Why women live longer than men

The direct reduction in deaths due to infectious diseases was important, but it was not the main factor explaining the growth in the life expectancy gap between men and women. In terms of the gap, what seems to have made a difference was the long-run indirect effect for survivors: Those who survive infectious diseases often carry a health burden that affects organs and this makes them more vulnerable later on in life. Rheumatic fever, for example, often damages the valves of the heart and leads to rheumatic heart disease later in life.

This relationship between infectious disease in early life and later-life health has been recognized in the medical sciences ; but there are few estimates of the impact at the population level. So the sizeable impact on life expectancy found by Lleras-Muney and Goldin actually has practical relevance for policy today — it suggests that in places where mortality from infectious diseases remains high , the return from investing in treating these diseases may be much larger than we think, because of the long-run indirect health benefits for survivors.

As we were writing this article we reviewed many academic articles, some of which are not directly referenced in the text above. We have compiled them in this short literature review document. Everywhere in the world women tend to live longer than men. Click to open interactive version. In rich countries the female advantage in longevity used to be smaller. The female advantage in life expectancy is partly, but not entirely, driven by higher chances of surviving childhood.

What explains the female advantage and why has it changed over time? What are the open questions? A concluding remark. Further reading. Wordpress Edit Page. Our World in Data is free and accessible for everyone. Help us do this work by making a donation. By Markham Heid. Get our Health Newsletter. Sign up to receive the latest health and science news, plus answers to wellness questions and expert tips. Please enter a valid email address. Please attempt to sign up again.

Sign Up Now. An unexpected error has occurred with your sign up. Please try again later. Check here if you would like to receive subscription offers and other promotions via email from TIME group companies. You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Thank you! The map below illustrates the gender gap in life expectancy worldwide. The female advantage is highest in Russia, 13 years, because of the increase in mortality rates for men during most of the last four decades.

The interesting aspect of the life expectancy gap in more developed countries like the United States is that it rose throughout much of the last century.

What explains this persistent difference? Part of the answer is behavioral. Men are more likely to smoke than women and are also more likely to take risks, making them more susceptible to life-threatening injuries.