How long people live is influenced by much more than biology. Access to
healthcare, income, education, working conditions, behavior, chronic disease,
injury risk and the environment around us can all influence population health.
One of the clearest patterns in U.S. mortality statistics is that women have
historically lived longer than men.

But that advantage is not fixed. According to final 2024 data from the
CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), life expectancy
at birth was 81.4 years for U.S. females and
76.5 years for U.S. males. That represents a difference of
4.9 years. In 2023, the difference was 5.3 years, meaning the gap narrowed
by 0.4 year in 2024.

That change raises an important question: if women still live longer on
average, why is the longevity gap getting smaller? The answer is complicated.
It involves changes in mortality among men, chronic diseases affecting both
sexes, behavioral patterns, healthcare, socioeconomic conditions and
biological differences.

What the Latest U.S. Numbers Tell Us

The most recent final mortality data from the CDC show that life expectancy
increased for both women and men between 2023 and 2024. However, the increase
was larger for men, which is why the female–male gap became smaller.

Female vs. Male Life Expectancy

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center
for Health Statistics, Mortality in the United States, 2024.

Why Have Women Historically Lived Longer?

The female longevity advantage is not the result of one simple cause.
Researchers have examined biological, behavioral and social explanations,
and the evidence points to an interaction between many factors.

Biological differences may play a role

Sex-related biological differences may influence cardiovascular health,
immune responses, metabolism and other processes associated with aging.
Hormones, chromosomes and differences in biological aging have all been
studied as possible contributors to the longevity difference.

However, it would be misleading to describe one biological mechanism as
the definitive reason women live longer. Human longevity is influenced by
multiple interacting factors, and population differences cannot be reduced
to biology alone.

Behavior and risk exposure also matter

Differences in health-related behaviors and exposure to certain risks can
influence mortality. Smoking, alcohol use, occupational hazards, road
injuries, violence, substance use and other external causes of death have
not affected women and men in exactly the same way.

These patterns can be especially important because deaths occurring earlier
in adulthood have a larger effect on life expectancy than deaths occurring
at very advanced ages.

Healthcare and prevention contribute too

Women and men may differ in when and how they interact with healthcare
services. Preventive care, screening, treatment of chronic conditions and
timely management of health problems can all influence outcomes.

Healthcare utilization is only one part of the picture, however. The ability
to obtain care, afford medication, take time away from work, access healthy
food and live in a safe environment can also shape health outcomes.

Why Is the Longevity Gap Shrinking?

The latest numbers provide an important clue. Between 2023 and 2024,
female life expectancy increased by 0.3 year, while male life expectancy
increased by 0.7 year. As a result, the difference between the two groups
decreased from 5.3 years to 4.9 years.

A narrowing gap does not mean that women are suddenly
losing their longevity advantage. Women continued to have the higher
life expectancy in 2024. Instead, the change means that mortality improved
more for men than for women during that particular period.

Several forces can influence the difference

• Changes in premature mortality:
  Deaths occurring among younger and middle-aged adults can have a
  disproportionate effect on life expectancy.
• Chronic disease:
  Cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and other chronic conditions
  influence mortality patterns for both sexes.
• External causes:
  Injuries, overdoses and other external causes of death can affect
  male mortality particularly strongly in some age groups.
• Changes in healthcare and prevention:
  Improvements in diagnosis, treatment and prevention can affect
  mortality differently across populations.
• Social and economic conditions:
  Employment, income, education, housing, environment and access to
  healthcare all contribute to population health.

The broader lesson is that the longevity gap is not a fixed biological
constant. It can change as health risks, medical care, behavior and social
conditions change.

What Happens After Age 65?

Life expectancy at birth is only one way to look at longevity. Another
useful measure is the number of additional years people are expected to
live after reaching age 65.

In 2024, the CDC estimated remaining life expectancy at age 65 at
20.8 years for females and 18.4 years for males.
The female–male difference at age 65 was therefore 2.4 years.

This is different from the 4.9-year gap at birth. It illustrates why
longevity statistics should always be interpreted in context: the size
of the difference depends on the age at which life expectancy is measured.

Life Expectancy Is Not the Same for Every U.S. Population

National averages can hide substantial differences between populations.
Life expectancy varies by race and Hispanic origin, geography,
socioeconomic circumstances and other factors.

