Newsroom

18 June 2026

Life expectancy rates improving across Blackpool

Life expectancy is rising in Blackpool, according to new findings.

An older person holding a baby

The Office for Health Improvement & Disparities (OHID) has released early findings suggesting life expectancy has risen across the town – up by one year for males, and 0.4 of a year for females.

Life expectancy now stands at 74.2 for boys born between 2023-2025 – up from 73.2 in 2021-23. And for girls born between 2023-2025, it stands at 79.3 – up from 78.9 in 2021-23, according to the OHID.

These increases tally ahead of the national figure for males, where life expectancy rose by 0.6 years, and in line with the national figure for females. Compared to its five closest statistical neighbours – local authorities with similar characteristics and outcomes, including Nottingham, Stoke-on-Trent and Plymouth – Blackpool is outperforming in closing the gap with national averages too. In Nottingham, life expectancy is up by just 0.4 for males and 0.2 for females, for example.

Life expectancy is one of the key indicators of health in a population. It is defined as the average number of years that a newborn is expected to live if current mortality rates continue to apply. It is a statistical average for a whole population, taking into account infant mortality rates and deaths occurring at younger ages.

In recent years, the gap had widened between Blackpool and national averages. For the 2022-24 reporting period, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) found Blackpool's male life expectancy to be 5.8 years below the England average, and female life expectancy 4.2 years below. 

Now joint efforts between Blackpool Council and local health service partners appear to be making a difference.

Blackpool delivers higher rates of NHS Health Checks for cardiovascular health than other areas across the north west region and England as a whole. Childhood vaccination rates in the town continue to be higher than both regional and national averages. And participation in Active Blackpool facilities is growing across the town too, with more than 10,700 residents regularly using the council’s three gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres.

Cllr Jo Farrell, Blackpool Council’s cabinet member for communities and wellbeing, said: 

“These positive changes in life expectancy have been helped by the hard work of our public health teams and colleagues in the health service. Council-run services like our Stop Smoking or Drug and Alcohol Treatment programmes make a genuine difference to people’s lives, leading to drops in rates of adult smoking and smoking during pregnancy, and helping people through treatment and recovery. We are improving outcomes for children and families through our Better Start programme and early years services like Health Visiting. At our gyms, members proudly tell us they are ‘beating the life expectancy’ rate as they enjoy improving their fitness and wellbeing. “Alongside all of this we are delivering huge economic and housing regeneration across Blackpool, building better homes, creating training and work opportunities, and raising pride and aspiration in our town. All of this contributes to creating healthier communities and improving individual health outcomes for our residents.”

OHID figures are provisional, coming ahead of the ONS release of official statistics on life expectancy rates in December. But these offer “a very good indication” of what can be expected, according to a report to be shared with Blackpool Council’s full council next week.

Related news stories