A study published in *The Lancet Public Health* reports that death rates among people aged 25–49 are higher in northern England than in the south. For 2024, the research finds death rates in the North are 42% higher than in the South.
The study also compares trends over time. It says the North–South gap has grown since 1981: the difference was 13% higher in the North then, but has more than tripled by 2024 even as overall death rates have fallen. This framing highlights a widening regional disparity among young and middle-aged adults.
Outlets emphasize the same core findings but present them with different emphases. BBC News highlights the “more than tripled” nature of the gap, while Medical Xpress leads with the specific 42% figure for 2024 and the comparison to 1981.
