Introduction

This document provides information on how many people live in Great Yarmouth broken down by age, sex, ethnicity, disability and other characteristics. There is also detail on life expectancy, inequalities in life expectancy and leading causes of death in the population.

The Norfolk and Waveney ICS is a new partnership between the NHS, local councils and voluntary and community organisations. It aims to meet health and care needs across Norfolk and Waveney, coordinate services and plan in a way that improves population health and reduces inequalities between different groups. It includes five Place Boards covering the former Clinical Commissioning Group areas in Norfolk and Waveney.

Summary

Click on the titles to navigate to the respective chapters

Population

  • Users 99,700 residents in Great Yarmouth in 2021.

  • Person Cane 1 in 4 were over 65 in 2021.

  • Child 1 in 20 were under 5 in 2021.

  • Line Chart The population in the Great Yarmouth Local Authority area is expected to grow by about 7,000 people between 2020 and 2040; the largest growth is expected in the older age bands.

  • In Great Yarmouth, about 11% are non-white-British compared to 26% in England.

Deprivation

  • Map location dot Around 39,700 people in Great Yarmouth live in areas that are among the 20% most deprived in England.

Births

  • Arrow trend down Births in Great Yarmouth have been declining over the last decade.

  • Baby In 2021 there were about 900 births.

  • Baby Carriage The rate of births to mothers aged 15-44 in Great Yarmouth was 57 births per 1,000 women, compared to a rate of 54.3 for England.

Deaths

  • There were about 1,400 deaths in 2021 in Great Yarmouth.

  • All cause age-standardised mortality rates in Great Yarmouth were higher than England for women. Rates were higher than England for men.

  • Generally in Norfolk and Waveney, the leading causes of death for males and females are:

    • Heart pulse Heart disease

    • Brain Dementia

    • Bolt Stroke

    • Lungs Lung cancer

Life and Healthy Life Expectancy in Norfolk and Waveney

  • Cake candles Life expectancy in Great Yarmouth is 77.4 years for males - significantly lower than the England average for the last comparable period - and 81.6 years for females - slightly lower than the England average for the last comparable period.

  • Arrows Left-right-to-line The gap in life expectancy at birth between the most deprived 10% and least deprived 10% of areas within Great Yarmouth is 6.4 years for females and 8.5 years for males.

  • Alternate Medical Chat Deaths from circulatory, cancer and digestive causes/diseases contribute most to the life expectancy gap in Norfolk.

  • Face Smile Beam Healthy life expectancy in Norfolk is about 62.9 years for males and 63.9 years for females; similar to England and has generally been staying the same over the last few years.

  • Crutch The trend over the last decade is for people in Norfolk to spend more time in ill health, which was 17.1 years for males and 20 years for females in 2018-20.

1 System overview of organisations and geography

1.1 Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care System (ICS)

Norfolk and Waveney is the footprint of the local Integrated Care System (ICS). The ICS footprint is made up of the five Place Board areas: North Norfolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney, South Norfolk, West Norfolk, and Norwich.

In the map below, a number of levels of health, administrative and statistical geographies are illustrated. These range from County through Place Board, Lower Tier Local Authority, Primary Care Network, Middle Super Output Area to Lower Super Output Area (select and de-select area types in the top right corner of the map). Neighbourhoods and small areas are only shown within Great Yarmouth. Hover over areas to see names. De-select higher geographies to see names for lower levels.

1.2 Deprivation in Great Yarmouth

There are 9 neighbourhoods (MSOA; Middle Super Output Areas) across Great Yarmouth where some or all of the population live in the 20% most deprived (Core20) small areas in England. The English Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) measures relative deprivation at small area (LSOA; Lower Super Output Areas) level across various domains including income, education and health. It is the most commonly used indicator for deprivation and was last updated in 2019.

40.0% of the population in the Great Yarmouth LTLA area live in small areas that are among the most deprived 20% in England. The map below highlights pockets of deprivation in Great Yarmouth, focussing on the nationally most and second most deprived deciles. Hover over a neighbourhood area to see the percentage of residents within that area who live in the Core20 most deprived small areas.

The table below summarises the number and proportion of residents living in Core20 areas at LTLA, Norfolk and England level.

