Longevity debate: Why do women outlive men?
In the Republic of Moldova, life expectancy is on the rise. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the average life expectancy last year was 72 years and 8 months, an increase of 8 months over 2024. On average, women live nearly nine years longer than men.
Life expectancy at birth has now reached 77 years and two months for women and 68 years and four months for men.
Valentina Gîlca, a resident of the village of Volovița, buried her husband 30 years ago. She found that work and household chores helped her cope with the loss.
"Men tend to be a bit more vulnerable; they often fall into depression. While women can experience this too, I realized that the more I work, the farther I can move on. I wake up every morning at 5:00 AM to feed the animals. There's always work to be done, and even on holidays, I don't have time to rest," she shared.
At 74, Valentina Gîlca rides a scooter that her children gifted her.
"I've been riding a scooter since I was 50. When I turned 50, my children took it away from me because I had a broken leg and couldn't ride it. This scooter is very helpful, as it’s harder for me to walk at my age," said Valentina.
Valentina's experience is not unique.
"I've been a widow for 13 years. It's hard, but women are more patient and hardworking. They believe they have work to do."
"There were times when women were humiliated and didn’t have rights. Now, times have changed; they are stronger, more energetic, and do more work than men."
Men believe that longevity is influenced by lifestyle and genetics.
"I think that physical work, especially in construction, is harder for men. But let’s not forget that giving birth is much more challenging for women."
"While men can lift heavier loads, they also tend to smoke and drink more, while women often cook and eat healthier, like more salads. Some people die earlier while others live longer. You know how they say: 'We are born one at a time and die when our turn comes.'"
Experts indicate that women's longer life expectancy is influenced by both biological factors and lifestyle choices.
"When we compare life expectancy today to 20 years ago, we see an increase of five years on average. Women live longer than men, which is a trend observed across all populations, not just in the Republic of Moldova. This phenomenon is mainly linked to the traditionally riskier lifestyles often adopted by men," explained sociologist Vasile Cantarji.
In the Republic of Moldova, the average life expectancy is noticeably lower than that of the European Union.
In Western countries, women live an average of 84 years, while men live an average of 79 years.
Italy and Sweden rank at the top for life expectancy, thanks to a high standard of living and access to quality medical services. In contrast, Bulgaria, Romania, and Latvia lie at the lower end of the spectrum.
