Working-age death rates in England’s North now 42% higher than South
New research shows mortality among 25-49 year olds is 42% higher in England’s North than the South, a gap that has tripled since the 1980s.
Analysis of death registrations from 1981 to 2024, led by scholars from the University of Liverpool, University of Manchester and Health Equity North, reveals that mortality among 25- to 49-year-olds is now 42% higher in England’s North than in the South, a three-fold widening since the early 1980s. The increase follows a halt in the previous decline of death rates in the North around 2012, with rises driven by alcohol misuse, drug dependency, suicide, accidents and persistent cardiovascular gaps.
Experts attribute the disparity to income, housing, employment and cuts to public services that disproportionately affected northern communities. The government responded, stating that a person’s postcode should never dictate life expectancy and announcing plans for new neighbourhood health centres and greater local control. Economists estimate that eliminating the health gap could add roughly £18 billion to the UK economy each year.
Why it matters
The growing north-south health gap threatens lives and costs billions, highlighting urgent need for policy action.
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