Life expectancy for people aged over 50 has started to fall. Changes to the health and life expectancy of people over 50 will have a significant impact on the economy. The fall in healthy life expectancy will result in more people dropping out of work earlier than anticipated.

The analysis conducted by Professor Les Mayhew, Associate Director of Global Health ILC-UK and Bayes Business School, reveals that:

• Life expectancy for fifty-year-olds is now 2.3 years less than it would have been had the long-established trend continued.
• Every year of lost life expectancy results in 2.6 years less spent in good health.
• A UK man dying at age 80 could expect to spend on average 64.5 years in good health, but if his life expectancy is only 78, he will spend less than 60 years in good health.

A fall in life expectancy is generally preceded by a period of ill health which can vary in length according to pre-existing health conditions, age and other factors.

See the full analysis here: