Life expectancy for men born in Sheffield has fallen since the pandemic but remains the highest in South Yorkshire.

New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), on male life expectancy from birth in local authorities across the UK between 2021 and 2023, place the average male life expectancy in Sheffield at 78.43 years.

This represents a decrease from an average of 79.12 in 2017-19, and is comparable to areas such as Cannock Chase (78.42) and Southend-on-Sea (78.89).

Life expectancy in Barnsley stands at 76.54 years, in Doncaster at 76.93, and in Rotherham at 77.8.

Leeds also experienced a drop in life expectancy, to 78.32 years from an average of 78.32 prior to 2021.

All these figures represent a post-pandemic decrease, with Doncaster faring the worst with a fall of 1.37 years.

Blackpool has fallen below Glasgow to become the city with the worst male life expectancy in the country, while towns and boroughs in the South East, such as Hart, Uttlesford and Richmond-upon-Thames, remain overrepresented in the top 10.

This is in line with trends observed earlier this year, in an ONS report on life expectancy decreases between 2020 and 2022.

Julie Stanborough, then deputy director of health and life events at ONS, said these figures show “a clear geographical divide when it comes to areas with the best and worst outcomes.”

She said: “None of the 10 local areas with the highest life expectancy were located in the north of England, Wales, or Northern Ireland. By contrast, of the 10 local areas with the lowest life expectancy, none were in the south of England.”