Difference in male and female life expectancy in France
France: Difference in male and female life expectancy was 5.59 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
5.59
Change on year
down 9.5%
World rank
78th
of 236 countries
All-time high
30.09
in 1915
All-time low
-0.6
in 1858
Years of data
208
1816–2023
Difference in male and female life expectancy in France, 1816–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
France recorded 5.59 for difference in male and female life expectancy in 2023.
The figure is down 9.5% on the previous year and down 11.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, difference in male and female life expectancy in France peaked at 30.09 in 1915 and was at its lowest, -0.6, in 1858.
France ranks 78th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Difference in male and female life expectancy in France, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1816 | 1.22 | — |
| 1817 | 1.1 | -9.8% |
| 1818 | 0.06 | -94.5% |
| 1819 | -0.1 | -266.7% |
| 1820 | 0.08 | -180.0% |
| 1821 | 0.04 | -50.0% |
| 1822 | 0.3 | +650.0% |
| 1823 | 0.53 | +76.7% |
| 1824 | 0.23 | -56.6% |
| 1825 | -0.09 | -139.1% |
| 1826 | 0.09 | -200.0% |
| 1827 | 0.29 | +222.2% |
| 1828 | 0.3 | +3.4% |
| 1829 | 0.57 | +90.0% |
| 1830 | 0.42 | -26.3% |
| 1831 | 0.68 | +61.9% |
| 1832 | 0.43 | -36.8% |
| 1833 | 0.38 | -11.6% |
| 1834 | 0.06 | -84.2% |
| 1835 | 0.78 | +1200.1% |
| 1836 | 0.61 | -21.8% |
| 1837 | 0.42 | -31.1% |
| 1838 | 0.84 | +100.0% |
| 1839 | 0.51 | -39.3% |
| 1840 | 0.85 | +66.7% |
| 1841 | 1.81 | +112.9% |
| 1842 | 1.17 | -35.4% |
| 1843 | 0.67 | -42.7% |
| 1844 | 0.51 | -23.9% |
| 1845 | 0.44 | -13.7% |
| 1846 | 0.58 | +31.8% |
| 1847 | 0.98 | +69.0% |
| 1848 | 0.97 | -1.0% |
| 1849 | 0.88 | -9.3% |
| 1850 | 0.53 | -39.8% |
| 1851 | 0.28 | -47.2% |
| 1852 | 0.25 | -10.7% |
| 1853 | 0.11 | -56.0% |
| 1854 | 0.87 | +690.9% |
| 1855 | 3.73 | +328.7% |
| 1856 | 1.74 | -53.4% |
| 1857 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1858 | -0.6 | — |
| 1859 | 0.24 | -140.0% |
| 1860 | 0.38 | +58.3% |
| 1861 | -0.05 | -113.2% |
| 1862 | 0.21 | -520.0% |
| 1863 | 0.2 | -4.8% |
| 1864 | 0.32 | +60.0% |
| 1865 | 0.61 | +90.6% |
| 1866 | 0.66 | +8.2% |
| 1867 | 0.75 | +13.6% |
| 1868 | 0.94 | +25.3% |
| 1869 | 0.86 | -8.5% |
| 1870 | 3.29 | +282.6% |
| 1871 | 6.84 | +107.9% |
| 1872 | 1.39 | -79.7% |
| 1873 | 1.05 | -24.5% |
| 1874 | 0.7 | -33.3% |
| 1875 | 1 | +42.9% |
| 1876 | 1.57 | +57.0% |
| 1877 | 1.16 | -26.1% |
| 1878 | 1.1 | -5.2% |
| 1879 | 1.3 | +18.2% |
| 1880 | 1.35 | +3.8% |
| 1881 | 1.54 | +14.1% |
| 1882 | 1.53 | -0.6% |
| 1883 | 1.52 | -0.7% |
| 1884 | 1.64 | +7.9% |
| 1885 | 1.68 | +2.4% |
| 1886 | 1.71 | +1.8% |
| 1887 | 1.68 | -1.8% |
| 1888 | 1.99 | +18.5% |
| 1889 | 1.86 | -6.5% |
| 1890 | 1.98 | +6.5% |
| 1891 | 1.85 | -6.6% |
| 1892 | 1.89 | +2.2% |
| 1893 | 1.98 | +4.8% |
| 1894 | 2.29 | +15.7% |
| 1895 | 2.39 | +4.4% |
| 1896 | 2.38 | -0.4% |
| 1897 | 2.25 | -5.5% |
| 1898 | 2.29 | +1.8% |
| 1899 | 2.44 | +6.6% |
| 1900 | 2.68 | +9.8% |
| 1901 | 2.7 | +0.7% |
| 1902 | 2.7 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 2.5 | -7.4% |
| 1904 | 2.48 | -0.8% |
| 1905 | 2.75 | +10.9% |
| 1906 | 2.93 | +6.5% |
| 1907 | 3.24 | +10.6% |
| 1908 | 3.28 | +1.2% |
| 1909 | 3.24 | -1.2% |
| 1910 | 3.34 | +3.1% |
| 1911 | 3.23 | -3.3% |
| 1912 | 3.6 | +11.5% |
| 1913 | 3.6 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 28.01 | +678.1% |
| 1915 | 30.09 | +7.4% |
| 1916 | 25.68 | -14.7% |
