Wigan's male life expectancy more than one and a half years below England average

Data from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities shows that across 2020 and 2021, the average life expectancy for men in Wigan stood at 77.1 years.

Wigan's male life expectancy was below the national average of 78.7 years.

The main contributor to this inequality for Wigan men was Covid-19 – which caused 585 male deaths over the two-year period and reduced life expectancy by 0.5 years when compared to England as a whole.

Meanwhile, average life expectancy for women in Wigan was 80.5 years in 2020 and 2021.

David Finch, assistant director at the Health Foundation, a charity working to tackle health inequalities said: "There are staggering differences in life chances in the UK depending on where people live.

"Prior to the pandemic, improvements in health had stalled while inequalities had widened.

"This includes major variation in healthy life expectancy between different areas of the country but also within local areas – sometimes between places that are just a few miles from one another."

Within Wigan, men from the wealthiest fifth of the population can expect to live 8.1 years longer than the area's least well-off – with a difference of 9.2 years for women.

Deaths due to circulatory issues were the main reason behind comparatively lower life expectancy for poorer men in the area over 2020 and 2021 – reducing their expected life span by two years.

Mr Finch continued: "We also see significant variation in how many people have long-term conditions, such as cancer and heart disease, between different areas.

"Such marked differences in health are partly related to the varying conditions in which people are born, live and work."

He added that an absence of economic and educational opportunities in poorer areas will likely impact the health and wellbeing of the most deprived.

Across England, the largest within-area gap was in Hartlepool, where the least deprived men can expect to live more than 12 years longer than the most deprived.

Blackpool had the lowest life expectancy for both men and women, at 73 and 78.5 years respectively.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said tackling health disparities is a "priority" for the Government.

“Later this year we will set out bold action in a white paper to reduce the gap in health outcomes between different places, so that people’s backgrounds do not dictate their prospects for a healthy life.

“We are also helping local authorities improve public health by increasing their grant to just over £3.4bn this year, and we are investing a further £39 billion in overall health and care over the next three years.

"This will put in place comprehensive reforms to ensure we have a health and care system that is sustainable and fit for the future.”