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Topic 05 of 18 · Country Index 2026
United Kingdom: Health & Wellbeing
How long, and how well fed, do people live?
United Kingdom is placed 43rd of 200 countries on health & wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Life Expectancy at Birth 81.3 (2023); Under-Five Mortality Rate 4.68 (2024).
Share
Health & Wellbeing
43rd
of 200 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 81.3Life Expectancy at Birth, 2023Years a newborn would live at current death rates
- 4.68Under-Five Mortality Rate, 2024Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
- 1.956Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, 2024Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
- 4Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, 2024Population in severe food insecurity (%)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place United Kingdom on health & wellbeing — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Life Expectancy at Birth
UN DESA Population Division
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
81.3
Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Higher is better
United Kingdom: 81.3. Across the 222 countries in this edition, values run from 54.46 (Nigeria) to 86.37 (Monaco); the world median is 74.63.
- World median
- 74.63
- Best in Northern Europe
- 83.31 Norway
- Land neighbours
- Ireland 82.41
Key 2 of 4
Under-Five Mortality Rate
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
4.68
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
Lower is better
United Kingdom: 4.68. Across the 200 countries in this edition, values run from 1.26 (San Marino) to 115.65 (Nigeria); the world median is 14.54.
- World median
- 14.54
- Best in Northern Europe
- 2.016 Estonia
- Land neighbours
- Ireland 3.863
Key 3 of 4
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · United Kingdom’s is from 2019 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
1.956
Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
Lower is better
United Kingdom: 1.956. Across the 162 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.518 (Latvia) to 52.8 (Burundi); the world median is 13.8.
- World median
- 13.8
- Best in Northern Europe
- 0.518 Latvia
- Land neighbours
- Ireland 2.236
Key 4 of 4
Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
4
Population in severe food insecurity (%)
Lower is better
United Kingdom: 4. Across the 125 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Brazil) to 62.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 4.9.
- World median
- 4.9
- Best in Northern Europe
- 1.2 Lithuania
- Land neighbours
- Ireland 3.1
02Over time
Which way United Kingdom is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Life Expectancy at Birth
Years a newborn would live at current death rates · higher is better
United KingdomWorld median
United Kingdom rose from 77.85 in 2000 to 81.3 in 2023; the world median went from 70.68 to 74.63.
Every year’s figures
Year United Kingdom World median 2023 81.302 74.630 2022 81.074 74.313 2021 80.708 72.433 2020 80.385 73.063 2019 81.443 74.196 2018 81.123 74.081 2017 81.164 74.029 2016 81.068 74.013 2015 80.919 73.783 2014 81.153 73.330 2013 80.923 73.386 2012 80.859 73.210 2011 80.796 73.003 2010 80.391 72.827 2009 80.156 72.426 2008 79.655 72.264 2007 79.534 72.113 2006 79.347 72.027 2005 79.106 71.876 2004 78.900 71.477 2003 78.330 71.409 2002 78.237 71.173 2001 78.121 70.926 2000 77.849 70.678 Under-Five Mortality Rate
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) · lower is better
United KingdomWorld median
United Kingdom fell from 6.549 in 2000 to 4.68 in 2024; the world median went from 30.43 to 14.54.
Every year’s figures
Year United Kingdom World median 2024 4.680 14.5 2023 4.606 15.2 2022 4.518 14.7 2021 4.444 15.1 2020 4.394 15.3 2019 4.369 15.7 2018 4.367 16.3 2017 4.382 16.8 2016 4.411 17.5 2015 4.458 17.9 2014 4.533 18.3 2013 4.645 18.7 2012 4.791 18.8 2011 4.969 19.0 2010 5.168 19.2 2009 5.375 20.8 2008 5.571 20.7 2007 5.751 21.8 2006 5.906 22.8 2005 6.035 24.0 2004 6.148 25.9 2003 6.249 26.9 2002 6.348 28.0 2001 6.447 29.1 2000 6.549 30.4 Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Population in severe food insecurity (%) · lower is better
United KingdomWorld median
United Kingdom rose from 1.9 in 2015 to 4 in 2024; the world median went from 3.4 to 4.9.
