Why Wives Outlive Husbands – Medical Doctors

Global health projections show that women continue to live longer than men, with life expectancy at 76.4 years for females and 71.2 years for males.

The 4.4 to 5-year gap, highlighted in World Health Organisation (WHO) data, persists across virtually all countries, including Nigeria.

Health experts said that the reason women outlive men is rooted in a complex mix of biological, behavioural, cultural and social factors that shape health outcomes from childhood into old age.

According to the UN Population Division, life expectancy in Nigeria has risen by 17.02 per cent over the past 24 years,  from 47 years in 2000 to 55 years in 2024.

In 2000, Nigerian women had a life expectancy of 48 years compared to 46 years for men. By 2024, the figures stood at 55 years for women and 54 years for men. The national average is projected to reach 56 years by 2030 if current patterns continue.

Reacting to this, a Consultant Pathologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Francis Faduyile, told LEADERSHIP Weekend that the gender gap in life expectancy is driven by several interconnected factors.

He said other than maternal mortality, the only stage where more women die, men consistently record higher death rates across all other age groups.

Faduyile explained that societal roles place heavier physical and economic burdens on men, exposing them to higher risks.

“Men go out more to fend for their families. They travel farther and are on the road more often, and road traffic accidents remain one of the major causes of death in Nigeria,” he said.

He added that cultural expectations force men to internalise stress rather than express it, making them more prone to hypertension, diabetes and sudden cardiovascular crises.

“Women can withstand higher blood pressure levels than men. A man at 240 mmHg is at risk of a fatal crisis,” he noted.

As men age, many also face isolation and inadequate care, while elderly women often remain socially active by helping with grandchildren or visiting.

“Women living longer doesn’t mean men aren’t ageing. It means more men are dying younger,” Prof. Faduyile stressed.

Also, a Public Health Consultant and General Physician, Dr. Joseph Ekiyor, told LEADERSHIP Weekend that women’s longevity advantage starts from birth.

He explained that women’s two X chromosomes offer stronger genetic protection, reducing their risk of inherited diseases.

“Women are less likely to develop genetic disorders, and that reduces the likelihood of disability and early death,” Ekiyor said.

He also noted that male children are more vulnerable to common childhood illnesses such as malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoeal diseases,  making boys more likely to die early in life.

Ekiyor highlighted that estrogen, the primary female hormone, protects the heart and blood vessels.

“Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally, and estrogen gives women a protective advantage. Women who eventually develop heart disease tend to do so at older ages than men.

“Men are more likely to die from road accidents, violence, suicide and substance abuse,” Ekiyor explained.

He also pointed out that men delay seeking healthcare, often waiting until symptoms become severe.

“A woman feels something slightly wrong and goes to the hospital. Men wait until complications develop, and many complications are irreversible,” he said.

Whereas women frequently access preventive care, men tend to avoid medical checks, missing opportunities for early detection of chronic diseases, he added.

Despite improvements in global healthcare, experts believe the gender longevity gap will remain unless male-focused health policies are strengthened and harmful societal expectations addressed.

Both experts urged men to adopt healthier lifestyles, manage stress, reduce risk-taking and seek medical attention early.

As WHO data shows, women live longer not because of a single factor, but because of a combination of biological resilience, safer behaviour patterns, better health-seeking habits, and social dynamics.