Male and Female Life Expectancy in the United States
Graph of the Week
This week’s graph, courtesy of a recent report by the National Center for Health Statistics, illustrates male and female life expectancy in the United States for the years 2019-2022.
Key Points
Life expectancy for both males and females decreased from 2019 to 2021.
Life expectancy increased in 2022 but remained less than life expectancy in 2019.
Life expectancy was lower among males than females each year. In 2022, life expectancy for males was approximately 5.5 years less than for females.
Source: QuickStats: Life Expectancy at Birth, by Sex — United States, 2019–2022. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2024;73:293.
Bonus commentary
The primary driver behind the decrease in life expectancy from 2019 was death associated with COVID-19. The sex difference in life expectancy has existed for many years. However, the size of this “lifespan gender gap” has changed throughout history, owing to the fact that many causes of early mortality among men are preventable or modifiable. Key ways to prevent early mortality among males (and females) include not smoking, not using drugs, limiting alcohol use, eating a healthy diet, regularly participating in physical exercise, and seeing doctors and mental health professionals for check-ups and care when appropriate.
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