To determine if since 1997 there has been a change in the gap in life expectancy between those of higher and lower educational level.

Statistical analysis of register and survey data.

Linkage of data from municipal population registers and the Labour Force Survey of Statistics Netherlands.

Life expectancy of both men and women was positively correlated with level of education. The life expectancy of Dutch men increased by about two years in the period 1997-2005, irrespective of level of education. Women gained about one year, but life expectancy among those of both lower and higher levels of education stagnated. During the study period the gap in life expectancy between these educational extremes remained almost constant at about 5 to 6 years.

Our findings point to both favourable and unfavourable trends. All population groups seemed to have profited from a recent relatively strong increase in life expectancy which is clearly a positive development. Less favourable was the fact that the gap between those of lower and higher educational level had not decreased.