In 2005–07 healthy life expectancy (HLE) for males at birth, based on the definition of general health used in previous releases, was highest in England (68.7 years) and lowest in Wales and Northern Ireland (67.1 years). Similarly, female HLE at birth was highest in England (70.7 years) and lowest in Northern Ireland (69.0 years).

At age 65, men’s HLE using the same definition was highest in England and Northern Ireland (12.9 years) and lowest in Scotland (12.5 years); women’s was also highest in England (14.6 years), but lowest in Wales (13.0 years).

An additional measure of HLE, based on the European Union’s Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) general health question, was also calculated. This EU-HLE for males at birth in the same period was highest in England (61.6 years) and lowest in Wales (59.2 years); for females EU–HLE was highest in Scotland (63.1 years) and lowest in Wales (62.3 years).

At age 65, men’s EU-HLE was highest in England and Scotland (9.9 years) and lowest in Northern Ireland (9.6 years); women’s was highest in Scotland (11.3 years) and lowest in Wales (9.9 years).

Disability-free life expectancy (DFLE) for males at birth was highest in England (62.9 years) and lowest in Wales (59.3 years); for females, DFLE was also highest in England (64.0 years) but lowest in Northern Ireland (61.1 years).

At age 65, men’s DFLE was also highest in England (10.2 years) and lowest in Wales (8.7 years); women’s is highest in England (10.7 years) and lowest in Northern Ireland (9.1 years).

This bulletin presents the latest figures on male and female HLE, EU-HLE based on the EU-SILC general health question, and DFLE, at birth and at age 65, for the UK and constituent countries in 2005–07.