Heart and Circulatory Disease Most Common Cause of Death in Women - Germany's life expectancy gap persists as women outlive men by nearly 5 years

New health data from 2024 reveals persistent gaps in life expectancy and leading causes of death between men and women in Germany. On average, women lived 4.6 years longer than men, reaching 83.5 years compared to 78.9 for men. Cardiovascular diseases remained the top killer for both genders, though with differing impacts.

Cardiovascular diseases caused the most deaths among women, accounting for 35.4% of fatalities—178,742 in total. Since 2020, these deaths have risen sharply, peaking in 2021 and 2022 with over 100,000 cases annually. Though numbers dipped slightly by 2024, they stayed above pre-pandemic levels of around 85,000 to 90,000 per year. For men, the same conditions claimed 160,470 lives, making up 31.9% of male deaths.

Cancer followed as the second-leading cause, responsible for 21.1% of female deaths (106,774) and nearly a quarter of male deaths (123,618). Hospital admissions also highlighted health disparities. Heart and circulatory disorders sent 12.8% of women and 16.9% of men to hospital, ranking among the most common reasons for inpatient care. Men were frequently hospitalised for digestive disorders, injuries, and poisoning, while women faced similar issues alongside pregnancy-related complications.

Experts linked the life expectancy gap to differences in lifestyle and work conditions. Smoking, diet, and occupational hazards were cited as key factors influencing men's shorter lifespans.

The figures underscore ongoing health challenges, with cardiovascular diseases and cancer dominating mortality rates. Hospital data further reflects gender-specific risks, from pregnancy complications in women to workplace-related injuries in men. Public health officials continue to monitor trends, particularly the sustained rise in heart-related deaths among women since the pandemic.