THE north–south divide in life expectancy in England has widened over the past decade, a new study shows.

The King’s Fund found life expectancy reached the highest levels recorded in 2025, but the gains are not represented equally across the country.

A difference of three years was found between London and the north-east, the health charity said, reflecting greater levels of deprivation in northern regions.

Life expectancy has consistently been the lowest nationally for almost half of the population of England living in the north, with little or no improvement in the decade before 2023-25.

In contrast, life expectancy increased in London and the south-east, the south-west and east of England regions.

Veena Raleigh, senior fellow at the King’s Fund, said: “That people in our northern and deprived communities have seen little or no improvement in longevity over a decade, in contrast to the health gains in their southern and more well-off counterparts, is a mark of shame for an affluent country.

“Addressing this inequity in the nation’s health is not just a matter of social justice, it would reduce pressures on the NHS and the high economic costs of ill-health.”

A Department of Health & Social Care spokesman said: “Someone’s postcode should never dictate how long they live, and this government is determined to tackle the stark inequalities that still exist across Britain.

“We’re already taking action, from allocating GP funding more fairly to delivering pioneering neighbourhood health centres in the areas that need them most.

“But we will now go further in devolving power to local communities, putting decision-making into the hands of those who know their areas best and driving lasting change across the country.”