Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

UK Drops to 20th Healthy Life Expectancy, Urges Alcohol Pricing

4/27/2026

26 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The UK fell from 14th to 20th place among high-income nations where healthy life expectancy has dropped, prompting a Health Foundation warning of billions in lost productivity.
The decline means 2.8 million working-age adults are too ill to work and most become unwell before age 66.
Healthy life expectancy exceeds 70 years in Richmond upon Thames but is about 51 years in Blackpool and Hartlepool, prompting experts to urge minimum alcohol pricing.

1 of 1

Story summary

The UK fell from 14th to 20th place among high-income nations where healthy life expectancy has dropped, prompting a Health Foundation warning of billions in lost productivity.
The decline means 2.8 million working-age adults are too ill to work and most become unwell before age 66.
Healthy life expectancy exceeds 70 years in Richmond upon Thames but is about 51 years in Blackpool and Hartlepool, prompting experts to urge minimum alcohol pricing.