Scots life expectancy 'improving'

There was a wide variation in life expectancy figures across the country.

People in Scotland are living longer than before, but still die sooner than people in most European countries, according to official figures.

Baby boys born between 2005 and 2007 can expect to live to 74.8 years while girls can expect to live to 79.7 years.

Male life expectancy was highest in East Dunbartonshire - 7.2 years more than Glasgow, which was the lowest.

Both men and women in Scotland have among the lowest life expectancy in Europe.

For both, life expectancy is more than four years shorter than in the countries with the longest life expectancy - Cyprus and Sweden for men, and France and Spain for woman.

Only the former Soviet bloc states rank below Scotland.

In this country, those already aged 65, men can expect to live another 16.1 years while women can expect to live another 18.8 years.

Only three council areas - East Renfrewshire, Aberdeenshire, and East Dunbartonshire - have a higher male life expectancy than the UK average, which is 77.1 years for men and 81.1 years for woman.

For women, the same applies but in their case Perth and Kinross, Orkney and Shetland are added to the list.

For both, life expectancy is more than four years shorter than in the countries with the longest life expectancy - Cyprus and Sweden for men, and France and Spain for woman.

Only the former Soviet bloc states rank below Scotland.

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Improving figures

But compared with 10 years ago, life expectancy has improved by two and a half years for men and by nearly two years for women.

The gap between men and women is continuing to narrow, dropping from 5.6 years to 5.9 years over the same period.

The Registrar General for Scotland Duncan Macniven, who released the figures, said: "Over the past 10 years, the gap between men and women has narrowed, and so has the gap between the council areas with the best and poorest life expectancy for men, although it has widened for women.

"But Scots can still expect to live shorter lives than any country in Western Europe, and four to five years shorter than the countries with the highest life expectancy."