Why do women live longer than men?

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The evidence is overwhelming. Women drive men out across parentheses of all cultures, countries, income levels and wealth. Usually, women live five years longer, with the widest gender gap in life expectancy in Eastern Europe, with women surviving men on an average of 10 years.

However, in some countries, this gap is now growing. During the pandemic, the gender gap in life expectancy in the UK has increased from 3.7 years to 4.1, according to ONS. The gap has recently increased in the US to a record high of six years since the 1990s.

What is the reason behind this growth trend? The answer still confuses scientists, but there are some indications of what may be responsible. Female sex hormones such as estrogens are associated with longer lifespans. Women also tend to have a stronger immune system, and some studies show that older women are far more resilient to infection than older men. Interestingly, these findings are consistent in many other mammals.

For humans, lifestyle factors also flourish in photography. It has been found that women are less likely to smoke or smoke drinks frequently. Both are significantly correlated with mortality. And women are more likely to socialize, especially in their later years. This is a factor that has been found to significantly increase the average life expectancy of both sexes. Men are also more likely to take more risks.

Wealth and income do not seem to have a major impact on the gender life expectancy gap, but they help people live longer. In the UK, for example, the wealthiest brackets could live nine years longer than the poor group. This finding is broadly consistent across genders.

So, what do you think is the driving force behind the widening gender longevity gap: biology, lifestyle, or wealth? Let us know what you think by voting in our polls or commenting under the line.