The expectation of life without disability in England and Wales

This paper calculates the Expectation of Life Without Disability (ELWD) for England and Wales, following the method of Robine et al. (Population 6, 1025-1042, 1986), using a question about limiting long-standing illness from the General Household Survey. Trends over the last decade are estimated. At present ELWD from birth is about 59 years for men, 62 for women. The trend is upward, but by no more and possibly less than the rate of increase in expectation of life. Men live a greater proportion of their lives without disability than do women. The improvement in ELWD is most marked in the highest age-groups, but the evidence is that the health of the elderly in relation to that of the population as a whole has been poorer in England and Wales than in two other countries for which similar evidence is available.