Austrian men live nearly five years less than women

Men in Austria live an average of almost five years less than women, although figures for some key health checks show smaller differences, ORF Upper Austria reported during the Movember health campaign.

The latest available figures from Statistics Austria put life expectancy at 79.4 years for men and 84.2 years for women. The gap has narrowed somewhat over recent decades, as men’s life expectancy has risen more sharply. Experts attribute the trend in part to lower smoking rates, improved healthcare and greater awareness of prevention.

Cardiovascular disease, cancer and risky lifestyles remain among the most common health risks for men. But the 2025 Austrian Health Survey found that men and women reported similar rates of some checks. In the previous 12 months, 69.9% of men and 71.7% of women had their blood pressure measured by a health professional.

For cholesterol or blood lipid tests, the figures were 63.0% for men and 68.1% for women. The difference was similar for blood sugar testing.

Regular exercise and a healthy diet are considered important for healthy ageing. Recommendations include strength-building exercises twice a week and 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity endurance exercise. Social contact, mental activity and mindful alcohol use are also encouraged. Experts say men can be harder to reach than women on diet and preventive care.

The gaps are smaller than those seen in some cancer screening programmes. Experts say women tend to make greater use of health-promoting services overall, partly because health prevention is more embedded in their daily lives and they may be more aware of health risks.

Men reported high blood pressure somewhat more often: 24.8% said they had experienced it in the previous 12 months, compared with 22.9% of women. Rates rise substantially with age for both sexes.

A visit to a doctor does not necessarily count as preventive care. In the previous year, 78.9% of men and 83.5% of women had seen a general practitioner, but many visits were for acute symptoms or ongoing treatment.

Experts are also concerned about growing care needs among older people. Austrian studies indicate that difficulties with everyday activities have become more common in recent years, with a sharper increase among men. Possible factors include chronic illness, excess weight, lack of exercise and changing social structures. Digitalisation and technology are also making daily life more complex for many older people.