LIFE expectancy in Argyll and Bute remains lower than many affluent areas, new figures have revealed.

The local authority area had an average lifespan of 81.8 for women and 78.3 for men, above the Scottish average of 80.9 and 76.9 respectively.

But the National Records of Scotland figures were below those of East Dunbartonshire, Shetland, Orkney, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross, Scottish Borders, Moray, East Lothian, City of Edinburgh, Highland and Stirling.

Neighbouring West Dunbartonshire is the second worst in Scotland and one of the worst in western Europe. Men there live an average 74.3 years and 79.2 years for women.

Glasgow City's figures were the lowest.

Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour’s spokesperson for health, said men and women in the most affluent areas live more than a decade longer than those in poorer communities.

Life expectancy increased until 2012-2014 when it then remained stable until the Covid-19 pandemic, figures show.

Ms Baillie said: “After 17 years in power, this SNP government must explain why Scotland is languishing at the bottom of the Western European life expectancy league table and lagging behind other devolved nations.

“We should all have a decent chance of a healthy life, wherever we are born.

“The fact that those in poorer areas lose years of their lives when compared with those who are better off is a poor reflection on our society and on the Scottish Government’s public health policy.

“Residents in Argyll and Bute have a life expectancy slightly higher than those in some areas but not as good as those who live in Scotland’s most affluent communities.

“The SNP must tackle drug deaths urgently, reduce NHS waiting lists, improve public health and invest in life sciences so that Scottish families know that their children can grow up to have long and healthy lives.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "Today's figures show a welcome increase in life expectancy - the highest annual improvement over the past decade.

"We're determined to go further, that's why we're focused on action to drive improvements in population health which will help to tackle health inequalities.

"Deprivation is a significant driver of excess mortality and reducing poverty and inequality remains the best way of improving life expectancy, and since 2022-23, we continue to allocate around £3 billion a year to policies which tackle poverty and protect people as far as possible during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis."