Jun 19, 2026 – 8.48amMen die earlier than women, and in greater numbers than women from almost every non-sex-specific health problem. In Australia, a male born between 2022 and 2024 can expect to live until just after his 81st birthday, while a female can expect to outlive them by four years.Part of that gap is explained by biology. The “unguarded X hypothesis” posits that women are protected from certain health conditions because having an extra pair of the same chromosome (XX) means any harmful recessive mutations on one chromosome can be masked by a healthy version on the second, whereas men lack this layer of protection because they have two different sex chromosomes (XY).Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Euan BlackHealth and wellness reporterEuan Black is the health and wellness reporter at The Australian Financial Review. He was the work and careers reporter.Fetching latest articles
The top killers of men at every decade – and how to beat them
From your 20s to your 80s, the leading threats to male survival change dramatically. Here’s how to avoid the big killers and stay healthier for longer.
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