Area

Most deprived decile (Core 20)

Second most deprived decile (Core 20)

Core 20 Population

Other deciles

Great Yarmouth

26,900 (27%)

12,800 (13%)

39,700 (40%)

59,500 (60%)

Norfolk

68,900 (7.5%)

67,000 (7.3%)

135,900 (14.9%)

778,100 (85.1%)

England

5,603,900 (9.9%)

5,697,200 (10.1%)

11,301,100 (20.0%)

45,249,000 (80.0%)

Source: ONS (2020)

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) publishes an online dashboard which allows users to explore health inequalities for ICS, county and/or Lower Tier Local Authority areas, with some health indicators available down to Ward level.

2 Age

2.1 Summary of change over time for broad age range

A breakdown of Great Yarmouth’s population by broad age group can be found in the table below.

Age

Mid 2011

Mid 2020

% change
2011 to 2020

Mid 2040
projection

% change
2020 to 2040

0-4 (babies and infants)

5,600

5,200

-6.8%

5,000

-3.5%

5-11 (children)

7,000

8,000

14.4%

7,000

-12.2%

12-15 (young people)

4,800

4,400

-7.7%

4,200

-6.4%

16-64 (working age adults)

59,400

57,000

-4.1%

56,300

-1.3%

65+ (older people)

20,600

24,600

19.2%

33,400

36%

TOTAL

97,400

99,200

1.8%

105,900

6.7%

Between the 2011 and 2020 mid-year population estimates of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there has been a 1.8% increase in the population overall. This was not uniform across all age groups, however: The largest percentage changes were an increase in the number of older people and an increase in the number of children.

Future population projections are based on the last ONS release of population projections in 2018. The ONS has published an interactive website to visualise population projections at Lower Tier Local Authority level.

2.2 Population structure

The figure below shows the Great Yarmouth area’s population by five-year age bands. The black line shows the distribution for England.

Pyramid chart of the population of the area compared to England, showing whether the local population has relatively more or fewer people than the England average within a certain age range. The number of males and females within each five-year age group is shown, with the oldest age group being 90+.

When split into five-year age bands, the biggest demographic differences between Great Yarmouth and England are a larger proportion of women aged 70-74 and a larger proportion of men aged 70-74 in Great Yarmouth.

The biggest demographic deficit in Great Yarmouth relative to England is in 25-29-year old females.

About 1 in 4 of the population in the Great Yarmouth LTLA area is aged 65 and over (a higher proportion than the England average) and about 1 in 30 is aged 85 and over (2021 Census).

2.3 Population by age groups

Use the tabs to display population data for different age cohorts in Great Yarmouth.

Babies and infants (0-4 year olds)

There was an estimated number of 5,186 residents aged 0-4 years old in Great Yarmouth in 2020, representing 5.2% of the total population.

Static choropleth map of neighbourhoods (Middle Super Output Areas), showing the proportion of residents within the focal age range, highlighting demographic differences between neighbourhood areas.

Children (5-11 year olds)

There was an estimated number of 8,005 residents aged 5-11 years old in Great Yarmouth in 2020, representing 8.1% of the total population.

Static choropleth map of neighbourhoods (Middle Super Output Areas), showing the proportion of residents within the focal age range, highlighting demographic differences between neighbourhood areas.

Young People (12-15 year olds)

There was an estimated number of 4,445 residents aged 12-15 years old in Great Yarmouth in 2020, representing 4.5% of the total population.

Static choropleth map of neighbourhoods (Middle Super Output Areas), showing the proportion of residents within the focal age range, highlighting demographic differences between neighbourhood areas.

Working Age Adults (16-64 year olds)

There was an estimated number of 57,010 residents aged 16-64 years old in Great Yarmouth in 2020, representing 57.5% of the total population.

Static choropleth map of neighbourhoods (Middle Super Output Areas), showing the proportion of residents within the focal age range, highlighting demographic differences between neighbourhood areas.

Older People (65+ year olds)

There was an estimated number of 24,552 residents aged 65+ years old in Great Yarmouth in 2020, representing 24.8% of the total population.

Static choropleth map of neighbourhoods (Middle Super Output Areas), showing the proportion of residents within the focal age range, highlighting demographic differences between neighbourhood areas.

