Why Do Women Live Longer Than Men?
My wife and I have a running joke about why it is better to be a man than a woman. I promise it is not weird or chauvinistic. She always starts the conversation by saying “ Reason number xx why it is better to be a man, and then goes on to explain her case”. I just nod. The reason number is up into the hundreds.( She could have stopped at childbirth.) At times I think she has always wanted to be a man. OK, now it is getting kinda weird.
However, there is one very significant life factor where women hold a distinct advantage- longevity. Women live longer than men.
If there any men out there who think women are the weaker sex, may I suggest you think again.
With respect to the most essential proof of robustness, the power to stay alive, women win by an average of 5-7 years. By the age of 85 there are roughly six women to every four men. At the age of 100 the ratio is more than two to one.
Why? Why do women live longer? Great question. And I for one want to learn from the “stronger sex”. What are the aging secrets we men can learn from women?
Female aging secrets according to the experts:
The X Factor: Women are genetically advantaged having two X chromosomes. The male Y chromosome is smaller and carries fewer genes. So in the party of life women brought the entire potluck and us men showed up with a bag of chips. The second X chromosome in females may provide genetic resilience, offering protection from harmful mutations later in life.
Evolution: Do you remember that childbirth thing? The female body is far more important to populating the planet. So evolution has made women physically more resilient.
Hormones: Estrogen is believed to have protective effects on the heart and contribute to lower rates of cardiovascular disease. Testosterone on the other hand can be associated with risky behavior leading to men doing stupid things. Not my opinion. According to the CDC men are 3 to 4 times more likely to die from accidental death…hold my beer moments.
Lifestyle: Women tend to adapt a healthier lifestyle- less smoking and drinking, more exercise, and better food choices. This one is big.
Friends: Women do a much better job at maintaining social connections. According to the Harvard Study of Adult Development, quality relationships are more powerful for long term health than money, nutrition and cholesterol levels. Men by contrast often let friendships slide, and the only group chat on their phone is called Fantasy Football. Nothing wrong with Fantasy Football.
The immune system: Research from the University of Tokyo found that a women’s immune system declines slower compared to men’s. Why? See #1-4 above.
There you have it. Women live longer than men because of biology, lifestyle and social activities.
Or it could be the sheer determination of women not wanting to leave men unsupervised.
Enjoy your day,
Just a little extra-
Well guys, what do you think?
Not much we can do about that extra X chromosome, but we can certainly lean into #4 and 5 above. And the good news- the longevity gap has started to narrow slightly. Men are eating more salads, working out and even starting to read the instructions that come with the Ikea furniture. We can do this!
Truth- Aging well is not about how long we live. It’s about living better. Both genders have plenty to learn from each other. Let me pass you a beer.
References
Kirkwood, Thomas. November 1, 2010. Why Women Live Longer. ScientificAmerica.com
Blanton, Kayla. March 14, 2025. Why Women Live Longer. Prevention
Heid, Markham. February 27, 2015. Why Women Live Longer Than Men. Time
Williams, Mark. February 4, 2017. Why Do Women Live Longer Than Men?. Psychology Today