Globally, women tend to outlive men. This is a consistent trend observed across numerous countries. The difference in life expectancy varies, but it's significant.
The Gender Gap in Life Expectancy
Several sources confirm this disparity:
- Our World in Data: Reports a 5-year gap in global life expectancy in 2021, with women averaging 73.8 years and men 68.4 years. https://ourworldindata.org/why-do-women-live-longer-than-men
- Harvard Health: Notes a roughly 5-year longer lifespan for women in the U.S. and a 7-year difference worldwide. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-men-often-die-earlier-than-women-201602199137
- TIME: States that U.S. women are projected to live about six years longer than men, citing factors like COVID-19 and drug overdose deaths disproportionately affecting men. https://time.com/6334873/u-s-life-expectancy-gender-gap/
- European Institute for Gender Equality: In 2017, a baby girl born in the EU was expected to live 84 years, compared to 78 years for a baby boy. https://eige.europa.eu/publications-resources/toolkits-guides/gender-equality-index-2019-report/women-live-longer-poorer-health?language_content_entity=en
While the exact reasons for this difference are complex and multifaceted, the consistent observation across various studies and geographic locations strongly supports the conclusion that women, on average, live longer than men.
