Overview
- Official 2024 mortality figures show male death rates exceeded female rates in every age group, with mortality more than double for men aged 15–34 and 50–85% higher for ages 35–84.
- Ischemic heart disease caused 65,435 male deaths versus 48,038 female, including 24,875 male deaths from heart attacks compared with 16,383 among women.
- Cancer deaths were higher for men in key categories: lung cancer claimed 26,465 men versus 18,716 women, prostate cancer caused 15,486 male deaths, and colorectal cancer killed 12,741 men versus 10,820 women.
- External causes were deadlier for men, with 27,924 male deaths from injuries and poisonings compared with 20,984 among women, including accidents, suicides and assaults.
- Hospital data point to behavioral risks, as alcohol-related mental and behavioral disorders accounted for 169,800 male inpatient cases in 2023 versus 62,900 among women, while two-decade gains narrowed the life-expectancy gap by one year.