We die younger than Cubans and Kuwaitis

PEOPLE living in Londonderry can expect to die younger than people living in Cuba and Kuwait, according to a new report by a Northern Ireland consultancy firm.

According to the report by Williamson Consulting the median age of death here is 76, three years younger than the Northern Ireland average.

Compared with United Nation estimates people here will die younger on average than in Cuba (78.3), Kuwait (77.6) and at roughly the same age as in Albania (76.4) and Mexico (76.2).

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The company revealed the stark reality of health inequalities in Northern Ireland in a report commissioned by Derry City Council as part of its community support planning for the next three years.

The authors state that whilst the city is in many ways similar to the Northern Ireland average there are some distinct differences.

“People under the age of 75 in the Derry City Council area are more likely to die than in other parts of Northern Ireland,” the report states. “As a result the median age of death at 76 is three years younger than the Northern Ireland median of 79.”

Other findings are that the city has a higher rate of births to unmarried mothers at 50.1 per cent than the Northern Ireland average of 38.9 per cent.

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And someone living in Londonderry is less likely to get burgled than in other parts of Northern Ireland (56.9 per 1,000 compared to 70.3 per 1,000 across Northern Ireland).

The lower burglary rate, however, is balanced by a higher rate of theft, violent crime and criminal damage.

“Theft rates are slightly higher and both criminal damages and violent crimes rates are higher, particularly violent crimes (254 per 1,000 compared to 184 per 1,000 in Northern Ireland as a whole),” the report adds.

Other depressing statistics are lower levels of qualifications and economic activity.

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“Someone living in Derry-Londonderry is likely to hold a lower level of qualifications than other parts of Northern Ireland (60 per cent have no qualifications compared to 58.9 per cent for NI, whilst 22 per cent have qualifications of Level 4 or above; NI - 26 per cent), although the city compares relatively well alongside similarly deprived locations.” it states.

“Levels of economic inactivity in the area are higher than Northern Ireland as a whole (economic activity levels in 2008 were 64 per cent for Derry compared to 73 per cent for NI).

“The area has a higher proportion of incapacity benefit recipients at 7.4 per cent (6 per cent - NI).

There are more support clients, at 15.6 per cent (NI - 9 per cent),” it also reveals.