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Women around the world are living longer than men, but they spend a greater portion of their lives coping with chronic pain, mental health disorders and debilitating illnesses, according to a major new study published in The Lancet.

The research found that women experience a disproportionately higher burden of non-fatal health conditions, including depression, anxiety, musculoskeletal disorders and chronic pain, despite having a longer life expectancy. Men, meanwhile, face higher rates of fatal diseases and premature death.

Researchers said the findings reveal a significant gap between longevity and quality of life, highlighting how women often endure years of poor health that are not reflected in traditional life expectancy statistics.

Conditions such as lower back pain, migraines, arthritis and age-related disabilities affect women more frequently and for longer periods, according to the study. These illnesses may not be life-threatening, but they can significantly impact daily activities, employment and overall well-being.

According to experts, biological, social and economic factors contribute to the disparity. Women are more likely to shoulder caregiving responsibilities, experience barriers to healthcare access and have their symptoms overlooked or underdiagnosed, particularly when it comes to pain-related conditions.

The authors highlighted that many healthcare systems remain focused on reducing mortality rates, often giving less attention to chronic conditions that diminish quality of life. As a result, millions of women spend years living with illnesses that receive insufficient recognition and treatment.

The study calls for health systems to move beyond measuring survival alone and to address the conditions that most affect women’s daily lives. Experts noted that gender-specific health policies, improved mental healthcare, better pain management and increased investment in research on women’s health are essential to reducing the disparity.

Researchers further emphasised the importance of collecting sex-disaggregated health data to better understand how diseases affect men and women differently. Such information could help policymakers design more targeted interventions and improve healthcare outcomes.

The authors noted that understanding these differences is crucial for designing more equitable healthcare systems and ensuring that longer lives are also healthier lives. They conclude that extending life expectancy should not be the only goal of modern medicine; improving the quality of those additional years is equally important.

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