JSNA Summary

Overall, the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) shows that health needs are connected, rather than separate. Therefore, the evidence often calls for joined-up planning, clearer care pathways, accessible information, and reliable data.

Smoking prevalence is falling and is now estimated to be about 10.6 percent in Kent. However among the working age population, it is considerably higher within routine and manual occupations at 16.5 percent¹. Approximately two-thirds of adults are overweight or living with obesity, and one in six adults are recorded with depression on a GP register¹. The gap in life expectancy between the most and least deprived parts of Kent is 6.0 years for females and 8.6 years for males¹. Between coastal and non-coastal areas, the gap is 2.1 years overall².

The statistics presented on these pages were accurate at the time the original reports were written. It is likely that some statistics are now out of date so please contact us if you wish to re-use anything from this summary.

There are references to Medway because some of the reports cover the combined area of Kent and Medway. Medway Council has a separate JSNA process which provides a comprehensive review of health and wellbeing needs. It is available online (Medway’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) | Medway Council)

1. Office for Health Improvement & Disparities. Public Health Profiles. [Accessed 17 Oct 2026] https://fingertips.phe.org.uk © Crown copyright [2026].
2. Kent Public Health Observatory. Inequalities in Mortality between Coastal and Non Coastal Areas in Kent. 13 Feb. 2026.