Women are living longer than ever before, but are those extra years actually healthy ones?
Not always.
A growing body of global health research suggests that while women generally outlive men, they also spend more years living with illness, chronic pain and disability. In other words, a longer life doesn't always mean a better quality of life.
According to Healthy Life Expectancy (HALE) estimates, women have a higher life expectancy than men, but the number of years they spend in good health is much closer [NJ1] than many realise. In 2023, average life expectancy was 76 years for women and 71 years for men. However, when years lived with illness are taken into account, women were estimated to spend only 64 years in good health, compared with 62 healthy years for men.
The difference isn't five healthy years, it's only two.
Living Longer Doesn't Mean Living Well
HALE measures not just how long people live, but how many of those years are spent free from significant disease or disability.
For many women, the later years of life are often accompanied by ongoing health conditions that affect daily living rather than shorten life itself.
These may include:
- Chronic pain
- Arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders
- Gynaecological conditions
- Osteoporosis
- Anxiety and depression
- Heart disease after menopause
Many of these conditions aren't immediately life-threatening, but they can significantly affect mobility, independence and overall wellbeing.
Why Women Spend More Years In Poor Health
One reason is biology. Hormonal changes throughout life, including menstruation, pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause can influence long-term health. But biology is only part of the picture. Social factors play an equally important role.
Women are often the primary caregivers at home, putting their own health appointments, nutrition and rest on hold while prioritising everyone else's needs. Symptoms are sometimes dismissed as ‘normal’, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. Mental health also deserves greater attention. Persistent stress, anxiety, caregiving responsibilities and financial pressures can quietly affect physical health over time.
The Hidden Burden Of Chronic Pain
Unlike acute illnesses, chronic pain often becomes part of everyday life. Many women continue working, caring for families and managing households despite persistent back pain, migraines, pelvic pain or joint problems. Because these conditions are rarely visible, they're often underestimated, even by the people experiencing them.
India's Challenge
In India, women's health inequalities remain particularly visible. Anaemia continues to affect millions of women, while access to preventive healthcare, mental health support and early diagnosis remains uneven. Many women only seek medical help when symptoms become severe, by which time treatment can be more difficult.
Health experts increasingly argue that improving women's health isn't only about extending lifespan, it's about improving healthspan: the number of years spent feeling well, active and independent.
Healthy Ageing Starts Much Earlier
Supporting women's health means paying attention long before old age. Regular health screenings, nutritious food, physical activity, adequate sleep, stress management and timely treatment of symptoms can all influence how women age.
Just as importantly, women need permission to prioritise their own health without guilt.
[NJ1]It’s not obvious here that the ‘closer’ refers to ‘closer to men’. Maybe we just say much lesser than many realise.