British women have the second lowest life expectancy in western Europe and spend almost 20 years in poor health, according to official figures. Female life expectancy in the UK was 82 years and nine months: five months shorter than the previous year and almost three years behind Spain, where women live longest. Only Denmark had lower female life expectancy. Experts said the low ranking was the legacy of heavy smoking by British women since the Second World War. Men’s life expectancy is more than three years lower than women’s at 79 years and two months but the gap is closing.

Source: The Times July 23, 2017 22:52 UTC