U.S. Men’s Life Expectancy Gap Widens to Largest Since 1996 Amid Public Health Crises and Covid-19 Impact
November 13, 2023
The life expectancy of men in the U.S. is about six years shorter than women, according to new research, with the current average for men being 73.2 years and 79.1 years for women. This gap is the most significant disparity since 1996. Contributing to this trend is the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in a substantial drop in overall U.S. life expectancy from 78.8 years in 2019 to 76.1 years in 2022. This life expectancy differential places the U.S. behind other wealthy countries, such as Japan, Korea, Portugal, the U.K., and Italy, with a life expectancy of 80 years or more. The research suggests that factors like the opioid epidemic, mental health issues, and chronic diseases, which affect men more, have widened the gap. Additionally, preventable causes of death, including COVID-19, after the availability of vaccines, contribute to the trend. The researcher also highlighted the importance of societal norms around masculinity in men’s health-seeking behaviors, with plans to further investigate racial and ethnic differences.
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[Source: STAT, November 13th, 2023]
