Gender gap in life expectancy: Portugal between 1940 and 2007

Abstract

This research examines life-expectancy differences between men and women in Portugal from 1940 to 2007, based on decomposition methods by age and causes of death. Until the 1980s the contribution from mortality decline among younger ages is very significant, but today the main drivers in life-expectancy gains are adult and elderly mortality decreases. On the contrary, during the entire period, the gender gap in life expectancy was an outcome of the adult and elderly mortality differences.