Life expectancy rate between richest and poorest Glaswegians growing

‘Health in a Changing City: Glasgow 2021’ shows that men living in Pollockshields West have an average life expectancy of 83 years, compared to just 65.4 years for males living in Greater Govan. Meanwhile, women in Anniesland, Jordanhill and Whiteinch have an average life expectancy of 86.1 years - 13.4 years more than women in Ruchill and Pollispark.

Where are people living: The population of the city was estimated to be 633,120 in 2019, as more and more people move to Glasgow. Twelve areas of Glasgow have seen a population increase by more than 2000 people in the last 20 years, with Yorkhill and Anderston, the City Centre and Merchant City, and South Nitshill and Darnley experiencing the biggest growths. Seventeen neighbourhoods experienced a decrease in population, with Sighthill, Roystonhill and Germiston seeing a 20 per cent drop in population. The figures also show that while the least deprived areas grew, the populations of the most deprived areas dropped.

Migration: In 2019/20, 18 per cent of Glasgow’s population were born outside the UK - far higher than the 10 per cent figure for the whole of Scotland and six times the per centage for Inverclyde.

Will the population keep growing: Projections estimate that the Glasgow population will grow by six per cent over the next 25 years - an increase of 36,000.

What areas are growing: The number of dwellings in Glasgow has also been on the rise. The areas that experienced the biggest rises between 2001-2018 were the City Centre and Merchant City, Calton and Bridgeton, and Yorkhill and Anderston.

Employment: Glasgow City had an employment rate of 69.9 per cent in December 2020 (including those on furlough) lower than the Scottish and Glasgow City Region rates.

Deprivation: Just over five per cent of Glasgow residents live in Scotland’s least deprived areas, while 28 per cent lived in the most deprived areas. However, that figure is dropping - in 2004, nearly half the population lived in the most deprived areas. The areas that have experienced the biggest improvements are Dennistoun, Yorkhill and Anderston, and Sighthill, Roystonhill and Germiston, even though the latter has also seen a population drop.

Homelessness: On a positive note, the number of households in Glasgow assessed as homeless or being at risk of homelessness has halved in the last decade.

Poverty: Around 28 per cent of kids in Glasgow were living in low income families in 2018/19 - a figure that ranges wildly depending on the area of the city. The figure ranges from 2.7 per cent in Carmunnock to 70.6 per cent in Govanhill. It was estimated last year that 36,000 kids in the city are living in poverty. Around 11 per cent of the population are also living in food insecurity, with just under five per cent in severe food insecurity.

Crime: The amount of recorded crime dropped between 2007/08 and 15/16, and has remained stable the last few years. The rate of violent crimes has also dropped since 2007/08 - although rates have been slowly rising the last few years.

Environment: The amount of CO2 emissions produced by Glasgwegians has dropped over the last decade - the same can also be said for business sectors.

Life expectancy: Male life expectancy in Glasgow has risen to 73.6 years, while female life expectancy is at 78.5 years - both lower than the rates for the rest of Scotland. Female life expectancy has actually dropped in the last few years, down from the 2014-16 peak.