Women outlive men and not just in humans

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Across 1,176 species, including mammals, birds, insects, and even reptiles, females consistently live longer than males, and the pattern appears rooted in biology rather than culture alone. Researchers suggest that differences in sex chromosomes, immune function, and reproductive strategies create higher survival advantages in females, while males often invest more energy in mating competition, risk-taking, and growth, trading longevity for reproductive success. The result is a widespread, evolutionarily conserved gap where females outlive males across much of the animal kingdom.

Source

Johanna Staerk et al., Sexual selection drives sex difference in adult life expectancy across mammals and birds.Sci. Adv.11,eady8433(2025).DOI:10.1126/sciadv.ady8433

Additional Reading

https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2025/10/01/why-do-women-live-longer-than-men/

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2498396-evolution-may-explain-why-women-live-longer-than-men/

https://www.npr.org/2025/10/06/nx-s1-5558184/women-men-longevity-health-life-span