⚠️This fact has been debunked
Historical evidence shows that women have NOT always lived longer than men. In medieval England, men and women lived to similar ages (around 32 years). Some periods even showed men outliving women. The modern pattern of women consistently living longer than men only emerged in the late 1800s, when death rates began decreasing faster among women in developed countries. Before 1880, death rates were essentially the same between sexes.
On average, women have always lived longer than men.
Have Women Always Lived Longer Than Men?
It's a well-known fact today that women tend to outlive men—in 2021, the global gap was about 5 years. But has this always been the case? Surprisingly, no. The female longevity advantage is actually a relatively recent phenomenon in human history.
Medieval Times: No Gender Gap
Research on medieval England paints a very different picture from today. Both men and women during the Medieval Period lived to around the same ages—approximately 32 years on average. Life was brutal and short for everyone, regardless of gender. Some elite men even had higher life expectancy than average women during certain periods.
Historical documents from as early as the 14th century suggested women might live longer, but empirical data tells another story. Accurate death records for both sexes generally don't appear until the 18th century, and when they do, they show rough parity between the sexes.
When Did Women Start Living Longer?
The tide began to turn in the late 1800s. Around 1880 in developed countries, death rates started decreasing faster among women than men. Before that? The rates were essentially the same.
By 1900 in the United States, women had pulled slightly ahead with a life expectancy of 48.3 years compared to men's 46.3 years—a modest 2-year gap. Throughout the 20th century, that gap widened considerably, peaking at over 6 years in many countries.
Why the Change?
Several factors contributed to women's growing longevity advantage:
- Maternal mortality decline: Advances in medicine made childbirth far less deadly
- Occupational hazards: Men historically worked more dangerous jobs
- Behavioral differences: Higher rates of smoking and risk-taking among men
- Biological factors: Possible genetic advantages for women in immune function
Today, women outlive men in nearly every country on Earth. Only a handful of nations—Afghanistan, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Namibia, and Zimbabwe—buck this trend, often due to high maternal mortality rates or conflict.
So while it feels like women have always had the upper hand in longevity, history tells us this advantage is only about 150 years old—a blip in the timeline of human existence.