2.4 Rural and urban population

It is important to distinguish between rural and urban areas when analysing social and economic statistics as the populations and businesses can differ in their make-up. The opportunities, challenges and barriers for businesses, the services people receive and their quality of life can also differ markedly between rural areas and larger towns and cities.

Areas of Norfolk vary greatly along the urban-rural gradient. Urban areas such as Norwich, Great Yarmouth , King’s Lynn and Thetford are the connected built up areas identified by Ordnance Survey mapping that have resident populations above 10,000 people (2011 Census). Rural areas are those areas that are not urban, i.e. consisting of settlements below 10,000 people or are open countryside. Rural areas are the predominant landscape throughout most of Norfolk County.

Static choropleth map of small areas (Lower Super Output Areas), showing their Office for National Statistics classification into 5 different area types from urban cities and towns through rural towns and fringe to rural village and dispersed.

“Urban city and town” is the most common classification among small areas in Great Yarmouth (around 64%).

Around 71% of people under 50 live in the areas of Great Yarmouth LTLA area classified as urban city and town. People aged over 50 are more likely to live in more rural areas than younger people.

Bar chart of the percentage of residents living in areas classified as urban city and town by five-year age groups, with the oldest age group being 90+. Generally, younger people are more likely than older people to live in urban areas.

3 Population Change

This chapter highlights the components of change in the population and what the future population might look like. For Great Yarmouth and Waveney, the Place Board area is co-terminus with the former Lower Tier Local Authority areas of Great Yarmouth.

3.1 The changing population across Great Yarmouth

3.1.1 Great Yarmouth since 2011:

In the period since mid-2011

  • the population of Great Yarmouth increased by 1,640 (1.7%) from 97,560 to 99,200.

  • there were 9,560 births and 10,552 deaths in Great Yarmouth. This makes natural change (the balance between births and deaths) -992.

  • net internal migration for Great Yarmouth was 0.

  • there were 4,660 international in-migrants and 1,970 international out-migrants in Great Yarmouth. This makes net international migration 2,690.

  • changes to special populations (home armed forces, foreign armed forces and the prison population) increased the population of Great Yarmouth by 60.

Line chart of estimates of population change due to births, deaths, net internal and net international migration for every year from 2011 and 2020.

3.1.2 Great Yarmouth 2020 compared to 2019:

From 2019 to 2020

  • the population of Great Yarmouth deceased by -140 (-0.1%) from 99,340 to 99,200.

  • there were 947 births and 1,222 deaths in Great Yarmouth. This makes natural change (the balance between births and deaths) -275.

  • net internal migration for Great Yarmouth was -20.

  • there were 380 international in-migrants and 240 international out-migrants in Great Yarmouth. This makes net international migration 150.

  • changes to special populations (home armed forces, foreign armed forces and the prison population) increased the population of Great Yarmouth by 10.

3.2 Migration

Migration is the process of people moving from one place to another. This can be from one side of the world to the other, or just moving to a different part of the Country. The reasons for migration can be economic, social, political or environmental. Along with births, migration can contribute large changes to a population.

The ONS have published an interactive tool to visualise migration flow and workplace flow data between 2020 and 2021 down to neighbourhood (MSOA) level.

The figure below illustrates how internal and international migration inflows (solid lines) and outflows (dashed lines) contribute to population change in England and Great Yarmouth. Note the different scales for internal and international migration.

Two line charts of estimates of internal and international immigration and emigration as a percentage of the residential population for the area of focus in comparison to England for every year from 2011 to 2020.

Over the last 10 years, internal net immigration has been lesser than international net immigration. International net immigration into Great Yarmouth has contributed less to population change compared to the England average.

3.3 Net migration

Migration estimates show inflows and outflows to Great Yarmouth from internal and international migration.

Two heat maps of net internal and international migration by five-year age group and year between 2002 and 2020. Colours show for which age groups and in which years migration contributed to population increase or decrease.

Over the last decade, the largest net immigration came from those aged 60-64 and the largest net emigration has been among those aged 15-19.

Projected population migration patterns at Lower Tier Local Authority level up to 2028 are published by the ONS here.

Use the tabs below to switch between further details on internal and international net migration in Great Yarmouth.

