HEALTHY life expectancy has continued to decline in England as researchers found today, a 20-year difference between the country’s wealthiest and poorest regions.

Office for National Statistics data measuring the average number of years a person can expect to live who say they are in “good or very good health” has continuously declined since the coronavirus pandemic.

Between 2022 and 2024, average “healthy life” expectancy was 61.3 years for women and 60.9 years for men.

Self-described healthy men in Blackpool were expected to live 50.9, while in Richmond the average expectancy is 69.3 years, an almost 20-year difference.

For women results were similar, with 51.8 years in Blackpool and 70.3 years in Richmond.

Centre for Ageing Better’s Sarah Wilkinson said: “We continue to see a gap between different parts of the country — and this shows no signs of closing.

“Where you live, how much money you earn — these are significant factors in shaping our health in later life.”