Women Outliving Men Worldwide, Gap Closing In Western Europe Where Women Have Outlived Men For Over 100 Years

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Main Category: Public Health
Also Included In: Men's health;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 07 Apr 2006 - 13:00 PDT

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Until recently, in many countries women used to have a lower life expectancy than men. Maternal death has always been a big killer. However, 2006 will most probably be the first year when women outlive men across nearly all of the world.

In Europe, men used to outlive women in Holland until 1860. In Italy men outlived women until 1889. The date for the UK was 1841, Sweden 1751 and Denmark 1835.

In developed countries we are used to hearing that women live longer than men. The gap is closing in most western European countries. The percentage of female and male smokers is more similar than it used to be, female and male lifestyles are also more similar today. A recent report indicated that 18-24 year old women in the UK are out-drinking men of the same age.

Link to the report in the British Medical Journal.

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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