On average, women in Germany live several years longer than men. But it’s probably not just biology behind it.
The fact that women live longer than men is not a new phenomenon. In Germany, life expectancy is loud current mortality table at 83.2 years for girls and 78.5 years for boys. The gap is clear, even if it has changed to some extent over the decades. Scientifically it is now considered likely that there is no single cause for this. Rather, biological, social and behavioral factors intertwine. This is exactly where monastery research becomes exciting: it shows what happens when men and women live under very similar living conditions for a long time.
The numbers have been showing the same trend for a long time
Women’s lead in life expectancy can be observed in many countries. In Germany it is currently almost five years. Also OECD data show that women live longer on average than men across Member States, although the extent varies across countries. This suggests that not only genes, but also social and health conditions play a role.
Lifestyle and risks often place greater stress on men
A central explanatory approach concerns behavior. On average, men smoke more often, drink risky alcohol more often and work more often in jobs with physical dangers or high levels of stress. The WHO points out that health is always shaped by behavior, social circumstances and access to care. Our World in Data and the OECD also cite differences in smoking, alcohol, drug use and occupational risks as important reasons why men die earlier on average.
Biology still plays a role
However, the gap cannot be explained entirely without biological factors. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research point to possible genetic advantages due to the second X chromosome in women. There are also gene sections that could be relevant for the immune system. Such mechanisms would explain why men are more vulnerable to some health challenges. At the same time, experts emphasize that biology alone does not fully explain the differences.
What makes the monastery study so special
Particularly well-known in this context is the so-called monastery study by Marc Luy. The basic idea: If men and women have very similar living conditions over a long period of time, it can be better estimated how big the influence of the environment and behavior actually is. The study examined nuns and monks whose everyday life is in many respects more standardized than in the general population.
In the monastery the distance shrinks significantly
The central observation of the early monastery study was: Under largely comparable living conditions, the life expectancies of men and women became very similar. Monks in particular lived significantly longer than men in the general population and thus moved closer to the values of women. This suggests that male excess mortality is largely influenced by living conditions – i.e. it is not just innate.
The monastery is not evidence of just one cause
Nevertheless, it would be too easy to conclude that lifestyle is the only deciding factor. Newer classifications from demographic research emphasize that biological and social factors overlap. Above all, the monastery study shows that the distance can become smaller when environmental conditions are more similar. So it doesn’t have to disappear completely. This is precisely where its significance lies: it makes it clear how much life circumstances can influence life expectancy.
Women live longer – but not automatically healthier
It is also important: a longer life expectancy does not automatically mean more years of healthy life. The OECD points out that although women live longer on average, they are more likely to live with chronic problems or poor health in old age. The well-known pattern is therefore often: women live longer, men die earlier – but the health situation is not easy for either gender.
What can be deduced from this
Research suggests that the difference between women and men cannot be explained purely genetically or solely socially. Rather, many influences add up: biology, risk behavior, the world of work, prevention and social conditions. The monastery study is so interesting because it shows that the gap can narrow when men live in more sheltered and uniform conditions. Conversely, this means that some of the excess male mortality could probably be avoided.
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