Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Ireland
Ireland: Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth was 4.11 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
4.11
Change on year
down 1.9%
World rank
172nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
5.9
in 1979
All-time low
2.23
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Ireland, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Ireland stood at 4.11.
The figure is down 1.9% on the previous year and up 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Ireland peaked at 5.9 in 1979 and was at its lowest, 2.23, in 1950.
Ireland ranks 172nd of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2.23 | — |
| 1951 | 2.6 | +16.4% |
| 1952 | 2.92 | +12.4% |
| 1953 | 2.53 | -13.4% |
| 1954 | 3.24 | +28.0% |
| 1955 | 3.17 | -2.3% |
| 1956 | 3.39 | +7.0% |
| 1957 | 3.15 | -7.1% |
| 1958 | 3.56 | +13.2% |
| 1959 | 3.82 | +7.3% |
| 1960 | 3.5 | -8.3% |
| 1961 | 3.75 | +7.0% |
| 1962 | 4.14 | +10.4% |
| 1963 | 3.97 | -4.1% |
| 1964 | 4.11 | +3.4% |
| 1965 | 4.39 | +6.8% |
| 1966 | 4.35 | -0.9% |
| 1967 | 4.44 | +2.1% |
| 1968 | 4.55 | +2.5% |
| 1969 | 4.36 | -4.2% |
| 1970 | 4.75 | +9.0% |
| 1971 | 4.89 | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 4.98 | +1.8% |
| 1973 | 5.17 | +3.8% |
| 1974 | 5.2 | +0.6% |
| 1975 | 5.28 | +1.6% |
| 1976 | 5.12 | -3.2% |
| 1977 | 5.13 | +0.4% |
| 1978 | 5.43 | +5.7% |
| 1979 | 5.9 | +8.8% |
| 1980 | 5.46 | -7.5% |
| 1981 | 5.72 | +4.7% |
| 1982 | 5.61 | -1.8% |
| 1983 | 5.81 | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 5.64 | -3.0% |
| 1985 | 5.87 | +4.1% |
| 1986 | 5.78 | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 5.71 | -1.2% |
| 1988 | 5.62 | -1.5% |
| 1989 | 5.56 | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 5.61 | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 5.62 | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 5.61 | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 5.6 | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 5.61 | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 5.55 | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 5.64 | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 5.31 | -5.8% |
| 1998 | 5.68 | +7.0% |
| 1999 | 5.42 | -4.7% |
| 2000 | 5.24 | -3.3% |
| 2001 | 5.28 | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 5.32 | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 4.92 | -7.4% |
| 2004 | 4.98 | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 4.59 | -7.9% |
| 2006 | 4.77 | +3.9% |
| 2007 | 4.62 | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 4.61 | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 4.79 | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 4.53 | -5.5% |
| 2011 | 4.37 | -3.6% |
| 2012 | 4.3 | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 4.09 | -5.0% |
| 2014 | 4.09 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 3.81 | -7.0% |
| 2016 | 3.83 | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 3.65 | -4.7% |
| 2018 | 3.75 | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 3.99 | +6.4% |
| 2020 | 3.61 | -9.5% |
| 2021 | 3.69 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 4.19 | +13.4% |
| 2023 | 4.11 | -1.9% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 4.11 is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.98, 82% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 4.11 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.4, 76% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.06 | 2.23 | 3.82 | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.16 | 3.5 | 4.55 | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.19 | 4.75 | 5.9 | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.68 | 5.46 | 5.87 | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.56 | 5.31 | 5.68 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.91 | 4.59 | 5.32 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.04 | 3.65 | 4.53 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.9 | 3.61 | 4.19 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 169 Eritrea 4.15 compare
- 170 Comoros 4.15 compare
- 171 Cote d'Ivoire 4.12 compare
- 173 Burundi 4.1 compare
- 174 Falkland Islands 4.09 compare
- 175 Saudi Arabia 4.06 compare
More health data for Ireland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -4.76 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.89 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 20 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7228 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.026 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.6489 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0274 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Ireland?
- Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Ireland was 4.11 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest difference in female and male life expectancy at birth recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 5.9 in 1979.
- What is the lowest difference in female and male life expectancy at birth recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.23 in 1950.
- How does Ireland rank for difference in female and male life expectancy at birth?
- Ireland ranks 172nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is difference in female and male life expectancy at birth rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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