Why Men Die Before Women: 10 Hidden Risks And How to Fix Them

From Ancient Longevity to Modern Decline

In ancient times, some accounts (like biblical figures Adam and Seth) suggest lifespans stretched hundreds of years.

While these numbers are debated, one fact is clear: modern humans live far shorter lives, despite medical advancements.

By the 20th century, global life expectancy averaged about 70 years, but today, it varies dramatically by country.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and World Bank 2025 estimates:

Global Average: 73.6 years
Women: 76.1 years
Men: 71.1 years (5-year gap still exists)
Africa: 64.3 years (up from 60 in 2015, but still lowest)
Europe: 78.9 years (highest among continents)

Global life expectancy is rising, but not all countries are equal. Statistics vary with time as general health care improves all over the world. Data shows that Japanese are being overshadowed by citizens of Monaco.

Why Are Some Countries Living Longer?

• Universal Healthcare (Monaco, Japan)
• Clean Diets (Mediterranean, Okinawan)
• Active Lifestyles (Swiss hiking, Singaporean walking culture)
• Low Stress (Macau’s work-life balance)

However, Africa’s progress still lags behind with a lifespan of 64.3 years today, up from 60 in 2015. The continent's biggest challenges include: HIV, malaria, poor sanitation among others.

Life in Africa is still precarious, with many issues preying upon the average African life experiences. However, recent reports indicate that life expectancy has generally improved all over the world. This is mainly attributed to improved health care and nutrition.

The Telegraph reports that South Korea's life expectancy might exceed 90 years by the year 2030.

WHO concluded that women all over the world live longer than men. However, global life expectancy is expected to increase above 90 years by the year 2030. Thanks to child, maternal and general healthcare, good education and proper nutrition.

• Lifestyle diseases (heart disease, diabetes)
• Environmental pollution (microplastics, air toxins)
• Stress & mental health crises (rising depression rates)
• Diet shifts (processed foods, sugar overload)

Our feeding habits and general behaviour have been targeted as the main culprits that determine our lifespan. If men were to learn from women, more men would not sleep prematurely. Some of the habits upon which we blame our early deaths include:

i) Poor eating habits: It is a well-known fact that women feed better than men. Some of their feeding is done in between meals. They are also more likely to have three square meals compared to their male counterparts, who often skip their meals. We might attribute their need to feed upon their maternal instincts and the baby’s needs.

Advice to men; Men should try to eat regularly. Three balanced meals at the right time might just add a few more days to your life span.

ii) Poor Dietary Habits: Poor feeding habits make us ingest the wrong types of foods in abundance, resulting in nutritional deficiencies. When continued for long, ailments usually set in.

Advice to men: Instead of drinking and smoking during the day, men should try fruits like oranges, bananas, apples or watermelons to fill in where they are underfed.

iii) Overdrinking. The popular drinking binges among men have a negative effect upon their appetite with their inherent toll on health. Alcohol tends to dehydrate the body.

Advice to men: Stop or minimize your drinking. If not possible, then eat very well prior to drinking and avoid overindulging.

iv) Smoking: Data reveals that smoking can lead to cancer, lung and throat infections, and coronary heart diseases which could bring about one’s demise. It has been reported that smoking-related deaths cost the US government $92 billion a year, as is evidenced by WrongDiagnosis.com. This is staggering by any standards.

Advice to men: research shows that each cigarette you smoke truncates a few hours from your life span. Quit smoking altogether. Your mouth will smell better too.

v) Dangerous Jobs & Deadly Hobbies: Extravagant displays of machismo, e.g., "My car can really move", "Check my motorbike", and "See what I can do". We like driving with one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the window in moves that exaggerate our masculinity in order to impress. No wonder insurance companies seem to think men are riskier than women where security and repayment of loans are concerned.

