Overview
- Insee’s new analysis shows the wealthiest women can expect to live to about 88.7 years versus 72 years for the poorest men, a disparity approaching 17 years.
- Between 2012–2016 and 2020–2024, the rich–poor life expectancy gap increased slightly to 8.7 years for women and 13 years for men.
- Life expectancy fell for part of the lower‑income population over the recent period, notably among the poorest quarter excluding the very bottom 5%.
- Age‑specific mortality disparities are steep for men, with the poorest facing roughly three times the annual death risk at age 20, seven times at 50, six times at 60, and twice at 80 compared with the richest.
- Insee cites financial barriers to care, occupational and educational factors, and risk behaviors as drivers of inequality, while noting no firm attribution for the recent declines, including any role of COVID‑19.