Difference in male and female life expectancy in United States
United States: Difference in male and female life expectancy was 4.91 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
4.91
Change on year
down 9.0%
World rank
114th
of 236 countries
All-time high
7.49
in 1975
All-time low
2.72
in 1933
Years of data
91
1933–2023
Difference in male and female life expectancy in United States, 1933–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
United States recorded 4.91 for difference in male and female life expectancy in 2023.
That represents a change of down 9.0% on the previous year and up 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, difference in male and female life expectancy in United States peaked at 7.49 in 1975 and was at its lowest, 2.72, in 1933.
That places United States 114th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 91 years of available data.
Difference in male and female life expectancy in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1933 | 2.72 | — |
| 1934 | 3.03 | +11.4% |
| 1935 | 3.11 | +2.6% |
| 1936 | 3.33 | +7.1% |
| 1937 | 3.51 | +5.4% |
| 1938 | 3.24 | -7.7% |
| 1939 | 3.28 | +1.2% |
| 1940 | 3.59 | +9.5% |
| 1941 | 3.93 | +9.5% |
| 1942 | 4.2 | +6.9% |
| 1943 | 4.29 | +2.1% |
| 1944 | 4.58 | +6.8% |
| 1945 | 4.73 | +3.3% |
| 1946 | 4.57 | -3.4% |
| 1947 | 4.62 | +1.1% |
| 1948 | 4.83 | +4.5% |
| 1949 | 4.91 | +1.7% |
| 1950 | 5.07 | +3.3% |
| 1951 | 5.25 | +3.6% |
| 1952 | 5.44 | +3.6% |
| 1953 | 5.59 | +2.8% |
| 1954 | 5.63 | +0.7% |
| 1955 | 5.75 | +2.0% |
| 1956 | 5.87 | +2.1% |
| 1957 | 5.94 | +1.2% |
| 1958 | 5.97 | +0.6% |
| 1959 | 6.11 | +2.2% |
| 1960 | 6.23 | +2.1% |
| 1961 | 6.24 | +0.2% |
| 1962 | 6.29 | +0.7% |
| 1963 | 6.46 | +2.6% |
| 1964 | 6.59 | +2.1% |
| 1965 | 6.75 | +2.4% |
| 1966 | 6.91 | +2.3% |
| 1967 | 7.03 | +1.9% |
| 1968 | 7.17 | +1.9% |
| 1969 | 7.29 | +1.7% |
| 1970 | 7.3 | +0.2% |
| 1971 | 7.28 | -0.3% |
| 1972 | 7.39 | +1.5% |
| 1973 | 7.4 | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 7.38 | -0.3% |
| 1975 | 7.49 | +1.5% |
| 1976 | 7.37 | -1.6% |
| 1977 | 7.43 | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 7.38 | -0.7% |
| 1979 | 7.44 | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 7.29 | -2.1% |
| 1981 | 7.2 | -1.1% |
| 1982 | 7.09 | -1.6% |
| 1983 | 6.94 | -2.2% |
| 1984 | 6.88 | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 6.9 | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 6.93 | +0.5% |
| 1987 | 6.85 | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 6.82 | -0.5% |
| 1989 | 6.81 | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 6.83 | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 6.76 | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 6.71 | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 6.62 | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 6.54 | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 6.38 | -2.4% |
| 1996 | 6.03 | -5.4% |
| 1997 | 5.71 | -5.3% |
| 1998 | 5.52 | -3.5% |
| 1999 | 5.31 | -3.7% |
| 2000 | 5.19 | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 5.14 | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 5.12 | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 5.04 | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 4.99 | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 5 | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 4.99 | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 4.94 | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 4.84 | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 4.79 | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 4.73 | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 4.65 | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 4.65 | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 4.65 | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 4.68 | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 4.72 | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 4.88 | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 4.91 | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 4.92 | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 4.93 | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 5.46 | +10.7% |
| 2021 | 5.69 | +4.3% |
| 2022 | 5.39 | -5.2% |
| 2023 | 4.91 | -9.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 4.91 is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.91, 1.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 3.17 | 2.72 | 3.51 | 7 |
| 1940s | 4.42 | 3.59 | 4.91 | 10 |
| 1950s | 5.66 | 5.07 | 6.11 | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.7 | 6.23 | 7.29 | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.39 | 7.28 | 7.49 | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.97 | 6.81 | 7.29 | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.24 | 5.31 | 6.83 | 10 |
| 2000s | 5 | 4.79 | 5.19 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.77 | 4.65 | 4.93 | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.36 | 4.91 | 5.69 | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 111 Nicaragua 4.96 compare
- 112 Aruba 4.95 compare
- 113 Cayman Islands 4.93 compare
- 115 Barbados 4.85 compare
- 116 Bonaire Sint Eustatius and Saba 4.83 compare
- 117 New Caledonia 4.78 compare
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 male and female life expectancy in United States?
- Difference in male and female life expectancy in United States was 4.91 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest difference in male and female life expectancy recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 7.49 in 1975.
- What is the lowest difference in male and female life expectancy recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.72 in 1933.
- How does United States rank for difference in male and female life expectancy?
- United States ranks 114th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is difference in male and female life expectancy rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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.
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