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Research and evidence

Live well: general health data

Access data on everyday health in Liverpool from smoking and physical activity to diet and mental health.

Many people in Liverpool lead healthy lives, but some health issues remain more common than the national average. Understanding these challenges helps us to take positive steps to improve our health and wellbeing. 

Stop smoking 

  • 11.9% of adults smoke (down from 22.3% in 2011) 
  • Smoking in pregnancy is below the national ambition of 5% 
  • Smoking remains more common in deprived communities 

What this means

Continued support is needed to help more people quit and reduce smoking-related illness. 

Eating well

  • 31.7% of adults live with obesity (higher than England's 26.6%) 
  • 24.1% eat 5-a-day (around one in four adults) 
  • Childhood obesity remains a challenge, particularly in more deprived areas 

What this means 

Excess weight affects many people and contributes to preventable health conditions. 

Move more

  • 64.5% of adults meet recommended activity levels 
  • Physical inactivity remains a major risk factor for poor health 

What this means  

Many residents are active, but increasing physical activity is key to improving health and wellbeing. 

Alcohol 

  • Around 5,000 alcohol-related hospital admissions each year 
  • Liverpool experiences high levels of alcohol-related harm 

What this means  

Alcohol places a burden on health services. It contributes to preventable illness and early death. 

Drugs

  • Around 62 drug-related deaths  
  • More than twice the England rate (13.9 vs 5.8 per 100,000) 

What it means 

Early intervention and treatment can prevent harm and support recovery. 

Sexual health 

  • 4,393 new STI diagnoses in the latest reporting year 
  • Liverpool has one of the highest STI diagnosis rates in England  

What it means

Liverpool has high levels of STI diagnoses, making early testing, diagnosis and treatment an important part of protecting sexual health. 

Mental health

  • Depression and anxiety affect thousands of residents every year 
  • Poor physical health, loneliness and financial pressures can impact wellbeing 

What this means  

Mental wellbeing is influenced by many factors, highlighting the importance of early support and community connections. 

Learning disabilities

  • 3,507 adults recorded as having a learning disability 
  • Improvements to access of health checks, healthcare and support services 

What this means 

Access to support can help people with learning disabilities maintain good health, independence and quality of life. 

Our approach to living well

Liverpool City Council works with the NHS, voluntary organisations, community groups and local partners to create opportunities for everyone to live healthier lives. 

Our approach focuses on: 

  • preventing ill health before it starts 
  • supporting people to make healthier choices 
  • reducing health inequalities  
  • helping people live independently for longer 
  • ensuring everyone can access the support they need, when they need it 

Further insights and resources:

Detailed needs assessments

The following health needs assessments have been published in relation to living well:

Local strategies

Liverpool information

General public health

Fingertips (large public health data collection)

Health of the region data explorer

NHS acute (hospital) trust catchment populations

Inclusion health data and intelligence resource for England

Tobacco use

Stop smoking service data explorer

Sexual health

Liverpool sexual health (SPLASH)

Violence reduction

Violence reduction report for Merseyside

Work and health

Work and health regional data explorer