Internal

Line chart of net internal migration by single year of age in 2020. Males and females are shown by two separate lines. The chart identifies age cohorts that showed the largest internal net immigration or emigration in 2020.

Line chart of internal net migration cumulatively by single year age cohort from 2012 to 2020. Males and females are shown by two separate lines. The chart helps identify age cohorts with the highest net immigration and emigration from or to elsewhere in the UK over the last ten years.

International

Line chart of net international migration by single year of age in 2020. Males and females are shown by two separate lines. The chart identifies age cohorts that showed the largest international net immigration or emigration in 2020.

Cumulatively over the last decade there has been a net inflow of young people from outside the UK to Great Yarmouth peaking in the early 20s.

Line chart of international net migration cumulatively by single year age cohort from 2012 to 2020. Males and females are shown by two separate lines. The chart helps identify age cohorts with the highest net immigration and emigration from or to outside of the UK over the last ten years.

3.4 Population Projections for Great Yarmouth LTLA area

For future service planning it is essential that there is a good understanding of the population change taking place over the next few decades.

Stacked bar chart of the projected population change in different age cohorts (babies and infants, children, people of working age, elderly and old people) between 2020 and 2040. The number of people and projected percentage increases is given in call-out boxes for each age cohort.

Great Yarmouth’s population is projected to increase by approximately 5.8% between 2020 and 2040. This is a projected population increase of around 5,800 spread over the next twenty years. The population over 65 is projected to increase by 8,600. Residents 65 years or older make up 25% of the current population. The proportion is likely to rise to 35% by 2040.

3.5 Old age dependency ratio in Great Yarmouth 2020-2040

The old age dependency ratio is calculated as the total projected population aged above the state pension age divided by the total projected population aged between 16 and the state pension age. The old age dependency ratio can be used to measure the pressure on the working population. The higher the ratio, the more pressure there is on the working age population. .

Line chart of the projected change old age dependency ratio by year between 2020 and 2040 in the area of interest and England. An increase in the old age dependency ratio poses challenges for health and social care.

The figure below shows pairwise comparisons between old age dependency ratios in 2020 and projections for 2040 in England, Norfolk, and the Lower Tier Local Authority areas.

Bar chart of the old age dependency ratio across Lower Tier Local Authority areas, Norfolk and Waveney and England for 2020 and the projection for 2040. All areas are projected to have an increase between 2020 and 2040, but the extent of the increase varies between areas, as does the ratio itself.

The old age dependency ratio for Norfolk and Waveney is projected to increase slightly faster than England. This is likely to put extra pressure on the working age population and potentially the availability of staff to deliver services. Across Lower Tier Local Authority areas in Norfolk, North Norfolk currently has the second highest old age dependency ratio in England but is expected to be the fourth highest by 2040.

4 Ethnicity

This chapter details the ethnic breakdown of the Great Yarmouth population. Information related to the most recent census (2021) is included.

Potential other sources of information on populations by ethnicity include:

4.1 National 2021 census

The population in Norfolk and Waveney is less ethnically diverse than average in England. Great Yarmouth’s ethnic make-up is characterised by a predominantly White population (94.6%). The figure below shows a detailed breakdown of residents by ethnicity.

Bar chart of the residential population by ethnic groups according to the 2021 census. Ethnic groups are split by broad category (for example Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh) and further split by more specific ethnicity (for example Pakistani, Indian, Chinese, Bangladeshi, and Other Asian). The table below gives numbers and percentages for the broad groupings.

The figure below shows a breakdown of ethnicity by broader Census groups.

Ethnicity group

Population

Proportion

White

94,365

94.6%

Asian Asian British Or Asian Welsh

1,942

1.9%

Mixed Or Multiple Ethnic Groups

1,568

1.6%

Black Black British Black Welsh Caribbean Or African

1,103

1.1%

Other Ethnic Group

772

0.8%

Source: Census 2021 (obtained through NOMIS)

Neighbourhoods (MSOAs) with the highest proportions of non-White residents in the Great Yarmouth LTLA area include Yarmouth Parade (13.8%), Yarmouth Central & Northgate (10.7%) and Gorleston West (7.8%).

