Older people with higher income in better health

The higher the income of older age groupss (50-80 years) in the population, the better their physical and mental health is likely to be. In the period 2004–2006, 18 percent of older people in the lowest income categories were in poor physical health and 16 percent in poor mental health. These percentages were 4 and 7 percent points respectively lower for the highest income categories.

Older women have poorer physical and mental health than older men. In spite of this, men and women with a higher income score better on these aspects of health than men and women with a lower income.

50 to 80 year-olds with poor physical and mental health by annual income, 2004/2006