A new map shows that life expectancy can vary by as much as 15 years between neighbourhoods in London, a pattern that echoes similar health gaps in cities such as Toronto and Detroit.
Life expectancy differences across London neighbourhoods
New ONS figures, published by campaign coalition Health Equals, suggest there is a 15‑year life expectancy gap between neighbourhoods across the capital.
Stratford in east London had the lowest average life expectancy at 73 years, while Marylebone and Park Lane in Westminster had the highest at 89.
The next lowest was Old Oak and Wormwood in Hammersmith and Fulham, with a life expectancy of 74, followed by Poplar West in Tower Hamlets at 75.
At the other end of the scale, several neighbourhoods had an average life expectancy of 88 years. These included Hans Town, Knightsbridge, Belgravia, Notting Hill South and Holland Park in Kensington and Chelsea; Hyde Park in Westminster; Pinner South in Harrow; and World's End in Enfield.
By borough, the City of London had the highest life expectancy at 85.6, although this was based on just one area. It was followed by Richmond upon Thames at 84.39 and Kensington and Chelsea at 83.82.
Life expectancy at a local level is influenced by a range of factors, including wealth, lifestyle, access to healthcare, housing quality and the environment in which people live.
People living in more affluent areas tend to have a higher life expectancy, with greater financial security and better access to healthcare among the factors contributing to the gap.
Canadian cities such as Toronto and US cities such as Detroit have also reported wide gaps in life expectancy, underscoring that health inequality is a common challenge across North America.
But the figures also reveal that the divide is far greater at neighbourhood level than borough level. Borough averages ranged from roughly 78 to 85 years, excluding the single‑area City of London result, a gap of about 6.7 years.
At neighbourhood level, life expectancy ranged from 73 to 89 years, a 15‑year gap. This difference suggests that borough‑wide figures can mask inequalities between individual communities.
Health Equals campaign calls for legal duty
The findings come as Health Equals launches its new Shelf Life campaign, which is calling on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to introduce legislation placing a legal duty on current and future governments to tackle health inequalities and improve health outcomes across every postcode.
Public polling by Health Equals suggests 95 per cent of people agree that differences in life expectancy across the UK are a problem, while just 21 per cent believe the government is currently doing enough to tackle health inequalities.
Commenting on the campaign, Paul McDonald, Director of Health Equals, said: "Your postcode shouldn't determine your shelf life. But in the UK, it does. Let's not forget that behind these figures are real people with families, loved ones, jobs, hobbies, and their lives are being cut short because of things out of their control. This should be considered a national crisis.
"This isn't just bad luck or down to individual choices, it's because too many people don't have access to the basics that help us stay healthy. And these inequalities don't just affect individuals, they hold back families, jobs and our economy, and put pressure on services like the NHS.
"Our health should be a national priority, and change is possible. Health Equals is calling for a change in the law to make improving health and tackling inequalities a legal duty for this and future governments. If Andy Burnham is serious about creating good growth in every British postcode, this will be one of his first priorities in Number 10."