4.2 Ethnicity estimates from Annual Population Survey - % ethnic minority UK national

The annual population survey suggests that among Lower Tier Local Authority areas in Norfolk, Norwich has the most diverse population, with North Norfolk having the least. England-wide, the percentage of ethnic minority UK nationals was 14.8% of the population aged 16+ in Oct 2021-Sep 2022.

NB: Due to the methodology of the Annual Population Survey, there is variation in how recent the latest estimates are for different Local Authority areas.

Area

% ethnic minority

Period

Breckland

1.6%

Oct 2019-Sep 2020

Broadland

1.8%

Oct 2021-Sep 2022

Great Yarmouth

3.0%

Oct 2019-Sep 2020

King's Lynn and West Norfolk

4.4%

Oct 2021-Sep 2022

North Norfolk

1.3%

Jul 2020-Jun 2021

Norwich

8.9%

Oct 2021-Sep 2022

South Norfolk

2.8%

Oct 2021-Sep 2022

Norfolk

3.1%

Oct 2021-Sep 2022

England

14.8%

Oct 2021-Sep 2022

Source: Annual Population Survey (obtained through NOMIS API)

5 Hospital catchment populations

Use the tabs below to select Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, or James Paget University Hospital

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

Pyramid chart of the estimated catchment populations of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in Norwich. The number of males and females within each five-year age group is shown, with the oldest age group being 90+.

In 2020 the Norfolk And Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust annualised number of patients admitted for all admissions was 71,780 from a catchment population of 626,457 with 11.5% of the catchment population having and admission during that time

Choropleth map of the catchment for the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in Norwich. Shading of neighbourhood areas indicates the percentage range of patients going to the hospital in question, ranging from 5 to 19% up to 80% or more. Areas with a catchment of below 5% are not shown. The location of the hospital is highlighted on the map.

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Pyramid chart of the estimated catchment populations of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn. The number of males and females within each five-year age group is shown, with the oldest age group being 90+.

In 2020 the The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust annualised number of patients admitted for all admissions was 32,320 from a catchment population of 209,722 with 15.4% of the catchment population having and admission during that time

Choropleth map of the catchment for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn. Shading of neighbourhood areas indicates the percentage range of patients going to the hospital in question, ranging from 5 to 19% up to 80% or more. Areas with a catchment of below 5% are not shown. The location of the hospital is highlighted on the map.

James Paget University Hospital

Pyramid chart of the estimated catchment populations of the James Paget University Hospital in Great Yarmouth. The number of males and females within each five-year age group is shown, with the oldest age group being 90+.

In 2020 the James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust annualised number of patients admitted for all admissions was 28,010 from a catchment population of 196,923 with 14.2% of the catchment population having and admission during that time

Choropleth map of the catchment for the James Paget University Hospital in Great Yarmouth. Shading of neighbourhood areas indicates the percentage range of patients going to the hospital in question, ranging from 5 to 19% up to 80% or more. Areas with a catchment of below 5% are not shown. The location of the hospital is highlighted on the map.

6 People with disabilities and vulnerable populations

Below are example estimates of the number of people in Great Yarmouth in 2020 who had physical and personal care disabilities and mental health issues.

For more population estimates for people with disabilities and mental health issues visit:

Bar chart of the estimated number of residents living with various disabilities or mental health issues such as a common mental health disorder. Moderate physical disabilities and common mental health disorders are the most prevalent, while moderate and severe disabilities as well as self-harm, suicide attempts, substance dependence or bipolar disorder are less prevalent.

There is substantial variation in health and provision of unpaid care across areas of Norfolk.

7 Births

This chapter provides details on live birth trends, general fertility rates, and variation across Great Yarmouth LTLA area.

7.2 General Fertility Rates

The General Fertility Rate (GFR) is the number of live births per 1,000 women aged between 15 and 44 years old.

Generally the GFR has been decreasing over the last decade. In Great Yarmouth, the GFR went from 67.4 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44 in 2016 to 57 in 2021. In England, the rate in 2021 was 54.3. At a neighbourhood level within Great Yarmouth, Hemsby & Ormesby had the lowest GFR with a rate of 51.4, while Yarmouth Parade had the highest GFR with a rate of 81.5 in 2016-2020.

