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If you’ve ever wondered why women live longer than men on average, here’s a surprising thought: It’s not just humans. Across many animal species, females also tend to live longer than males. But why does this happen? Let’s break it down.
I remember the first time I started thinking about this. I was sitting with a group of friends, and we were joking about how women seem to “win” at living longer. But then someone asked, “What about animals? Do female animals outlive males too?” And honestly, I had no idea. That question stuck with me.
So, I did some digging. Turns out, in a lot of species, it’s true. Female animals whether it’s mammals, birds, or even insects often outlive their male counterparts.
For example:
• In lions, female lions usually live a few years longer than males. Why? Because male lions often fight to defend their territory, which makes their lives more dangerous.
• In birds, especially in some parrot species, females can live up to 20–30% longer than males. Researchers think this might be because males spend more energy competing for mates.
• Even in small creatures like ants, the queen ant can live years or even decades, while male ants often live only a few weeks.
