 July 2007

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