A higher level of engagement in society is among the reasons Hong Kong women’s life expectancy has reached a record high, experts have said, calling for gender-specific solutions to support the city’s ageing population.
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Academics and other specialists said that less exposure to high-risk activities and a willingness to seek help were also among factors for women living longer than men in Hong Kong.
Their analysis followed the recent release of a Census and Statistics Department report, “Women and Men in Hong Kong”. It showed that life expectancy at birth for women in 2024 was 88.4 years, increasing from 88.1 years in 2023, and at a record high.
The life expectancy for men in 2024 was 82.8 years, up from 82.5 years in 2023.
Back in 2022, when exceptionally high mortality rates were reported during the Covid-19 pandemic, the life expectancy for women was 86.8 years and 80.7 years for men.
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The World Health Organization does not rank Hong Kong in life expectancy as it is not a member state, being a region of China. But according to statistics provider Worldometer, the city ranks first in the world, followed by Japan and South Korea.