Here are the latest developments on healthy life expectancy (HLE) from credible sources:
UK focus: Recent data show a continuing decline in healthy life expectancy in the UK. The ONS reports that HLE at birth for 2022–2024 is around 60.7 years for males and 60.9 years for females, marking a drop from the previous period and the lowest levels since comparable data began in 2011–2013. The Health Foundation notes a two-year decline in HLE for the UK between 2012–14 and 2022–24, highlighting widening health inequalities and preventable conditions as drivers. These results suggest that longer life is not always accompanied by more years in good health, signaling a need for stronger public health and prevention efforts.[1][4]
Global perspective: The WHO flagged slower gains in global health metrics in its 2025 statistics, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily reversed progress in life expectancy and healthy life expectancy, with anxiety and depression contributing to shortfalls in HALE (healthy life expectancy at birth) globally. The 2025 UN/WHO communication emphasizes that the world is not keeping pace with health improvements, despite some countries making marginal gains.[6][8][10]
Regional and policy implications: In places like the UK, the divergence between rising overall life expectancy and shrinking healthy life expectancy has sparked calls for policy action targeting lifestyle-related risk factors (obesity, alcohol, smoking) and investment in preventive public health measures to reduce the share of life spent in poor health. The UK government and health bodies have underscored the importance of local-level data to tailor interventions that improve healthspan, not just lifespan.[2][4][5]
Illustrative takeaway:
If you’d like, I can summarize the UK numbers by age/sex for a quick reference or pull a short, cited briefing tailored to your interests (policy, public health, or personal health planning).
Citations:
In just two years, between 2019 and 2021, life expectancy worldwide fell by 1.8 years – the largest fall in recent history according to the World Health Organization (WHO), in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic.
news.un.orgHealthy life expectancy is an important measure to understand not just how long people are living, but how long they are living in good health, at national and local level. It could be for example tha
blog.ons.gov.ukMen and women will see their health decline when they reach their late 50s, the council says.
www.bbc.co.ukYears spent in good health have dropped to their lowest level since comparable data were first collected in 2011 to 2013, with stark regional gaps across the UK.
www.medscape.comWHO published its World health statistics report 2025, revealing the deeper health impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on loss of lives, longevity and overall health and well-being.
www.who.intAuthor: RSPH 19 February 2026 1 min read The data should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers to address the drivers of ill health. The latest data published today by the Office for National Statistics shows that healthy life expectancy is down by seven months at a national level, the lowest level since 2013. Healthy life expectancy refers to the average number of years a person born today would expect to live in good health. A man born in the UK today can expect to spend 18 years of their...
www.rsph.org.ukNew figures show that our 'healthspan' has decreased since the pandemic. So what can we do to increase our chances of a robust old age?
www.goodhousekeeping.comThe latest edition of the World Health Statistics released today by the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that the COVID-19 pandemic reversed the trend of steady gain in life expectancy at birth and healthy life expectancy at birth (HALE).
www.who.intMetric gives fuller picture than life expectancy, which is simply how long people live, says Health Foundation
www.theguardian.com