Why has Hong Kong women’s life expectancy hit record high? What about the men?
Higher level of engagement in society and a willingness to seek help among factors helping women live longer than men, experts say
Academics and other specialists said that less exposure to high-risk activities and a willingness to seek help were also among factors for women living longer than men in Hong Kong.
Their analysis followed the recent release of a Census and Statistics Department report, “Women and Men in Hong Kong”. It showed that life expectancy at birth for women in 2024 was 88.4 years, increasing from 88.1 years in 2023, and at a record high.
The life expectancy for men in 2024 was 82.8 years, up from 82.5 years in 2023.
Back in 2022, when exceptionally high mortality rates were reported during the Covid-19 pandemic, the life expectancy for women was 86.8 years and 80.7 years for men.