Why men die younger than women - WHO

What could add almost four and a half years to your life? Being a woman, according to new data from the World Health Organization, which explores access to and attitudes towards health, as well as how this plays into life expectancy.

More than 141 million children will be born this year, and the boys will live 69.8 years on average, while the girls will clock up 74.2 years – a difference of 4.4 years. Life expectancy at age 60 is also greater for women than men, the data shows.

While the report on uneven access to health is published each year, this is the first time it has been split by gender. And there’s no simple explanation that can inform policy-making, the WHO says, putting the results down to a range of biological differences and gender roles around the world.

Behind every number in the World Health Statistics is a person, a family, a community or a nation, says Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

Our task is to use these data to make evidence-based policy decisions that move us closer to a healthier, safer, fairer world for everyone.

Other differences are biological. For example, some genetic differences may lead to better survival rates among female children.