These differences should not be interpreted as biological rankings.
Population health is shaped by a complex combination of income, education,
healthcare access, neighborhood conditions, occupational exposures,
environmental factors, chronic disease, discrimination and many other
influences.

For that reason, this article does not present a simple ranking of racial
or ethnic groups as though one number could explain the health experience
of every woman. The CDC’s mortality and life-table datasets provide the
appropriate context for examining differences between populations.

Heart Disease Remains a Major Concern for Women

Living longer does not mean women are protected from serious chronic
disease. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death among
women in the United States.

According to the CDC, heart disease was responsible for
304,970 deaths among U.S. women in 2023, representing
about one in five female deaths that year.

Important cardiovascular risk factors include high blood pressure,
high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, physical inactivity and other
individual and environmental factors. Women can also experience heart
disease differently at different stages of life.

The practical lesson is not that every woman needs the same medical
screening schedule. Rather, cardiovascular risk should be discussed
with a healthcare professional based on age, family history, symptoms,
existing conditions and other individual factors.

The Biological Side of Female Longevity

Biology is one part of the longevity story. Researchers have investigated
the possible roles of sex hormones, sex chromosomes, immune function,
cellular aging and other biological differences.

Estrogen, for example, has important effects on several body systems,
including the cardiovascular system. However, it would be inaccurate to
turn this into a simple claim that estrogen alone explains women’s longer
lives. Hormonal changes across the life course are complex, and individual
health outcomes vary considerably.

The strongest explanation is therefore a combination of biology and
lived experience rather than a single “female longevity gene” or
one protective hormone.

Living Longer Does Not Always Mean Living Healthier

One of the most important distinctions in conversations about longevity
is the difference between lifespan and
healthspan.

Lifespan refers to how long a person lives. Healthspan refers more broadly
to the years spent in relatively good health and with the ability to
participate in everyday life.

A longer average lifespan is valuable, but the quality of those additional
years matters too. Chronic disease, mobility limitations, cognitive
problems and loss of independence can affect later life even when a
person reaches an advanced age.

Practical Ways to Support Healthy Aging

No lifestyle strategy can guarantee a particular lifespan. However,
several broadly established health behaviors can support cardiovascular,
metabolic, muscular and overall wellbeing.

1. Know your cardiovascular risk factors.
   Keep track of health measures that your healthcare professional
   recommends, such as blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose.
   Ask what your personal risk factors mean rather than relying on
   population averages.
2. Stay physically active.
   Regular movement supports cardiovascular fitness, muscle function,
   mobility and overall health. Include activities appropriate for your
   age, abilities and health status.
3. Protect muscle and bone strength.
   Resistance and weight-bearing activities can be useful components of
   healthy aging. If you have an injury, chronic condition or other
   limitation, ask a qualified professional how to exercise safely.
4. Build a balanced eating pattern.
   A varied diet that includes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes,
   nuts, adequate protein and other nutrient-rich foods can support
   overall health. Individual dietary needs vary.
5. Protect sleep and social wellbeing.
   Consistent sleep, meaningful relationships and opportunities for
   social connection are important parts of overall wellbeing. Persistent
   sleep or mental-health concerns deserve professional attention.

Why Social and Economic Conditions Matter

Longevity is not determined entirely by individual choices. Where a person
lives, works and ages can affect the opportunities available to maintain
good health.

Access to healthcare, affordable medicines, nutritious food, safe housing,
transportation, education, stable employment and clean environments can
all influence health outcomes.

This is why telling people simply to “make healthier choices” can be
incomplete. Personal behavior matters, but health is also shaped by the
circumstances in which people make those choices.

What the Longevity Gap Means for Women

The latest statistics provide both good news and an important reminder.
Women continue to have a longer average life expectancy than men in the
United States. At the same time, the advantage is not permanent or
guaranteed.

The narrowing gap also demonstrates why longevity should not be treated
as a competition between women and men. Changes in mortality can affect
both groups, and the reasons behind those changes are often connected to
broader public-health conditions.

For individual women, the most useful takeaway is to focus less on a
single life-expectancy number and more on the factors that can support
health and independence throughout the years: preventive care, physical
activity, nutritious eating, adequate sleep, social connection and
appropriate management of health risks.

Frequently Asked Questions