Life expectancy at older ages rises to highest ever level

The government has published a new report showing that life expectancy at older ages in England has risen to its highest ever level.

Analysis from Public Health England has indicated that men can now expect to live for a further 19 years at age 65, 12 years at 75, six years at 85 and three years at 95.

Women, meanwhile, can expect to live for a further 21 years at age 65, 13 years at 75, seven years at 85, and three years at 95. This comes after a drop in life expectancy at some older ages was seen in last year's report, which used figures from 2011 to 2012.

The only demographic not to see improved life expectancy in this year's report was females aged 85, with this figure remaining at the same level as in 2011, despite a rise in the 2014 analysis.

In all but one region of England, male and female life expectancy at age 65 increased between 2013 and 2014 and is higher in 2014 than in any other year, with the exception being the north-east, where male life expectancy was highest in 2013.

Professor John Newton, chief knowledge officer at Public Health England, said: "The reasons for the variation in trends between local areas are not yet clear. Public Health England will continue to monitor these trends and analyse the data for 2015 as soon as possible."