Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Topics
Data & Maps
Surveys & Programs
Resource Library
Gender and Aging: Mortality and Health
Gender and Aging: Mortality and Health
Report Number IB/98-2
Introduction
Countries around the world are in the midst of demographic aging. While the pace of aging varies, all nations are, or soon will be, faced with important issues regarding the health of and health care provision for their expanding older populations.
In particular, countries need to plan for the health needs of older women. Although the elderly are as diverse demographically, socially, and economically as the nonelderly, one notable difference between these broad groups is the relative number of men and women. While boys outnumber girls in all countries, gender differences in mortality eventually produce a changing sex balance within a population. By age 30 or 35, women start to outnumber men, and the absolute female advantage increases with age. Elderly women greatly outnumber elderly men in most nations, and therefore the health and socioeconomic problems of the elderly are, to a large extent, the problems of elderly women.
Related Information
Page Last Revised - October 8, 2021
✕
Is this page helpful?
Yes
No
Yes
No✕
NO THANKS
255 characters maximum
255 characters maximum reached
255 characters maximum reached
✕
Thank you for your feedback.
Comments or suggestions?
Comments or suggestions?
