Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in United States
United States: Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth was 4.98 in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
4.98
Change on year
down 8.7%
World rank
121st
of 236 countries
All-time high
7.73
in 1975
All-time low
3.61
in 1933
Years of data
91
1933–2023
Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in United States, 1933–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in United States is 4.98, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 8.7% on the previous year and up 5.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in United States peaked at 7.73 in 1975 and was at its lowest, 3.61, in 1933.
That places United States 121st out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1933 | 3.61 | — |
| 1934 | 4.01 | +11.1% |
| 1935 | 4.07 | +1.5% |
| 1936 | 4.25 | +4.4% |
| 1937 | 4.37 | +2.8% |
| 1938 | 4.08 | -6.6% |
| 1939 | 4.12 | +1.0% |
| 1940 | 4.42 | +7.3% |
| 1941 | 4.68 | +5.9% |
| 1942 | 4.92 | +5.1% |
| 1943 | 4.99 | +1.4% |
| 1944 | 5.22 | +4.6% |
| 1945 | 5.38 | +3.1% |
| 1946 | 5.29 | -1.7% |
| 1947 | 5.23 | -1.1% |
| 1948 | 5.41 | +3.4% |
| 1949 | 5.5 | +1.7% |
| 1950 | 5.62 | +2.1% |
| 1951 | 5.81 | +3.4% |
| 1952 | 5.95 | +2.5% |
| 1953 | 6.12 | +2.8% |
| 1954 | 6.12 | +0.1% |
| 1955 | 6.22 | +1.7% |
| 1956 | 6.34 | +1.8% |
| 1957 | 6.38 | +0.7% |
| 1958 | 6.4 | +0.2% |
| 1959 | 6.56 | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 6.69 | +2.0% |
| 1961 | 6.67 | -0.3% |
| 1962 | 6.71 | +0.6% |
| 1963 | 6.87 | +2.4% |
| 1964 | 6.99 | +1.8% |
| 1965 | 7.13 | +2.0% |
| 1966 | 7.28 | +2.0% |
| 1967 | 7.4 | +1.7% |
| 1968 | 7.53 | +1.8% |
| 1969 | 7.63 | +1.3% |
| 1970 | 7.63 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 7.59 | -0.6% |
| 1972 | 7.69 | +1.4% |
| 1973 | 7.7 | +0.2% |
| 1974 | 7.66 | -0.6% |
| 1975 | 7.73 | +1.0% |
| 1976 | 7.6 | -1.7% |
| 1977 | 7.67 | +1.0% |
| 1978 | 7.6 | -0.9% |
| 1979 | 7.65 | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 7.49 | -2.1% |
| 1981 | 7.39 | -1.3% |
| 1982 | 7.27 | -1.6% |
| 1983 | 7.12 | -2.1% |
| 1984 | 7.05 | -1.0% |
| 1985 | 7.1 | +0.7% |
| 1986 | 7.12 | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 7.04 | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 6.98 | -0.8% |
| 1989 | 6.96 | -0.3% |
| 1990 | 6.99 | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 6.93 | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 6.86 | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 6.76 | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 6.67 | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 6.5 | -2.5% |
| 1996 | 6.15 | -5.4% |
| 1997 | 5.83 | -5.1% |
| 1998 | 5.62 | -3.6% |
| 1999 | 5.43 | -3.5% |
| 2000 | 5.31 | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 5.25 | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 5.23 | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 5.17 | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 5.1 | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 5.12 | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 5.09 | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 5.05 | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 4.94 | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 4.89 | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 4.82 | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 4.74 | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 4.74 | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 4.75 | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 4.77 | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 4.81 | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 4.96 | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 5 | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 5.01 | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 5.01 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 5.54 | +10.4% |
| 2021 | 5.75 | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 5.46 | -4.9% |
| 2023 | 4.98 | -8.7% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 4.98 is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.98, 1.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 4.07 | 3.61 | 4.37 | 7 |
| 1940s | 5.1 | 4.42 | 5.5 | 10 |
| 1950s | 6.15 | 5.62 | 6.56 | 10 |
| 1960s | 7.09 | 6.67 | 7.63 | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.65 | 7.59 | 7.73 | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.15 | 6.96 | 7.49 | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.37 | 5.43 | 6.99 | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.12 | 4.89 | 5.31 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.86 | 4.74 | 5.01 | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.43 | 4.98 | 5.75 | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States
More health data for United States
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,015 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2023)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.056 % 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 0.0261 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.1919 % 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 United States?
- Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in United States was 4.98 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest difference in female and male life expectancy at birth recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 7.73 in 1975.
- What is the lowest difference in female and male life expectancy at birth recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.61 in 1933.
- How does United States rank for difference in female and male life expectancy at birth?
- United States ranks 121st out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is difference in female and male life expectancy at birth rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United States 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.
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