Line chart comparing the local general fertility rate with that of England by year between 2013 and 2021.

7.3 Variation across the system

7.3.1 Geographical variation

This map highlights the communities that have the highest and lowest GFR per 1,000 women. There is substantial variation at a small area across the system.

Choropleth map of the general fertility rate at neighbourhood level, cumulatively for 2016 to 2020. Darker colours show areas with lower fertility rates.

7.3.2 Deprivation variation

By deprivation decile, fertility rates in England are highest in the most deprived areas, and lowest in the least deprived (ONS ad hoc data release). In Norfolk and Waveney, we generally follow the national distribution with the exception of very low rates in the least deprived decile. The least deprived group in Norfolk and Waveney is likely so low due to the University of East Anglia being located in this decile.

Bar chart of the general fertility rate by deprivation decile, locally and for England in 2021. General fertility rate is generally higher in relatively more deprived areas.

In Norfolk and Waveney, the gap between the most and least deprived areas has decreased between 2013 and 2021. In 2013 there were around 28 more births per 1,000 women aged 15-44 in the most deprived compared with the least deprived areas. In 2021 the gap was around 15 births.

8 Life Expectancy

This chapter details life expectancy and healthy life expectancy for both men and women in Great Yarmouth.

Life expectancy is a measure of the average time a person is expected to live, based on their year of birth, current age and other demographic factors such as gender. Healthy life expectancy shows the number of years a person can expect to live in good health.

Life expectancy gives context to healthy life expectancy figures by providing information on the estimated length of life. The two indicators are extremely important summary measures of mortality and morbidity in a population.

8.1 Life Expectancy at birth

Life expectancy at birth measures the average number of years a person would expect to live if current death rates remain constant. Current data for the period 2020-22 show that life expectancy in Great Yarmouth was 77.4 years for men and 81.6 years for women.

For much of the decade prior to the pandemic, up to 2019, there had been a slowdown in improvement of life expectancy year on year. In 2020, direct and indirect effects of the Covid-19 pandemic caused a general decrease in life expectancy.

Line chart of life expectancy locally and in England for males and females by three-year period between 2005 to 2007 and 2018 to 2020.

8.2 Variation in Life Expectancy in Great Yarmouth (2016 - 20)

Life expectancy varies by neighbourhood in Great Yarmouth. The maps below show the variation in life expectancy at birth, at MSOA level across Great Yarmouth, for the period 2016 - 20.

Lighter areas depict localities with higher life expectancy, for example Belton which has the highest average life expectancy (80.7 for males, 85.1 for females). Darker areas show areas with lower life expectancy, for example Yarmouth Parade (72.7 for males, 80 for females).

Two choropleth maps for female and male life expectancy at neighbourhood area level, cumulatively from 2016 to 2020. Darker colours show areas with shorter life expectancy.Two choropleth maps for female and male life expectancy at neighbourhood area level, cumulatively from 2016 to 2020. Darker colours show areas with shorter life expectancy.

8.3 Deprivation and inequality in life expectancy at birth in Great Yarmouth

There is a strong association between relative deprivation and life expectancy. People who live in relatively more deprived areas have a shorter life expectancy than those who live in relatively less deprived areas.

In the figure below, the steepness of the slope represents the inequality in life expectancy that relates to deprivation in Great Yarmouth in 2020-2022; if there was no inequality the line would be horizontal. The steeper the line, the greater the level of inequality in life expectancy as a result of deprivation.

Line and point chart for inequality in life expectancy between the most and least deprived small areas for females and males over the latest 3-year period for which data is currently available.

The Index of Inequality for life expectancy quantifies the gap between the relatively most deprived areas within Great Yarmouth and the least deprived areas as 9.4 years for men and 6.2 years for women. The Index of Inequality takes all deciles into account.

8.4 Change in life expectancy gap in Great Yarmouth between 2013 and 2022

Another way to look at the life expectancy gap is to focus only on the most versus least deprived areas. The life expectancy gap between the most and least deprived deciles is greater in males than females. Currently, for females there is an 6.4 year gap between the most and least deprived deciles within Great Yarmouth and 8.5 years for males (2020-2022). In 2013-2015 the gap was 5.1 years for females and 10.1 years for males.

