Men in Germany have an average life expectancy nearly five years shorter than women, according to new data released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on Thursday in Wiesbaden, ahead of World Men’s Day on Monday. The latest life table shows that men can expect to live to an average age of 78.5 years, compared to 83.2 years for women.
The lower life expectancy among men is also the result of a generally higher mortality rate. According to the statisticians, men’s mortality exceeded that of women across all age groups last year, sometimes by a wide margin. Among those aged 15 to 34, the death rate for men was more than twice as high as that for women, while among people aged 35 to 84, it was between 50 and 85 percent higher.
In 2024, men died more often than women from heart attacks and other circulatory heart diseases. They also died more frequently from injuries, poisoning, and other external causes such as accidents, suicides, and violent assaults. The same applied to deaths from colon and lung cancer, with differences in smoking habits playing a role. Women, by contrast, died more frequently from mental health conditions.
However, the gap in life expectancy between men and women has narrowed over the past 20 years. The difference used to be even greater, according to the Federal Statistical Office. Between 2002/04 and 2022/24, life expectancy for men in Germany increased by 2.6 years, while for women it rose by 1.6 years. In general, life expectancy rises with greater prosperity and improved healthcare.
World Men’s Day is observed on November 3. According to the statisticians, its aim is to encourage men to take a more active interest in their health and to make use of preventive healthcare services.
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