In 2021, a woman in the United States aged 65 years could expect to live another 19.7 years on average. This number decreased in the years 2020 and 2021, after reaching a high of 20.8 years in 2019. Nevertheless, the life expectancy of a woman aged 65 years in the United States is still higher than that of a man of that age. In 2021, a man aged 65 years could be expected to live another 17 years on average.

Why has the life expectancy in the U.S. declined? Overall, life expectancy in the United States has declined in recent years. In 2019, the life expectancy for U.S. women was 81.4 years, but by 2021 it had decreased to 79.3 years. Likewise, the life expectancy for men decreased from 76.3 years to 73.5 years in the same period. The biggest contributors to this decline in life expectancy are the COVID-19 pandemic and the opioid epidemic. Although deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic have decreased significantly since 2022, deaths from opioid overdose continue to increase, reaching all-time highs in 2021.

The leading causes of death among U.S. women The leading causes of death among women in the United States in 2020 were heart disease, cancer, and COVID-19. That year heart disease and cancer accounted for a combined 37 percent of all deaths among women, while around 10 percent of deaths were due to COVID-19. The overall leading causes of death in the United States generally reflect the leading causes among women with some slight variations. For example, Alzheimer’s disease is the fourth leading cause of death among women, but the seventh leading cause of death overall in the United States.

This table contains 2394 series, with data for years 1991 - 1991 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years). This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (1 items: Canada ...), Population group (19 items: Entire cohort; Income adequacy quintile 1 (lowest);Income adequacy quintile 2;Income adequacy quintile 3 ...), Age (14 items: At 25 years; At 30 years; At 40 years; At 35 years ...), Sex (3 items: Both sexes; Females; Males ...), Characteristics (3 items: Life expectancy; High 95% confidence interval; life expectancy; Low 95% confidence interval; life expectancy ...).

The significant increase in life expectancy over the past 75 years has largely been driven by reductions in infant and child mortality, and has seen life expectancy from birth increase by 27 years between 1950 and 2024. However, this is not the only driver of increased life expectancy, as humanity has also got much better at prolonging life for adults. In 1950, 65-year-olds could expect to live for another 11 years on average, while this has risen to almost 18 years in 2024. The notable dips in life expectancy are due to China's Great Leap Forward around 1960, famine and conflict in Asia (especially Bangladesh) around 1970, and the COVID-19 pandemic in the early 2020s.

Life expectancy at birth and at age 65, by sex, on a three-year average basis.

This table contains mortality indicators by sex for Canada and all provinces except Prince Edward Island. These indicators are derived from three-year complete life tables. Mortality indicators derived from single-year life tables are also available (table 13-10-0837). For Prince Edward Island, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, mortality indicators derived from three-year abridged life tables are available (table 13-10-0140).

In 2024, it was forecast that by 2073, the life expectancy of a 65-year-old man in Spain would reach 23 years, representing a three-year increase from the start of the period studied in 2024, when the life expectancy was 19.34 years.

The life expectancy for women in Spain is expected to increase steadily from 2024 to 2073. According to the source, the average life expectancy of a 65-year-old woman in Spain is projected to reach 26.23 years by 2069, which would translate to a lifespan of approximately 92 years.

Pivot table for healthy life expectancy by sex and area type, divided by three-year intervals starting from 2011 to 2013.

Chart and table of Germany life expectancy from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

Chart and table of India life expectancy from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

Number of deaths and mortality rates, by age group, sex, and place of residence, 1991 to most recent year.

In 2023, a 65-year-old man in Italy had an average life expectancy of another 18.8 years, while a 65-year-old woman could live 22 years more. Lately, the average life expectancy at birth in the north-eastern regions of Italy registered the highest figures.

Chart and table of Hong Kong life expectancy from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

Chart and table of Ireland life expectancy from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

In 2019, a 65 year old female in Australia was expected to live a further 22.7 years, while men were expected live a further 20 years. Although the male life expectancy is around three years under the life expectancy of women, male life expectancy has continued to grow while the life expectancy of women remained constant for the previous three years.

Chart and table of Uae life expectancy from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

Chart and table of Portugal life expectancy from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

Chart and table of Uganda life expectancy from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

In 2023, Trentino-South Tyrol recorded the highest life expectancy in Italy for both women and men at 65 years old. Veneto followed in the ranking with the second-highest life expectancy at 65 years. In 2020, life expectancy in Italy decreased dramatically due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused the largest number of deaths recorded in decades.

Chart and table of Macao life expectancy from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.