16.02.12
Higher social class could add three years to your life
Inequalities between social classes could result in a gap in life expectancy of over three years, figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) suggest.
Statistics also show that average age of retirement has risen as people work longer. Between 2004 and 2010, the average age of retirement for men rose from 63.8 to 64.6 and from 61.2 to 62.3 for women.
In 2010, there were 3.2 people of working age supporting each person of State Pension Age (SPA) and over. SPA is expected to increase to 68 by 2046 for both men and women, meaning the old age support ratio is projected to fall to 2.9 by 2051.
Life expectancy for all is predicted to rise gradually between 2021 and 2051 and statistics show life expectancy is highest inEnglandand lowest inScotland.
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