A decade-long UCL study shows affluent individuals enjoy nearly nine extra years of healthy life compared to lower-income groups.
Researchers from University College London (UCL) analyzed data from 10,754 UK adults and 14,803 US adults aged 50 and older, revealing that financially secure people maintain illness- and disability-free lives significantly longer than their less affluent counterparts.
Participants were grouped by wealth into three categories—poor, middle, and rich—and tracked over 10 years to assess socioeconomic influences on life expectancy and quality of life.
The analysis confirmed wealth as the dominant factor in healthy life expectancy disparities, consistent across both the UK and US.
Post-50, the wealthiest men averaged 31 additional healthy years, versus 22 for the poorest.
Wealthiest women fared similarly, gaining about 33 healthy years after 50, compared to 24.6 years for the poorest in England and 24 years in the US.
“While life expectancy is a key health metric, quality of life in later years matters equally,” says lead author Paola Zaninotto. “These healthy life expectancy gaps are comparable in both nations.”
She recommends targeted interventions for lower socioeconomic groups to address these inequities.
This echoes a prior INSEE study finding France's richest live up to 13 years longer than the poorest.
Though observational, prior research points to factors like higher education among the wealthy, linked to fewer risky behaviors such as smoking, excessive alcohol, or drug use.
Affluent individuals also tend to eat healthier diets and access superior healthcare, contributing to longer, healthier lives.
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