Women Live Longest in These Countries

Across the globe, women consistently outlive men—but some nations stand out as clear longevity champions. Their combinations of healthcare access, lifestyle, and social infrastructure offer crucial insights into building a long, healthy life. Here’s how they do it.

Global Averages and the Gender Gap

• Average life expectancy for women worldwide (2023): ~75 years. For men, it's about 70 years—a consistent female advantage across all countries. (Market.us Media, Our World in Data)

• Strongest gains in life expectancy continue in parts of Asia and wealthy nations, though improvements have slowed in many high-income countries over the past few decades. (Le Monde.fr)

Countries Where Women Live Longest

Top-ranked female life expectancies (2022):

Country / Region	Approx. Female Life Expectancy
Macao	88.0 years
Monaco	~89 years
Hong Kong	~88.3 years
Japan	~87.2–88.0 years
South Korea	~87.4 years
Spain	~86.6 years

Source: UN data compilations, Statista, Global Economy (World Statistics, TheGlobalEconomy.com)Monaco’s average: ~89 years; Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Spain closely follow. (Statista)

Why These Nations Lead Longevity Rankings

1. Healthy, Balanced Diets

• Japan: Low in obesity, high in fish, vegetables, soy, and green tea—strongly associated with lower rates of heart disease and cancer.

• Mediterranean regions like Spain offer diets rich in plants, olive oil, and fish—a proven perdurable mix.

  
  

2. Robust Healthcare Systems & Public Health

• Countries like Monaco and Japan excel in preventive healthcare and universal access. Japan spends relatively little on health care per GDP (~8.5%), yet achieves exceptional results.

  
  

3. Active, Connected Lifestyles

• Blue Zone-like habits in places like Okinawa & Sardinia (including Japan-rooted traditions) emphasise daily activity, meaningful social bonds, moderation, and stress relief—amplifying longevity.

  
  

What This Means for Women’s Health

These patterns highlight that longevity isn’t just biological—it’s shaped by social supports and daily life:

• Nutrition rooted in whole, minimally processed foods

• Healthcare equity and access, especially for preventive and reproductive care

• Cultural respect for aging, helping women stay active, socially engaged, and valued longer

  
  

Bottom Line

Women live longer—but where and why depends on layered factors. Monaco and Macao top the charts, but it's the holistic mix of lifestyle, care systems, and social structure that makes the difference. Learning from these nations isn't optional—it’s essential.