South West Public Health Observatory

Life Expectancy

What does life expectancy mean?

The figures shown in the tables and charts linked to the following page illustrate the expected length of life for a hypothetical baby who was born during the period for which the life table was constructed and whose mortality experience mirrored exactly that of this area during this period throughout the entirety of his or her life.It should also be noted that the life expectancy figures shown are relevant at birth only. For example, if for a particular area female life expectancy at birth is 80 years, it does not follow that life expectancy for someone aged 75 years is only a further 5 years. This reflects the fact that mortality rates are not uniform across all ages. 

The Public Health Observatory is part of the South West Observatory, a wider Regional intelligence function, currently supported by the South West Regional Assembly, the Department of Health, the Department for Education and Employment, Government Office South West, the South West of England Regional Development Agency and the Environment Agency.