Public Health Liverpool

State of Health in the City: Liverpool 2040

State of Health in the City: Liverpool 2040 is a report from Liverpool’s Director of Public Health, Professor Matt Ashton, that uses the latest data and research to paint a picture of health in the city.

The report describes how health in the city has evolved since 1984, the current state of health in 2024, and for the first time a projection of health and wellbeing in the city in 2040 based on current trends. As well as this, the report outlines the work the council, its partners and the government need to do to tackle the challenges it is projecting by 2040.

The report states that unless changes are made, the city’s residents are facing:

  • spending more than a quarter of their life (26.1%) in ill health
  • a fall in women’s life expectancy by one year and a fall in women’s healthy life expectancy by four years
  • an increase of up to 38,000 more people living with major illness, defined as at least two long-term conditions such as high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, asthma and chronic kidney disease
  • double the number of adults experiencing depression
  • the health issues most common in children will be related to mental health, obesity and child poverty

It also highlights that these challenges are made worse by the fact that Liverpool is the third most deprived local authority in England, with 63% of residents living in areas ranked among the most deprived in England, and three in 10 children living in poverty. These inequalities have a direct impact on health.

Read the report

The report was discussed at a Special Council meeting on Wednesday 17th January 2024.

  • State of Health in the City: Liverpool 2040

    Download this document: State of Health in the City: Liverpool 2040 (PDF: 1.6 MB)

    This 80-page document, written by Professor Matt Ashton, looks at the health of Liverpool's inhabitants since 1984, and outlines the work the council, its partners and the government need to do to tackle the challenges it is projecting by 2040.

    First published: 17/01/2024

  • I congratulate Liverpool City Council on the production of this report on the health of people in Liverpool by 2040. Liverpool has a proud history of pioneering modern public health, going right back to the days of Doctor Duncan, and this report continues that fine tradition. Professor Andrew Furber, Regional Director of Public Health for the North West
  • I welcome this groundbreaking report from Liverpool’s Director of Public Health and endorse it wholeheartedly. This city boasts a long and varied list of accomplishments and ‘firsts’ when it comes to improving the health of its residents and addressing the social determinants of health head-on, and this report joins that list. I look forward to seeing the recommendations within Liverpool 2040 being actioned both locally and nationally. Professor Dame Margaret Whitehead, Professor Emerita at University of Liverpool
  • We need to use this document as a catalyst to work together with our partners to implement the recommendations made within it, and to come together to lobby the government for devolved powers and long-term investment in services. Cllr Liam Robinson, Liverpool City Council Leader
  • This report needs to be read as a wakeup call for the city, the Council and the Government – that we need to take urgent action to improve health outcomes in Liverpool. It’s clear that there’s no quick fix, we need to take the lead together, as a local authority, to do what we can to improve the lives of our residents and eradicate health inequality in our city.Cllr Carl Cashman, Leader of the Opposition at Liverpool City Council