Human Longevity and Gender Ratio

Women normally outlive men in all age ranges (except the age of menarche), and this has been true in pre-industrial times as well as today. Theories for this include: women's smaller bodies and thus less stress on the heart, stronger immune system, since testosterone acts as an immuno-suppressant and lesser tendency to engage in physically dangerous activities. It is also theorized that women have an evolutionary reason to live longer so as to help care for grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Moreover, women turn to alcohol, cigarettes, and other stimulants to a lesser extend than men.

In the supercentenarian study, men count in less than 10% in the general population of verified supercentenarians.