Every year’s figures
Year United Kingdom World median 2024 4.0 4.9 2023 3.3 4.7 2022 2.5 5.4 2021 1.6 5.7 2020 1.1 5.6 2019 0.7 5.0 2018 1.3 4.2 2017 1.7 4.0 2016 2.1 3.4 2015 1.9 3.4
03In context
United Kingdom beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 200 countries on health & wellbeing, never a place within the region.
United Kingdom and the countries it borders
Standing among all 200; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Life Expectancy at BirthYears a newborn would live at current death rates | Under-Five Mortality RateDeaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) | Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveChildren under 5 who are stunted (%) | Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityPopulation in severe food insecurity (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Ireland | 40th | 82.41 | 3.863 | 2.236 | 3.1 |
| United Kingdom | 43rd | 81.3 | 4.68 | 1.956 | 4 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Northern Europe
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 200.
Placed either side on health & wellbeing
The countries immediately above and below United Kingdom in the topic’s list.
- Ireland40th
Serbia41st
France42nd- United Kingdom43rd
Slovakia44th
Netherlands45th
Chile46th
04Context, no vote
Where United Kingdom is ahead of the world, and behind
40 more statistics filed under health & wellbeing, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median26
Statistics on which United Kingdom does better than the middle country measured.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.5460.43.546No earlier reading
United Kingdom: 0.4 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 157th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 0.5640.7830.564▲ Improved since 2010
United Kingdom: 0.783 · world median 0.564 · HCI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.292 to 0.879; higher is better.
Position 11th of 172 · derived.
Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.7620.9460.762No real change since 2013
United Kingdom: 0.946 · world median 0.762 · HDI score (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.388 to 0.972; higher is better.
Ranked 13th of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8580.7882.858No real change since 2014
United Kingdom: 0.788 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 183rd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.1632.488.163▲ Improved since 2013
United Kingdom: 2.48 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 180th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.2585.971.25No real change since 2013
United Kingdom: 85.9 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 22nd of 196 · derived.
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 26.42.926.4No real change since 2017
United Kingdom: 2.9 · world median 26.4 · Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 93.9; lower is better.
Position 127th of 145 · derived, 1st = worst.
Life Expectancy at Age 65UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 16.3920.1916.39▼ Worsened since 2013
United Kingdom: 20.19 · world median 16.39 · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 12.13 to 23.21; higher is better.
Position 38th of 222 · derived.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.0830.351No real change since 2013
United Kingdom: 0.083 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 31st of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Prevalence of UndernourishmentFAO · 2023 · world median 5.22.55.2▼ Worsened since 2013
United Kingdom: 2.5 · world median 5.2 · Population undernourished (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 54.2; lower is better.
Position 104th of 104 · derived, 1st = worst.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.97.420.9No real change since 2015
United Kingdom: 7.4 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.
Position 109th of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.210.25▼ Worsened since 2014
United Kingdom: 0.21 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
Vegetable Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 102.69165.67102.69No real change since 2013
United Kingdom: 165.67 · world median 102.69 · Vegetables available as food (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.89 to 412.72; higher is better.
Dietary Energy SupplyFAO · 2024 · world median 2,9823,4302,982▼ Worsened since 2014
United Kingdom: 3,430 · world median 2,982 · Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1,757 to 3,962; higher is better.
Position 31st of 155 · derived.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.264.13412.26▼ Worsened since 2014
United Kingdom: 4.134 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 158th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.658.3146.65No real change since 2013
United Kingdom: 8.31 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 153rd of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 2023 · world median 14.458.114.45▲ Improved since 2013
United Kingdom: 8.1 · world median 14.45 · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³). Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 68.2; lower is better.
Position 172nd of 220 · derived, 1st = worst.
Low Birthweight PrevalenceUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 2020 · world median 10.216.82710.21▲ Improved since 2010
United Kingdom: 6.827 · world median 10.21 · Live births weighing under 2,500 g (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 3.993 to 27.44; lower is better.
Position 122nd of 158 · derived, 1st = worst.
