Life expectancy across London has slipped over the past 14 years, reflecting a wider national decline in healthy life expectancy.
While some boroughs, including Croydon, Sutton, and Newham, have seen some improvements, they are outnumbered by areas in the capital where life expectancy has fallen.
Analysis, published by The Health Foundation and based on Office for National Statistics data from 2012 to 2014 and 2022 to 2024, reveals the scale of the challenge.
Twenty-five of London’s 32 boroughs now have life expectancy below the state pension age of 66, meaning around three-quarters fall short of that benchmark.
For women, trends vary across boroughs, but for men, most areas have seen a decline.
At the top end, Richmond upon Thames records the highest life expectancy, at 70.3 years for women and 69.3 for men.
Sutton (68.7 women, 68.3 men) and Bromley (67.7 women, 67.5 men) also rank among the highest.
At the other end, Greenwich has the lowest female life expectancy at 57.5, while Haringey has the lowest male life expectancy at 58.3.
Lewisham (58.1 women, 58.3 men) and Hackney (58.9 women, 59.3 men) also rank among the lowest.
The UK is now one of just five of the 21 richest countries where healthy life expectancy has declined, with the second steepest drop overall.
The Health Foundation warns the trend carries an economic cost and should be seen as a watershed moment, pointing to poverty, poor housing, obesity, and the long-term impact of Covid-19 as key drivers.
