Life Expectancy at Age 65

As with life expectancy at birth, variations also exist across Devon for life expectancy at the age 65, which highlight how many years on average, someone reaching the age of 65 can expect to live.  Table 10.1 sets out the current average life expectancy at age 65 in Devon, with males living 19.4 years and females living 22.1 years on average, a difference of 2.4 years.  Figure 10.1 shows the trend in male and female life expectancy at age 65, highlighting that life expectancy has increased over recent years, and that life expectancy at age 65 in Devon has been consistently above the England average.

 Table 10.1, Average Life Expectancy at Age 65, Devon Local Authorities, 2012-14

Area Males Females
Average Life Expectancy 95% Confidence Interval Average Life Expectancy 95% Confidence Interval
East Devon 20.1 (19.8 to 20.4) 22.1 (21.9 to 22.4)
Exeter 18.2 (17.7 to 18.6) 22.2 (21.8 to 22.6)
Mid Devon 20.6 (20.1 to 21.0) 22.9 (22.5 to 23.3)
North Devon 19.2 (18.8 to 19.6) 21.4 (21.0 to 21.7)
South Hams 20.2 (19.8 to 20.6) 22.7 (22.3 to 23.1)
Teignbridge 19.1 (18.8 to 19.4) 22.2 (21.9 to 22.5)
Torridge 18.7 (18.3 to 19.2) 21.5 (21.1 to 22.0)
West Devon 19.2 (18.7 to 19.7) 22.2 (21.7 to 22.6)
Devon 19.4 (19.3 to 19.6) 22.1 (22.1 to 22.1)
South West 19.3 (19.2 to 19.3) 21.8 (21.7 to 21.8)
England 18.8 (18.8 to 18.8) 21.2 (21.2 to 21.2)

Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre, Compendium of Population Health Indicators, 2015

Figure 10.1, Trend in Average Life Expectancy at Age 65 in Years in Devon and England, 2000-02 to 2012-14

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Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre, Compendium of Population Health Indicators, 2015

Differences in average life expectancy exist within Devon, with shorter life expectancy seen in more deprived areas and areas with a high concentration of care homes.  This is highlighted by the fact that average life expectancy at the age of 65 in the most deprived areas of Devon is 18.8 years compared to 21.6 years in the least deprived areas, a difference of 2.8 years.  Figure 10.2 shows the pattern at a community level across Devon, showing shorter life expectancy in deprived areas and town centres, including Exeter, Ilfracombe, Barnstaple, Bideford, Newton Abbot and Axminster.

Figure 10.2, Average Life Expectancy at Age 65 by LSOA, 2012-14

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Click to enlarge

Source: Primary Care Mortality Database, and ONS Mid-Year Population Estimates, 2014