Health
Why women live longer than men (and how to close the gap)
Australian women live an average of 4 years longer than men due to a combination of biological and social factors. While genetic differences can’t be changed, there are several steps we can take to help reduce the longevity gap.
By Sabrina Rogers-Anderson
Australians enjoy one of the highest life expectancies in the world, ranking 7th out of 38 countries in 2023 with an average of 83.2 years.
But Aussie women come out on top, outliving their male counterparts by an average of 4 years. Women born in 2021-2023 are expected to live to 85.1 years compared to 81.1 years for men.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a significantly lower life expectancy due to higher rates of chronic disease and social determinants of health including education and access to health care. First Nations men born in 2020-2022 can expect to live to 71.9 years and women to 75.6 years.
It’s not just in Australia that women live longer than men. According to the World Health Organization, this is the case everywhere in the world – especially in wealthy countries.
But why? Here are 4 factors that may come into play and what we can do to close the gap.
1. Lifestyle and behavioural factors
“Men are more prone to risk-taking and more likely than women to be employed in jobs that are physically dangerous and exhausting,” says Professor Séverine Lamon, PhD, Australian Research Council Future Fellow.
“They’re also less likely to see a doctor or a mental health professional, to follow up on medical advice, to change their behaviour and to engage in preventative care. Men tend to have fewer social connections than women as they age and be lonelier, which negatively impacts health. Suicide rates are also much higher in men than in women.”
2. Having two X chromosomes may offer genetic protection
The Y chromosome that only men possess tends to develop more abnormalities. Scientists also believe that women’s second X chromosome may serve as reinforcement if something goes wrong with the first.
“In this context only, I will define biological females as having 2 X chromosomes and biological males as having 1 X and 1 Y chromosome,” says Prof Lamon. “We receive 1 X chromosome from our mother and either an X or a Y chromosome from our father.
“In females, the extra X chromosome is mostly inactivated because it's not very useful to have the same genetic information twice. But if there’s a genetic defect on one X, the other one might be able to jump in as a back-up. This is a bit of an oversimplified view, but having two copies of the X chromosome may protect women from harmful mutations on one of them.”
There are also a number of genes on the X chromosome that are linked to immune function. “As such, females have a stronger immune response than males and may more effectively fight off infection and disease,” explains Prof Lamon.
3. Oestrogen protects the nervous system and heart
While both males and females produce the hormone oestrogen, women’s levels are much higher. Beyond its role in sexual and reproductive health, oestrogen is emerging as a significant player in a variety of biological processes.
It appears to have a neuroprotective effect and may play a role in staving off neurological diseases. “One example is Parkinson’s disease, which is more prevalent and severe in males than in females,” says Prof Lamon. “This might be because males don’t benefit from the neuroprotective effects of oestrogen.
“There's also literature suggesting that oestrogen has a cardioprotective effect. It could protect females from heart disease and other cardiometabolic conditions compared to males. But it also means that these protective effects diminish after menopause.”
Read this too: What every woman needs to know before, during and after menopause
4. Epigenetic factors
In addition to the genes that are passed down to us from our parents, epigenetics – how our environment influences how our genes are expressed – also play a huge role in our longevity.
“Epigenetics literally means on top of genetics,” explains Prof Lamon. “You can think about it as little switches that switch parts of our DNA on and off. For example, if you smoke, it would have an influence on these molecular switches.
“When you consider that men have higher rates of smoking, drinking and poor diets, all of these habits can influence their epigenetics and make them age faster. If you look at the trajectories of epigenetic ageing before menopause, males clearly age faster than females. The rates [of ageing] become about the same around menopause, but this still leaves females with an advantage when it comes to longevity.”
How to close the longevity gap
While genetic differences can’t be altered, there are some steps we can take both individually and societally to address the longevity gap between men and women.
1. Support behavioural and lifestyle changes
“Modifying behavioural factors is one of the best ways to increase longevity and that should be tackled at the public health level,” says Prof Lamon. “Campaigns against smoking can be very effective and help increase longevity, especially in men who are more likely to smoke than women. In Australia, smoking has become a thing of the past [thanks to these campaigns].
“Research has also shown that lifelong exposure to exercise is able to slow down epigenetic ageing. But it's never too late to start exercising, eating a healthy diet and making other positive lifestyle changes. Exercising at some point in time will always be better than not exercising at all.”
Start here: Slow and steady: commit to just 15 minutes of daily exercise
2. Encourage men to seek help
While the stigma around men seeking medical and mental health support is slowly changing, there’s still a long way to go.
“Anything that can help men reduce anxiety, depression and loneliness towards the end of life, such as remaining active in society and building a support network of friends, neighbours and community, will contribute to closing the gap,” says Prof Lamon.
Where men can get help
Staying on top of your health checks is a crucial step towards living a long and healthy life. Talk to your GP about the tests you need for your age or download our free guide, Vital health checks for Australians aged 50 to 60.
If you need mental health support, the following helplines are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:
- Lifeline: 13 11 14
- MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978
- Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
- National Alcohol and Other Drugs Hotline: 1800 250 015
If your life or someone else’s is in immediate danger, call 000 immediately.
The information on this page is general information and should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Do not use the information found on this page as a substitute for professional health care advice. Any information you find on this page or on external sites which are linked to on this page should be verified with your professional health care provider.
Feature image: iStock/NoSystem images
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