MEN in the Borders are living longer than almost anywhere else in Scotland.

And women in the area can expect to survive over two and a half years longer than they would have done at the start of the century.

Figures published by the National Records of Scotland show that the Borders is near the top of the table for life expectancy.

On average men in the area will survive until the age of 79.3, giving them two and half years more life compared to Scotland as a whole.

Only the East Dunbartonshire Council area, with an average life span for men of 80.5 years, is higher.

The Borders takes second place for the biggest improvement in female life expectancy (2.6 years longer) since 2001-2003.

Life expectancy at birth is continuing to rise throughout Scotland and is now 76.8 years for males and 80.9 years for females.

Tim Ellis, the chief executive of National Records of Scotland, said: “This report shows that life expectancy continues to vary widely across Scotland.

“It is highest in East Dunbartonshire and lowest in Glasgow City Council for both men and women. People living in rural areas, in general, live longer than those in more urban areas.

“Men in the least deprived areas of Scotland may live 12.5 years longer than those in the most deprived areas while women in the least deprived areas could expect to live 8.5 years longer than those in the most deprived.” The Borders tops the table for the NHS Board area with the highest male life expectancy - and this is line with the figure of 79.2 years for males in remote rural areas.

Living in less-populated areas such as the Borders is clearly the key to a longer life for both sexes with men surviving 3.6 years longer than in large urban areas and women 2.3 years more.

Life expectancy at birth increases as deprivation decreases, with the figure for males in the 10 per cent least deprived areas of Scotland (82.4 years) being 12.5 years more than males in the 10 per cent most deprived areas (69.9 years).

Females in the 10 per cent least deprived areas of Scotland can expect to live for 84.8 years, 8.5 years longer than those in the 10 per cent most deprived areas (76.3 years).

Scottish males and females have the lowest life expectancy at birth in the United Kingdom. The figure for males is 2.1 years lower than the UK average and for females is 1.8 years lower.

In Scotland, men and women can expect to live shorter lives (by 2.4 years and 2.1 years respectively) than in England, where male and female life expectancy is the highest in the UK.

Amongst European Union countries, male life expectancy was highest in England (79.2 years), 2.4 years higher than in Scotland. Female life expectancy was highest in Spain (84.7 years), 3.8 years higher than in Scotland.

the gap between Scottish and English life expectancy for both males and females has widened since 1980-1982 by 0.4 years for both males and females.

At the age of 65 men in Scotland can expect to live for a further 17.3 years and females a further 19.6 years.