Male life expectancy improves at last

According to the latest figures from National Statistics, male life expectancy is improving. 

In 2002, life expectancy at birth for females born in the UK was 81 years, compared with 76 years for males. (In 1901, the figures were 49 and 45 years respectively.)

The National Statistics website reports that: 'In recent years, the increase in life expectancy among older adults has been dramatic, particularly for men. Between 1981 and 2002, life expectancy at age 50 increased by four and a half years for men and three years for women. For those aged 65 and over the extra years of life were three years and two years respectively. By 2002, women who were aged 65 could expect to live to the age of 84, while men could expect to live to the age of 81.'

Projections suggest that life expectancies at these older ages will increase by a further three years or so by 2020. The expectation of life for people at 70 and 80 has also gone up.  At present there are more older people aged 70 and 80 than ever before.