Healthy Lives

People in Harborough District report good health and are living longer. The population is also getting older, so health, housing and support needs are changing.

A healthy population

At the 2021 Census, 52.8% of people in Harborough District said their health was very good, compared with 47.5% in England.

Life expectancy

In 2025, life expectancy was above the England average. Men in Harborough District lived to 81.7 years on average, compared with 80.0 years in England. Women lived to 85.7 years, compared with 83.8 years in England.

Disability

At the 2021 Census, 85.5% of people were not disabled. 9.3% were disabled and limited a little, while 5.1% were disabled and limited a lot. Harborough District had the second-lowest rate in the East Midlands for people who were disabled and limited a lot.

An ageing population

The 2021 Census showed that Harborough District had an older age profile than England. The median age was 45 in Harborough District, compared with 40 in England. The largest age group was people aged 50 to 64. Between 2011 and 2021, the number of people aged 65 and over increased by 38.5%, compared with 20.1% in England.

Why this matters

• Older people may need suitable homes that are easier to use.
• More people may need health and wellbeing support.
• Good transport and social links can help people stay independent.

Mental health and wellbeing

Adult depression was recorded for 14.5% of adults in Harborough District in 2022/23. This was higher than the East Midlands at 13.9% and England at 13.2%.

These figures link to wider issues, including loneliness, older people living alone, housing pressure and access to services.

Household deprivation

At the 2021 Census, 42.1% of households in Harborough District were deprived in at least one of four areas, compared with 51.7% across England and Wales. The four areas are employment, education, health and disability, and housing.

This shows that Harborough District had lower deprivation overall, although district-wide averages can hide people and places that still need support.

Education, young people and opportunity

In 2024/25, the average Attainment 8 score in Harborough District was 50.2, compared with 46.0 in England. Attainment 8 is a school performance measure based on eight GCSE subjects.

The 2021 Census also showed that Harborough District had a smaller share of younger adults than the East Midlands. People aged 20 to 24 made up 4.4% of the population, compared with 6.3% in the East Midlands. People aged 25 to 34 made up 10.7%, compared with 12.7% regionally.

What this means

• Schools perform well, but keeping younger adults in the district is still a challenge.
• Younger people need clear routes into training, further education and well-paid local jobs.
• This links to employment, skills and Magna Park in the Economy section.