Why Do Women Live Longer? A Study Offers Clues To Close the Gap

When it comes to longevity, women are much more likely to outlive men. In the U.S., the gap widened to 5.8 years in 2021. On average, men can expect to live just shy of 76 years, compared to 81 for women.

A new study from researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, shows this gap is true across different species. And the findings, published in the journal Science Advances, suggest there may be ways human males can narrow the gap.

The study found that among 528 species of mammals — including humans’ closest relative the chimpanzee — females often have the advantage. Females live about 13% longer in 72% of species.

A mix of factors explains the gap, including genetics, mating habits — which tend to bring on risky behaviors among males — and caretaking responsibilities.

“What we found is that this female advantage in longevity is part of the evolution of mammals. It goes back millions of years,” says study author Fernando Colchero. Females have two X chromosomes, compared to an X and Y for males, which may provide a protective “backup” against potentially harmful genetic mutations. But the differences extend well beyond this.