Everywhere in the world women live longer than men - but this was not always the case. The available data from rich countries shows that women didn't live longer than men in the 19th century. What is the reason women are more likely to live longer than men? Why is this difference growing in the past? We only have partial evidence and the evidence isn't sufficient to draw an unambiguous conclusion.

Everywhere in the world women live longer than men - but this was not always the case. The available data from rich countries shows that women didn't live longer than men in the 19th century. What is the reason women live longer than men and how have these advantages gotten bigger in the past? The evidence is sketchy and we're only able to provide partial solutions. We know there are biological, behavioral, and environmental factors that all play a role in the longevity of women over men, we do not know the extent to which each factor plays a role.