SCOTS are living longer but still die earlier than people in most European countries, new figures reveal.

And only three Scottish council areas - including East Dunbartonshire - have residents whose life expectancy is better than the UK average.

Figures from the General Register Office for Scotland show Glasgow has the shortest male life expectancy for men, at 70.8 years, while East Dunbartonshire has the longest, at 78.

Glasgow also has the lowest life expectancy for women, at 77.1 years.

Scots have among the lowest life expectancy of 27 European countries, with men having lives 0.4 years shorter than the EU average and women nearly two years shorter.

For both, life expectancy is four years shorter than in the countries with the longest life expectancy - Cyprus and Sweden for men, and France and Spain for woman. Only the former Soviet bloc states rank below Scotland.

Compared with 10 years ago, Scots' life expectancy has improved by two-and-a-half years for men and by nearly two years for women.