Health statistics

What is life expectancy in Oxford?

Life expectancy in Oxford is lower at 79.7 years than that of the South East Region.  There are geographical inequalities in life expectancy - men and women from the least deprived areas can expect to live five years longer than those in the most deprived areas.

How healthy are people's lifestyles?

People living in Oxford do not live particularly healthy lifestyles. It is estimated that over a quarter of adults smoke and nearly as many binge drink, which is reflected in high numbers of alcohol-related hospital stays.  However levels of adult obesity are lower than average and the consumption of fruit and vegetables is better than average.

20.5% of adults in Oxford engage in the recommended amount of physical exercise every week, slightly below the national average of 21.3%. 

How many people have a long-term illness or disability?

In 2001, 3.0% of working age people declared themselves being permanently sick or disabled - just over 3000 people.  13.8% of the population declared a limiting long-term illness.  Both of these figures are below the England and Wales average.

How do mortality rates from heart disease and cancer compare?

Death rates from heart disease and stroke have declined over the past ten years and are now at the same rate as the England average.  Death rates from cancer are close to the England average and show a similar fall over the past ten years.

Where can I find more information?

The Association of Public Health Observatories has produced an Oxford Health Profile 2008.

For more on health statistics, visit the Oxfordshire Data Observatory website under Data - Themes - Health.

Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust is the main organisation with responsibility for health care provision in Oxford.

Data sources

• Health Profiles, Association of Public Health Observatories
• Active People Survey, Sport England
• 2001 Census, ONS

Page last reviewed 22 Jul 2008