Gender Life Expectancy and Alcohol: An International Perspective

Abstract

This research determined the alcoholism-related and other correlates of the discrepancy between life expectancy in females and males using information for 161 different countries. The variables that correlated most highly with female minus male life expectancy were per capita alcohol consumption, cirrhosis of the liver deaths per capita, and overall life expectancy. Greater gender discrepancy was also found in non-Moslem countries and in countries with greater per capita income and less infant mortality. Public health implications are discussed.