The life expectancy gender gap for Australian men and women has continued to narrow, according to the latest figures released by Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). 

The new figures showed that Australian males born today have an estimated life expectancy of 80.5 years, while females have 84.9 years. 

“Australian males can now expect to live 10.8 years longer than the world average of 69.7 years, according to the United Nations 2015-2020 estimates,” ABS Demography Director Anthony Grubb said. 

“Female life expectancy in 2017 remained the same as the previous year (84.6 years) and compares to the global average of 74.3 years,” Mr Grubb said.  
Australian male life expectancy has increased by 0.1 years over the 2014-2016 to 2015-2017 period. This has led to a total increase of 1.5 years over the past decade. 

Over the past 50 years leading up to 2017, male life expectancy has grown by 12.9 years, with female life expectancy grew by 10.4 years. 

Victoria has the highest male life expectancy with 81.3 years. The Australian Capital Territory follows with 81.1 years, and New South Wales and South Australia and Western Australia are all at 80.3 years. 

The Australian Capital Territory has the highest female life expectancy with 85.2 years, with Victoria following at 85.0 years. New South Wales has a record of 84.6 years. 

However, the Northern Territory has the lowest life expectancy for both males and females at 75.9 years and 79.4 years respectively. 

“Australians have a higher life expectancy than our counterparts in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the USA,” Mr Grubb said.