Line chart for the change in the gap in life expectancy between the relatively least and most deprived 10% of small areas in the last 10 years, averaged over three year periods. The trend for females and males is shown separately.

8.5 Contributors to inequality in life expectancy

8.5.1 Life expectancy gap by cause of death

The coloured bars on the chart show contributions of causes of death to the life expectancy gap of the most and least deprived areas (quintiles) in Norfolk. The bigger the bar, the greater the potential for reducing deprivation inequalities.

The total inequality gap for males and females is given at the bottom of the chart.

Scarf chart of the contribution of various causes of death to the male and female life expectancy gap between the most and least deprived fifth of small areas.

The coloured bars on the chart indicate difference in life expectancy between the most and least deprived quintile (i.e. the most deprived fifth) of small areas within Great Yarmouth attributed to deaths from a particular cause. The bigger the bar, the greater the potential for improvement.

For example, if the male death rate for cancer was the same in the most deprived areas as in the least deprived, males in the most deprived areas would live around 11 months longer. Males in the least deprived quintile have a life expectancy of 81.6, and deaths from circulatory diseases reduces the life expectancy by 31 months for those from the most deprived quintile. Females in the least deprived quintile have a life expectancy of 83.6 years, and deaths from cancer reduce the life expectancy for the most deprived quintile by 15 months.

Overall, circulatory deaths contributed most to the gap in life expectancy between the most and least deprived areas within Great Yarmouth in 2020-2022.

Higher death rates for each cause for this mean that cumulatively males from the most deprived quintile have a life expectancy 8.8 years lower than those from the least deprived. The difference is 4.7 years for women. These gaps are different to those given by the slope index of inequality because here they compare areas from the most and least deprived local quintiles rather than deciles. Unlike the slope index, the gaps here also do not consider death rates in the areas with intermediate deprivation.

8.5.2 Life expectancy gap by age

Differences in mortality at different ages contribute differently to the gap in life expectancy.

Higher mortality rates among males in the 60 to 69 age group in the most deprived quintile made the biggest contribution of any age group, accounting for 2.3 years of the total gap.

Mortality before the age of 70 in the most deprived quintile of Great Yarmouth contributed around 79% of the life expectancy gap for males and around 77% for females in 2020-2022.

Reducing higher mortality rates in the age groups making the biggest contributions will have the biggest effect on reducing the life expectancy gap.

Scarf chart of the contribution of deaths at different life stages to the male and female life expectancy gap between the most and least deprived quintiles of small areas.

8.6 Healthy Life Expectancy in Norfolk

Healthy life expectancy measures the average number of years a person would expect to live in generally good health. So, for example, a man may have a life expectancy of 80 years, but his healthy life expectancy may only be 65 years. This means the last 15 years of his life will be lived in poorer health.

Healthy life expectancy is only available at Norfolk level, which is what is presented here.

Healthy life expectancy in Norfolk is similar to England at about 62.9 years for males and about 63.9 years for females and has generally been staying the same over the last five years. The period that people spend in ill health in Norfolk has been getting longer over the last decade and is 17.1 years for males and 20 years for females.

Bar chart of life expectancy and healthy life expectancy for males and females in Norfolk by three-year period between 2011 to 2013 and 2018 to 2020. The difference between life expectancy and healthy life expectancy shows an increasing trend over time for males and females.

9 Deaths

This chapter details deaths occurring in Great Yarmouth. This includes total deaths, leading causes of death and trends in early deaths from selected conditions (those under 75).

9.1 Total deaths in Great Yarmouth

The total number of deaths is generally increasing as the population is increasing in size.

Line chart of the number of registered deaths for females and males per year between 2013 and 2021. The number of deaths per year is similar for females and males.

Within the last decade, the largest number of deaths in Great Yarmouth was registered in 2021, during which a total of 1,437 deaths were registered.

Line chart of the directly age-standardised mortality rates for females and males per year between 2013 and 2021. Age-standardised rates are generally lower for females than for males.

9.2 Leading causes of death

The leading causes of death based on Office for National Statistics sub-categories. If we look at deaths considering the number of people and their age, we see changes in death rates. Trends in age standardised mortality rates from leading causes of death between 2012 and 2022 are shown below.

