Reasons Why Women Live Longer Than Men

By Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD 

You may have heard that women live longer than men, but the reasons for this aren’t as widely known. The the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that the average life expectancy for women and men in the United States is 79.3 years and 73.5 years, respectively.  

There are many theories to explain the longer life expectancy for females, ranging from biological to lifestyle differences. Here are some of the main ideas. 

Many men have riskier jobs and take more risks 

One theory that explains why women live longer than men is that more men are employed in riskier jobs than women. For instance, more men than women work as firefighters, at construction sites, or on the front lines of military action. Plus, men take more risks and are more prone to accidents than women. They may be more likely to not wear a seatbelt, drink alcohol, or smoke. 

Estrogen plays a role in female longevity 

When it comes to longevity, women have estrogen on their side. Research suggests that this hormone may be partially responsible for why women live longer than men. For example, estrogen may influence the expression of genes related to longevity and antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight oxidative stress in the body that comes along with aging.  

Women seek help from doctors 

Risk-taking behaviors and biological mechanisms aside, women may also live longer than men due to lifestyle habits. According to the CDC, women may be up to 33% more likely than men to visit a doctor when something is wrong. Seeking help from a doctor may help women prevent and manage health issues better than men and contribute to their longer life expectancy. 

Men have worse diets than women 

Better dietary choices are another lifestyle habit that may increase longevity for women. Studies suggest that women report limiting or avoiding red meat and white flour and eating fruit and fiber more than men. Since behaviors like eating nutritious foods and fresh meal plans have been linked to better health outcomes, they may be part of the reason why women live longer than men. 

Women are more socially connected than men 

In addition to choosing healthier foods and going to the doctor, women tend to have more social connections than men. This may be especially true later in life. Since loneliness is associated with a higher risk of death from all causes, having strong relationships may be important for increasing longevity. If women are more likely to have wider social networks than men, this may partially explain why they live longer. 

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