LIFE expectancy for retired men has fallen overall in York, but has risen for women at the same time, figures have shown.

Sixty-five-year-old men living in the city expected to live an average of 18.9 years in 2007 to 2009 - but this had fallen by half a year to 18.4 years in 2011 to 2013.

Conversely, women are living longer, with the life expectancy of a 65-year-old woman over the same period going up half a year from 20.2 years to 20.9 years.

Reasons for the decreased trend in life expectancy for men are not known – although it has been speculated it could be for socio-economic reasons – and are likely to be considered by health experts in the city in the future.

Cllr Linsay Cunningham, cabinet member for health at City of York Council, said: “I am particularly concerned to see the life expectancy at 65-years-old for men in York has fallen, although the figures show this is not significantly different to the national average. Such data allows the council and the city’s health and wellbeing board to understand the impact this could have on the future of our residents’ health and react accordingly.” The figures were published by the Office for National Statistics. Life expectancy is one of the longes- standing measures of health status in England.

Since its inception, life expectancy has been used to highlight variations in mortality experience between geographical regions of the country.