| 1917 | 19.05 | -25.8% |
| 1918 | 18.73 | -1.7% |
| 1919 | 6.48 | -65.4% |
| 1920 | 3.05 | -52.9% |
| 1921 | 3.24 | +6.2% |
| 1922 | 3.07 | -5.2% |
| 1923 | 3.29 | +7.2% |
| 1924 | 3.5 | +6.4% |
| 1925 | 3.78 | +8.0% |
| 1926 | 3.59 | -5.0% |
| 1927 | 3.38 | -5.8% |
| 1928 | 3.44 | +1.8% |
| 1929 | 3.7 | +7.6% |
| 1930 | 4.29 | +15.9% |
| 1931 | 3.96 | -7.7% |
| 1932 | 4.12 | +4.0% |
| 1933 | 4.28 | +3.9% |
| 1934 | 4.9 | +14.5% |
| 1935 | 4.89 | -0.2% |
| 1936 | 5.07 | +3.7% |
| 1937 | 5.2 | +2.6% |
| 1938 | 5.4 | +3.8% |
| 1939 | 5.26 | -2.6% |
| 1940 | 17.51 | +232.9% |
| 1941 | 6.93 | -60.4% |
| 1942 | 7.33 | +5.8% |
| 1943 | 8.95 | +22.1% |
| 1944 | 12 | +34.1% |
| 1945 | 6.39 | -46.8% |
| 1946 | 4.2 | -34.3% |
| 1947 | 4.55 | +8.3% |
| 1948 | 5.14 | +13.0% |
| 1949 | 4.56 | -11.3% |
| 1950 | 4.97 | +9.1% |
| 1951 | 5.02 | +0.9% |
| 1952 | 5.2 | +3.5% |
| 1953 | 5.26 | +1.1% |
| 1954 | 5.58 | +6.1% |
| 1955 | 5.75 | +3.2% |
| 1956 | 5.95 | +3.4% |
| 1957 | 6.22 | +4.6% |
| 1958 | 5.93 | -4.6% |
| 1959 | 6.06 | +2.2% |
| 1960 | 6.14 | +1.2% |
| 1961 | 6.5 | +6.0% |
| 1962 | 6.45 | -0.8% |
| 1963 | 6.6 | +2.3% |
| 1964 | 6.77 | +2.6% |
| 1965 | 6.91 | +2.1% |
| 1966 | 6.99 | +1.1% |
| 1967 | 7.08 | +1.3% |
| 1968 | 7.16 | +1.1% |
| 1969 | 7.32 | +2.2% |
| 1970 | 7.12 | -2.8% |
| 1971 | 7.28 | +2.3% |
| 1972 | 7.44 | +2.2% |
| 1973 | 7.38 | -0.8% |
| 1974 | 7.53 | +1.9% |
| 1975 | 7.61 | +1.2% |
| 1976 | 7.82 | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 7.89 | +0.9% |
| 1978 | 7.92 | +0.3% |
| 1979 | 8.03 | +1.4% |
| 1980 | 8.02 | -0.1% |
| 1981 | 7.91 | -1.3% |
| 1982 | 8 | +1.1% |
| 1983 | 7.92 | -1.0% |
| 1984 | 8.06 | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 8.05 | -0.1% |
| 1986 | 8.06 | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 8.08 | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 8 | -1.0% |
| 1989 | 8.07 | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 8.08 | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 8.14 | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 8.15 | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 8.06 | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 8.11 | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 7.99 | -1.5% |
| 1996 | 7.87 | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 7.71 | -2.1% |
| 1998 | 7.62 | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 7.5 | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 7.47 | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 7.43 | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 7.27 | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 7.06 | -2.9% |
| 2004 | 7.12 | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 7.05 | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 6.95 | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 6.93 | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 6.72 | -3.0% |
| 2009 | 6.64 | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 6.62 | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 6.56 | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 6.35 | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 6.29 | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 6.17 | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 6.12 | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 6.01 | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 5.85 | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 5.85 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 5.75 | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 5.92 | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 5.99 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 6.18 | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 5.59 | -9.5% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 5.59 is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.91, 1.