They die young Up-North

It is a depressing fact that the further north you go in the UK the earlier you are to die. Well that is not exactly true, what I should say is the average life expectancy decreases. Socio-economic group determines what age you die and there are more of the low groups the further north you travel.

If you want chapter and verse on this subject then this report will answer all of your questions. The bottom line is that inequalities in all cause mortality in the north-south divide were severe and persistent over the four decades from 1965 to 2008. Males were affected more than females, and the variation across age groups was substantial. The increase in this inequality from 2000 to 2008 was notable and occurred despite the public policy emphasis in England over this period on reducing inequalities in health.

The chart shows the boundaries of government office regions in north and south of England showing life expectancy of both sexes (males/females) at birth, 2006-8. Dick Stroud