Girls born in 2020 can expect to live to the age of 90.2 years, and boys to 87.3 years, new Office for National Statistics data on life expectancy in the UK, shows.
However, this is a reduction of almost five years for girls on previous predictions.
While children born today can still expect to live longer than their parents, the declining life expectancy shows the challenge facing Government to improve health in old age. The expected life expectancy for girls stated in 2021 was 4.8 years higher than that predicted in 2020, and for boys 4.5 years.
David Finch, assistant director of Healthy Lives at the Health Foundation, said progress was primarily needed in areas that contribute to health such as secure employment, good quality homes and adequate welfare support. He said: "The pandemic has laid bare the extent of underlying poor health in the UK, with tragic consequences. Good health is vital to the country's prosperity and government cannot delay any further in investing in our future."
office of national statistics	13th January 2022	no comments