Wales' health and wealth postcode lottery laid bare in report

A NEW report has revealed stark differences in levels of poverty, life expectancy and health facing people depending on where they live in Wales.

- RUTH MOSALSKI

Created by the International Longevity Centre, the Better Lives Index ranks councils according to how well places are delivering better lives from birth to adulthood and older age.

The idea is that it helps track regional progress on health, social and economic outcomes that shape quality of life as well as reducing inequalities across the UK. It is based on data from multiple sources on health, work, environmental quality, and well-being.

It uses nine metrics:

■Life expectancy at birth: The average number of years a newborn is expected to live;

■Child poverty rate: The percentage of children living in low-income households;

■Pollution: Emissions per person, measured in tonnes of CO2 equivalent;

Economic activity rate, 16+: The share of people aged 16 and over who are in work or actively seeking work;

Gross household disposable income: Average income households have available after taxes and transfers;

Housing costs: The ratio of average house prices to average household earnings. Northern Ireland does not report local authority earnings so national figures are used;