Average Life Expectancy Is 81.35 Years for Men and 87.33 Years for Women | Reiwa 7 Abridged Life Tables

In July 2026, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare published the “Abridged Life Tables for 2025.” The life expectancy figures announced every summer come from these statistics.

Higher than the previous year for both men and women

According to the 2025 Abridged Life Tables, average life expectancy in 2025 was 81.35 years for men and 87.33 years for women. Compared with the previous year, it increased by 0.25 years for men and 0.20 years for women. The gap between men and women was 5.98 years, narrowing by 0.05 years from the previous year.

2025 Abridged Life Tables (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
・Average life expectancy: men 81.35 years (+0.25 years year on year)
・Average life expectancy: women 87.33 years (+0.20 years year on year)
・Gender gap: 5.98 years (0.05 years narrower than the previous year)

What does “average life expectancy” mean?

Average life expectancy is the average number of years a person aged 0 can expect to live from that point onward (life expectancy at age 0). It is calculated on the assumption that age-specific mortality conditions for that year will remain unchanged in the future, so it does not mean the average age of people who died. If mortality conditions improve, the figure rises; if they worsen due to factors such as the spread of infectious diseases, it falls. Abridged life tables are prepared every year based on population estimates and preliminary vital statistics, while in census years, complete life tables are prepared based on final figures.

Figures to look at alongside this

Alongside average life expectancy, “healthy life expectancy” is another figure often watched closely. It shows the length of time people can live without daily activities being limited by health problems. For more on that gap, see The gap between average life expectancy and healthy life expectancy and for the ranking of causes of death in 2025, see Reading the ranking of causes of death through vital statistics introduced here.

Reference: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, “Overview of the 2025 Abridged Life Tables”

※This article introduces statistics and system information published by public institutions and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any specific disease. If you have health concerns, please consult a medical institution.

—The Value Village Editorial Team