The Gender Gap in Mortality
Men and women do not die from the same causes at the same rates. Globally, men die younger and at higher rates from injuries, liver disease, and cardiovascular conditions, while women face greater risks from Alzheimer's and certain cancers. This page dissects the sex gap cause by cause.
Sex-disaggregated death rates are global age-standardised estimates from the WHO Global Health Estimates and IHME Global Burden of Disease Study 2024. Country-specific estimates use sex-ratio multipliers applied to national cause-of-death data. Rates are per 100,000 population of each sex.
| Cause of Death | Male Rate | Female Rate | M/F Ratio | Excess Male Deaths | Direction |
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Sex Differences in Mortality
How do death patterns differ between men and women worldwide?
Sex is one of the strongest determinants of mortality risk. This page explores how death rates, leading causes of death, and life expectancy differ between males and females across 204 countries. The data reveals consistent patterns of higher male mortality alongside important regional variations.
Understanding sex differences in mortality is essential for targeted public health interventions. From the excess male burden of cardiovascular disease and injuries to the specific challenges of maternal mortality, these patterns inform healthcare policy and resource allocation worldwide.
Do men or women have higher death rates?
Men have higher age-standardised death rates than women in virtually every country. The male-female mortality gap is driven by higher rates of cardiovascular disease, injuries, and risk factors like smoking and alcohol use among men.
What is the life expectancy gap between men and women?
Globally, women live approximately 5-6 years longer than men on average. However, this gap varies significantly by country, ranging from under 2 years in some nations to over 10 years in others.
Which causes of death differ most between sexes?
The largest sex differences are seen in road injuries, self-harm, alcohol use disorders, and interpersonal violence, which disproportionately affect men. Breast cancer and maternal conditions are specific to women.