This annual publication presents a comprehensive analysis of health inequality gaps between the most and least deprived areas of NI, and within health and social care (HSC) trust and local government district (LGD) areas. The report is accompanied by downloadable data tables which contain all figures including district electoral areas (DEA) as well as urban and rural breakdowns.

Also, Health inequalities annual report 2026 – interactive dashboard (HTML)

Key findings - regional (NI)

• The most-least deprived gap in female life expectancy widened by 0.5 years, from 5.0 years in 2018-20 to 5.5 years in 2022-24. While there was no significant change in the deprivation gap for male life expectancy over the analysed period, it remained high at 7.2 years in 2022-24.
• The rate of self-assessed good/very good general health decreased over the last five years in all areas and the most-least deprived gap widened. The inequality gap for male healthy life expectancy also widened to 14.9 years over the analysed period due to a decrease of 4.5 years in the most deprived areas.
• While female healthy life expectancy decreased by 1.9 years in NI, there were no observed changes in the most or least deprived areas, however the inequality gap between the most and least deprived areas remained high, at 14.6 years.
• Large inequality gaps continue to highlight markedly higher rates of premature mortality in the most deprived areas, with the gap between the most and least deprived areas widening over the period for five of the eight indicators analysed. Gaps widened for avoidable and preventable mortality where death rates increased for NI and in its most deprived areas.
• For under 75 respiratory mortality there was a narrowing of the gap due to an observed improvement in the most deprived areas. Despite this improvement, the inequality gap remains the highest of all premature mortality indicators where the rate in the most deprived areas was around three and a half times the rate in the most deprived areas.
• Large inequality gaps continue to exist for mental health indicators. The inequality gap in the suicide rate widened over the analysed period with the rate in the most deprived areas now treble the rate in the least deprived areas.
• Alcohol and drug related indicators continue to show some of the largest health inequalities monitored in NI. The deprivation gap for drug misuse deaths widened over the analysed period and showed the largest inequality gap, with mortality in the most deprived areas almost six times that of the least deprived.
• In 2024/25 the percentage of primary 1 pupils affected by obesity in the most deprived areas was 73% higher than the rate in the least deprived areas. For year 8 pupils, the most-least deprived gap was slightly wider at 87%.
• In 2024/25, the most-least deprived inequality gap for dental extractions for all ages narrowed however the rate in the most deprived areas was still more than double that in the least deprived areas. With the exception of dental registration rates, inequality gaps widened over the analysed period for the remaining dental indicators.

Chapters:

Mental health p.30
Alcohol, smoking & drugs p.33