Male life expectancy lower than in Libya

MALE life expectancy in Londonderry was the lowest in Northern Ireland at 74.6 years for the period 2006-8, according to the latest statistics from the Public Health Agency (PHA).

By The Newsroom

Published 13th Aug 2010, 13:08 BST

Updated 17th Aug 2010, 13:21 BST

Londonderry men can expect to die five years earlier than their counterparts in North Down. Male life expectancy here is also lower than in developing countries Libya, Cuba and Albania.

The statistics were published alongside a new annual report by Dr Carolyn Harper, Director of Public Health with the PHA.

The data also showed that women’s life expectancy was lower here than anywhere in Northern Ireland outside Belfast at 80 years.

The rates have improved marginally since 1992-94 when life expectancy at birth was 72.4 years for men and 76.9 for women.