Health inequalities are the unfair and avoidable differences in health between groups of people, often caused by social and economic conditions like income, education, and access to healthcare. These inequalities can harm communities by increasing illness, reducing life expectancy, and placing more pressure on health and social services. They can also deepen poverty, limit opportunities, and weaken social togetherness, making it harder for communities to thrive.
About health inequalities
Here we explain what health inequalities are, why they occur, who they affect, and why reducing unfair, avoidable differences in health between social groups across Europe is important.
Mind the health gap
Podcasts hosted by Mohamed and Beauty, who talk with global health experts such as Professor Marmot and listeners to help break down the modern health issues that affect everyone.
Fair society, healthy lives
A landmark report outlining evidence-based strategies to reduce health inequalities in England by addressing the social conditions that shape people’s health throughout their lives.
Health inequalities and their causes
Explanation on what health inequities are, what causes them, and how social conditions lead to unfair and avoidable differences in health between population groups.
The Marmot review 10 years on
A review of how health inequalities in England have widened since 2010 and what actions are needed to improve health and reduce unfair disparities.
Closing the gap on a generation
Report explaining how unfair and avoidable health inequalities arise and outlines global actions needed to close the health gap within a generation.
Health inequalities in the older generation
Report examines how social, economic, and life‑course factors create significant health inequalities among older adults, highlighting that poverty and disadvantage strongly predict poorer health.
What drives health inequalities?
The Health Foundation’s Evidence Hub provides data, insights and analysis showing how the conditions in which people live – such as housing, work and income – shape health and inequalities.
What is happening to life expectancy in England?
Analysis explaining how life expectancy in England has stalled, why it fell sharply during the Covid‑19 pandemic, and how widening inequalities are shaping current and future trends.
The class divide: Part 1
In a unique experiment, a private head, his state school counterpart and six of their pupils spend a week in each other’s worlds.
The class divide: Part 2
In the second part of the experiment, when given the chance, will a troublesome boy perform better at a private school than a state school?
The life scientific
Professor Marmot discusses how social inequality and stress influence health and why lower social status is linked to shorter life expectancy.
What are health inequalities?
Find out what health inequalities are, why they arise, and how avoidable, unfair and systematic differences in people’s health are shaped by factors.
Health inequalities and the impact of COVID-19
Explore how longstanding social inequalities worsened the health impacts of COVID‑19, highlighting the complex, intersecting factors that increased risks.