Line chart of directly standardised death rates for eleven selected leading causes of mortality for females and males per year from 2012 to 2022.

The leading causes of death in Great Yarmouth in 2022 were Dementia and Alzheimer and Heart disease for females, and Heart disease and Dementia and Alzheimer for males.

9.2.1 Leading causes of death by age and sex

Tile chart of the leading causes of death in females by age groups in 2020 to 2022. Specific causes of death are grouped into cancer, circulatory, respiratory, Covid-19, external, and other causes.

Tile chart of the leading causes of death in males by age groups in 2020 to 2022. Specific causes of death are grouped into cancer, circulatory, respiratory, Covid-19, external, and other causes.

9.2.2 Premature mortality

Premature mortality is a high-level indicator of the overall health of a population, being correlated with many other measures of population health: there are significant differences between the premature death rates in different areas, reflecting a wide range of underlying differences between these populations.

The rate of deaths for people under the age of 75 in Norfolk was better than the England average and similar to the East of England average in 2021. Norwich and Great Yarmouth had a significantly higher rate of premature deaths compared to the national average. The map highlights in red small areas with higher age-standardised rates in 2016 - 20.

Choropleth map of premature mortality under the age of 75 years at neighbourhood level. Standardised mortality ratios highlight neighbourhoods with lower or higher mortality than the England average.

Bar chart of directly age-standardised mortality under the age of 75 years at Lower Tier Local Authority level in comparison with Norfolk, regional and national averages.

9.2.3 Deaths considered preventable

The basic concept of preventable mortality is that deaths are considered preventable if, in the light of the understanding of the determinants of health at the time of death, all or most deaths from the underlying cause (subject to age limits if appropriate) could mainly be avoided through effective public health and primary prevention interventions.

There were around 1,365 preventable deaths per year in Norfolk in 2021, this was better than the England average and better than the East of England average. Rates for Lower Tier Local Authority areas which are part of the Great Yarmouth Place Board area are shown alongside county, regional and national rates below.

Bar chart of directly age-standardised mortality under the age of 75 years from causes considered preventable, shown at Lower Tier Local Authority level in comparison with Norfolk, regional and national averages.

In Great Yarmouth, there were around 1420 deaths per year in 2016 - 20. The map highlights in red small areas with higher age-standardised rates.

Choropleth map of premature mortality from causes considered preventable under the age of 75 years at neighbourhood level. Standardised mortality ratios highlight neighbourhoods with lower or higher preventable mortality than the England average.

9.2.4 Risk factors

At national level, the risk factors making the biggest contribution to mortality were tobacco, high blood glucose and high blood pressure in 2019. These risk factors also make a significant contribution to morbidity along with high body mass index (or obesity), alcohol, drug use and occupational risks.

Stacked bar chart of the estimated percentage contribution of individual behavioural, environmental and metabolic risk factors to age-standardised mortality in England in 2019, further separated along causes of death. Tobacco and dietary risks contribute substantially to mortality, mostly through cardiovascular disease and cancers.

Stacked bar chart of the estimated percentage contribution of individual behavioural, environmental and metabolic risk factors to age-standardised morbidity (years of healthy life lost to disability) in England in 2019, further separated along causes of morbidity. Excess body weight, high blood sugar, and tobacco and alcohol use cause most morbidity, mostly substantially through their impact on diabetes, back pain and alcohol use disorders.

Risk factors attributed to deaths or years of healthy life lost due to disability (YLD) cannot be summed together. In addition, these risk factors are connected, and individuals often have more than one risk factor. Prevalence of multiple risk factors is higher in men, the White ethnic group, lowest income households, most deprived areas, and people with long term health conditions.

Inequalities in risk factor prevalence contribute to inequalities in ill health and mortality. In England in 2019, smoking prevalence remained much higher than average in some groups, for example, people in manual occupations (23.2%), people with a long-term mental health condition (25.8%), deprived areas (16.9%), and the Mixed ethnic group (19.5%). The prevalence of ‘increasing or higher risk’ drinking was greatest in the highest household income group at 34.8%. The prevalence of obesity in adults was higher in the most deprived than least deprived areas, and there were wide inequalities in the proportion of adults meeting recommended level of physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption. Sourced from this report.

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