Adult Mortality (Probability of Dying Between 15 and 60)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 133.773.23133.7▼ Worsened since 2013
United Kingdom: 73.23 · world median 133.7 · Deaths before age 60 per 1,000 people alive at 15, at that year's death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 25.15 to 415.44; lower is better.
Position 171st of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.1343.0428.134▼ Worsened since 2014
United Kingdom: 3.042 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 154th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.468.35927.46▲ Improved since 2013
United Kingdom: 8.359 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 170th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and TubersFAO · 2022 · world median 413341▼ Worsened since 2012
United Kingdom: 33 · world median 41 · Share of dietary energy supply from cereals, roots and tubers (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 21 to 82; lower is better.
Days Above 35°CECMWF · 2025 · world median 3.480.013.48▼ Worsened since 2015
United Kingdom: 0.01 · world median 3.48 · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s land. World Bank Group (Climate Change Knowledge Portal), from Copernicus ERA5 (ECMWF), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 222.89; lower is better.
HPV Vaccination Coverage, GirlsWUENIC · 2025 · world median 65.57065.5▼ Worsened since 2018
United Kingdom: 70 · world median 65.5 · Girls in the target group given the final dose of HPV vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 99; higher is better.
Fruit Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 84.8392.0984.83▼ Worsened since 2013
United Kingdom: 92.09 · world median 84.83 · Fruit available as food, excluding wine (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.27 to 379.63; higher is better.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 919291▼ Worsened since 2015
United Kingdom: 92 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Behind the world median4
Statistics on which United Kingdom does worse than the middle country measured.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 908990▼ Worsened since 2015
United Kingdom: 89 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Agreement That Vaccines Are SafeWellcome Trust · 2018 · world median 77.6575.1577.65No earlier reading
United Kingdom: 75.15 · world median 77.65 · People aged 15+ who agree that vaccines are safe (% of those who had heard of vaccines). Wellcome Trust, 2018 edition, data for 2018.
Published values in that edition run from 29.29 to 97.91; higher is better.
Position 83rd of 144 · derived.
Overweight Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 5.57.7935.5▲ Improved since 2014
United Kingdom: 7.793 · world median 5.5 · Children under 5 who are overweight (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.623 to 26.43; lower is better.
Position 60th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 PandemicAriel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset) · 2026 · world median 272.35358.5272.35No earlier reading
United Kingdom: 358.5 · world median 272.35 · Excess deaths per 100,000 people, March 2020 to the end of each country's data (at most December 2023). Ariel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from -264.9 to 1,013; lower is better.
No better end10
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Contraceptive Prevalence (Any Method)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 41.2570.841.25No real change since 2013
United Kingdom: 70.8 · world median 41.25 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using any contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.6 to 78.7.
Modern Contraceptive PrevalenceUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 35.464.735.4No real change since 2013
United Kingdom: 64.7 · world median 35.4 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using a modern contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2 to 73.8.
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.8384.4457.83Moved since 2013
United Kingdom: 84.44 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.
Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry OnWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 20.0526.4420.05No earlier reading
United Kingdom: 26.44 · world median 20.05 · People aged 15+ who have ever been too anxious or depressed to continue their usual activities for two weeks or more (%). Wellcome Trust, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.934 to 49.35.
Caesarean Section RateUNICEF · 2025 · world median 20.6525.820.65No earlier reading
United Kingdom: 25.8 · world median 20.65 · Live births delivered by caesarean section (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 72.2.
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.732.751.73Moved since 2014
United Kingdom: 2.75 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.
