Women have a higher average life expectancy than men across most human populations
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
confidence 82/100
Extensive demographic and global health data consistently demonstrate that women have a higher average life expectancy than men across the vast majority of human populations.
Evidence for · 7
Global Trends in Life Expectancy and Healthy Life Expectancy
2023 · cited by 10
Global health data shows women consistently maintain higher average life expectancy across various regional income levels.
See more details
More for · 6
How Cause-Specific Mortality Contributes to Sex Differences in Life Expectancy over Time. Trends in Utah and Denmark
2025 · cited by 0
Comparative demographic studies confirm that female life expectancy exceeds male life expectancy driven largely by cardiovascular and behavioral differences.
The gender gap in mortality: How much is explained by behavior?
2017 · cited by 0
Econometric models of health deficit accumulation show that behavioral factors and preferences account for a major portion of the female longevity advantage.
Women live longer than men.
2013 · cited by 0
Demographic literature establishes that women live longer than men globally, typically by several years depending on the socioeconomic context.
Gender gap in life expectancy: the impact of mortality from external causes in Minas Gerais, Brazil (1980-2018).
2026 · cited by 0
Regional studies on mortality disparities consistently document a male disadvantage in life expectancy due to higher external and preventable causes of death.
The Gender Gap in Reaching "Old Age" in the Russian Federation: A Regional Approach.
2021 · cited by 0
Spatial analyses in diverse settings such as Russia continue to highlight a pronounced gender gap in reaching older ages, driven by higher male mortality.
Why do women live longer than men, but spend more time in poor health? A decomposition analysis of the gender gap in unhealthy life years across Europe.
2026 · cited by 0
Decomposition analyses across European countries confirm the longevity hypothesis, showing women consistently achieve higher life expectancies than men.