Advice to men: Be careful in whatever you do. Always try to remember there is a family or people who care about your welfare behind you. You don’t want to leave them miserable. Do you? Try to preserve yourself. Ladies always have this sense of preservation at the back of their minds.

vi) Limited Household Responsibilities: This applies to men who end up lazing about while their wives take on household chores. Women sharpen their skills and are more physically alert and apt in responding to family needs, making them fit. Breakfast in the house is more likely to be prepared by the lady in the house than the man, of course, except during honeymoon days. Otherwise, the man’s honeymoon never seems to end thereafter.

Advice to men: Cut that honeymoon. Women could do with a little more masculine assistance in the house. It is your house, after all. It doesn’t make you less of a man to assist. Take a jog if she doesn’t allow you to give a hand. But I bet most ladies will gladly welcome your assistance.

vii) Extra-marital Affairs: A good proportion of men love an extra mistress here and there, which comes at great cost, not to mention financial, physical, psychological and social among others. A man with one wife or girlfriend (for those who are yet to marry) is usually less mixed up compared to those with more than one.

Advice to men: Avoid extra-marital affairs. It eliminates unnecessary emotions that arise from such relationships. Somebody said, "A bird at hand makes enough of a mess in your hand that keeps your days busy". No pun intended here for my dear sweet ladies. You now know men can’t do without you and that you should take better care of them.

viii) Insomnia: Our tendency to overwork often leads to fatigue. Men rarely take a nap and also suffer more from insomnia than women. "Late to bed and early to rise" seems to be a common habit among men. The Japanese are early to bed and early to rise for work, which makes them healthy and wealthy and wise. The old song might be full of the wisdom we so desperately need. It is reported that men with insomnia have a fourfold higher death rate than those without, as evidenced by National Geographic magazine.

Advice to men; Have enough sleep each day. Eight hours are highly recommended by experts. Try to sleep early too. Trust me, she will appreciate it too.

ix) The Silent Killer: Men avoid therapy and often hide behind the platitude “Men don’t cry”. They hide their feelings and emotions to appear to be more masculine and less feminine. A show of weakness is quickly met with a sharp rebuke from women and men alike, which compels you to be man enough. Stress tends to build up in their systems and explodes for lack of outlets to the effect that too much stress can kill you.

Advice to men: Avoid quarrelling. Solve issues amicably. Cry if you can. Share your emotions with your spouse or friend. Sleep not upon your anger. I know the effects of testosterone in men and how it makes them feel more self-reliant. Put this behind you and at least talk to someone you trust to vent your emotions. Don’t keep deep emotions to yourself. There are fires created in the inside of you that could destroy you if not shared. Ladies seem to consciously or otherwise know this better than men. No wonder they live longer.

x) Less Divine Intervention: Women are more prone to seek help from above compared to men, to the effect that there tend to be more women in our churches than men. I don’t know whether men feel rather too secure to seek help, or maybe they don’t know there is help one can get from their creator.

Advice to men: Go to church. Show some respect to your creator. Who knows? You might just live longer than you expect. See the conclusion in the hub “The Secret to Long Life”.

The advice given above can greatly contribute to men’s wellbeing towards preventing the emergence of the eleventh reason for our demise. I wish my fellow men a long, happy life.

Why do men die earlier in 2025? Research is producing more evidence that shows why men's mortality rate is higher than that of women. Some of the findings include the following:

1. "Toxic Masculinity 2.0" – Men are 40% less likely to get annual checkups (AHA 2025).
2. Gig Economy Risks – Delivery drivers die 11 years earlier than office workers.
3. Sperm Count Crisis – Linked to higher cancer rates (2025 Lancet study).

While men die younger, women have historically outlived men with good reason. Here are a few science-based facts to consider:

1. Biology: Estrogen protects heart health. Men are wanting in this.
2. Behavior: Men 40% less likely to see doctors (AHA 2025)
3. Jobs: Risky male-dominated careers (construction, mining), careers men can't avoid

South Korea is on track to hit 90+ years by 2030 due to advanced medicine and universal checkups.(The Lancet).