Position 74th of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Fish and Seafood Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 16.1717.716.17Moved since 2013
United Kingdom: 17.7 · world median 16.17 · Fish and seafood available as food (kg per person per year, live-weight equivalent). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 83.81.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.882.2746.88No earlier reading
United Kingdom: 2.274 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8931.1738.89Moved since 2015
United Kingdom: 31.17 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 161st of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.552.754.55No real change since 2017
United Kingdom: 2.75 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
No current reading for United Kingdom
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four Visits, Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff, Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of Pneumonia, Children with Functional Difficulties, Early Initiation of Breastfeeding, Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six Months, Fatal Occupational Injuries (last 2018), Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Global Report on Food Crises, INFORM Severity Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Institutional Deliveries, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with Diarrhoea, Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two Days, Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months and Violent Discipline of Children. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Health & Wellbeing among United Kingdom’s 15 topics
Health & Wellbeing is United Kingdom’s 11th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Digital & Technology6th of 1984/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge6th of 1983/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture11th of 1844/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade13th of 1774/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions18th of 1944/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience21st of 1934/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital25th of 1963/3 keys
- Economy & Innovation26th of 1764/4 keys
- Work & Labour33rd of 1824/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality34th of 1593/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing43rd of 2004/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties49th of 1984/4 keys
- Gender & Equality46th of 1834/4 keys
- Peace & Security60th of 1774/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 115th of 1864/4 keys
No standing on Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on health & wellbeing
The three countries placed highest of 200, and the leaders United Kingdom can most readily be measured against.
1
San MarinoSouthern Europe
1st of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Matl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
MonacoWestern Europe
2nd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
AndorraSouthern Europe
3rd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
South Korea5th4/4 keysHighest in Europe
San Marino1st2/4 keysHighest in Northern Europe
Norway9th3/4 keysThis page
United Kingdom43rd4/4 keys
Positions out of 200 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about United Kingdom and health & wellbeing
On health & wellbeing
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On health & wellbeing
World Happiness Report 2025: Finland Leads Again as the US and UK Face Major Declines
The ten highest life evaluations of 2025, drawn on a world map, and the six things the report uses to explain them. Costa Rica and Mexico are the only two outside Europe and the Middle East.
08Questions
United Kingdom on health & wellbeing: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does United Kingdom rank on health & wellbeing?
United Kingdom is placed 43rd of 200 countries on Health & Wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Life Expectancy at Birth, Under-Five Mortality Rate, Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five and Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Life Expectancy at Birth figure for United Kingdom?
81.3 in 2023 (years a newborn would live at current death rates), according to UN DESA Population Division. The world median in the same edition was 74.63.
What is the latest Under-Five Mortality Rate figure for United Kingdom?
4.68 in 2024 (deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)), according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). The world median in the same edition was 14.54.
How does United Kingdom compare with Ireland on health & wellbeing?
Ireland is placed 40th of 200, and United Kingdom 43rd. Life Expectancy at Birth: Ireland 82.41, United Kingdom 81.3; Under-Five Mortality Rate: Ireland 3.863, United Kingdom 4.68; Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five: Ireland 2.236, United Kingdom 1.956; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity: Ireland 3.1, United Kingdom 4.
How have United Kingdom’s health & wellbeing figures changed?
Life Expectancy at Birth rose from 77.85 in 2000 to 81.3 in 2023; Under-Five Mortality Rate fell from 6.549 in 2000 to 4.68 in 2024; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity rose from 1.9 in 2015 to 4 in 2024.
Which health & wellbeing statistics are missing for United Kingdom?
No current reading is published for United Kingdom on Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four Visits, Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff, Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of Pneumonia, Children with Functional Difficulties, Early Initiation of Breastfeeding, Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six Months, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Global Report on Food Crises, INFORM Severity Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Institutional Deliveries, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with Diarrhoea, Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two Days, Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months and Violent Discipline of Children. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Health spending, hospital beds and doctors per person are not measured, because more of any of them does not guarantee better outcomes. Mental health and self-reported happiness are not part of this topic. Food supply per person is measured under Food & Agriculture. Maternal mortality and many other indicators are published here as context; maternal mortality is a key in Development & Human Capital instead.
How the Health & Wellbeing standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The health & wellbeing method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Life Expectancy at Birth — UN DESA Population Division, CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Under-Five Mortality Rate — UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five — UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 40 statistics on this page come from 15 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
United Kingdom’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- United Kingdom (banner) — © User:Colin / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
- San Marino — Matl derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monaco — Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Andorra — Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). United Kingdom: Health & Wellbeing — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/united-kingdom/health