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- France's 5.59 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.35, 1.0× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Difference in male and female life expectancy in France changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1835 | +1200.1% | 0.06 | 0.78 |
| 1854 | +690.9% | 0.11 | 0.87 |
| 1914 | +678.1% | 3.6 | 28.01 |
| 1822 | +650.0% | 0.04 | 0.3 |
| 1862 | +520.0% | -0.05 | 0.21 |
| 1855 | +328.7% | 0.87 | 3.73 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1810s | 0.57 | -0.1 | 1.22 | 4 |
| 1820s | 0.234 | -0.09 | 0.57 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.513 | 0.06 | 0.84 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.886 | 0.44 | 1.81 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.715 | -0.6 | 3.73 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.488 | -0.05 | 0.94 | 10 |
| 1870s | 1.94 | 0.7 | 6.84 | 10 |
| 1880s | 1.65 | 1.35 | 1.99 | 10 |
| 1890s | 2.17 | 1.85 | 2.44 | 10 |
| 1900s | 2.85 | 2.48 | 3.28 | 10 |
| 1910s | 14.18 | 3.23 | 30.09 | 10 |
| 1920s | 3.4 | 3.05 | 3.78 | 10 |
| 1930s | 4.74 | 3.96 | 5.4 | 10 |
| 1940s | 7.76 | 4.2 | 17.51 | 10 |
| 1950s | 5.6 | 4.97 | 6.22 | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.79 | 6.14 | 7.32 | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.6 | 7.12 | 8.03 | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.02 | 7.91 | 8.08 | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.92 | 7.5 | 8.15 | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.06 | 6.64 | 7.47 | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.16 | 5.75 | 6.62 | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.92 | 5.59 | 6.18 | 4 |
Countries ranked near France
More health data for France
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.31 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0689 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 603 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7875 % 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 0.0244 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.8291 % 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 0.0255 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is difference in male and female life expectancy in France?
- Difference in male and female life expectancy in France was 5.59 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest difference in male and female life expectancy recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 30.09 in 1915.
- What is the lowest difference in male and female life expectancy recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.6 in 1858.
- How does France rank for difference in male and female life expectancy?
- France ranks 78th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is difference in male and female life expectancy rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Difference in male and female life expectancy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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