A recent report by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) has revealed a significant gap in life expectancy between men and women in Namibia. According to the 2023 Population and Housing Census Mortality Report, a boy born today can expect to live for 64 years, while a girl born at the same time can expect to live for 72.7 years. This disparity is evident from childhood, with under-five mortality rates showing 41.7 deaths per 1,000 live births among boys, compared to 35.9 among girls.
The gap in survival rates between men and women becomes more pronounced once people reach adulthood. The report states that out of every 1,000 15-year-old boys, 186 are expected not to survive to age 50, compared to 105 girls. By age 60, the difference is even greater, with 304 out of every 1,000 males reaching age 15 not surviving to age 60, compared to 186 females. This translates to almost one in three boys who reach 15 being estimated not to reach 60, compared with fewer than one in five girls.
The disparity in life expectancy continues into older age. At 60, a woman is expected to live another 23.2 years, while a man can expect another 18 years. At age 70, women have a further 16.7 years of expected life, compared with 12.7 years for men. The report also notes that only at age 80 and above do reported female deaths exceed male deaths. This suggests that men are more likely to die at a younger age than women.
The report also highlights regional disparities in life expectancy. For men, life expectancy at birth was the highest in the Erongo region at 73.1 years, but the lowest in the Hardap region at 57.8 years – a difference of more than 15 years. For women, the Oshana region had the highest life expectancy at 77.3 years, while the Omaheke region recorded the lowest at 61.0 years. Adult mortality also varies considerably across regions.
In the Omusati region, 300 out of every 1,000 men who reach age 15 are estimated not to survive to age 50. This figure rises to 447 out of 1,000 before age 60. The Erongo region recorded the lowest male adult mortality risk, with 79 deaths per 1,000 before age 50 and 158 before age 60. For women, the Omaheke region recorded the highest mortality risk before age 50, at 201 deaths per 1,000, while the Kunene region recorded the lowest at 59 per 1,000.
The leading causes of death in Namibia vary depending on age. According to the NSA, the leading cause of death was cancer, with 1,583 reported deaths (7.6%), followed by hypertension with 1,310 deaths (6.3%). Natural disasters were the third most prevalent cause of death, with 1,060 household deaths (6.1%). For males between five and 34, external causes such as accidents, suicide, and murder are major contributors to deaths.
The report provides valuable insights into the mortality gap between men and women in Namibia. The data suggests that men are more likely to die at a younger age than women, with significant disparities in life expectancy evident from childhood. The report's findings have important implications for healthcare policy and intervention strategies aimed at reducing mortality rates and improving life expectancy in Namibia.
Key points
- Namibian men have a lower life expectancy than women, with boys born today expected to live almost nine years less than girls.
- The disparity in life expectancy between men and women is evident from childhood and continues into older age.
- Regional disparities in life expectancy and adult mortality rates are significant, with some regions recording much higher mortality rates than others.
