Life expectancy among Filipinos — or the average number of years a person is expected to live — continues to rise from 2020 through 2025, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
PSA data showed that in 2020, males had an average life expectancy of 66.17 years, while females lived longer at 73.26 years, reflecting a gender gap of 7.09 years.
By 2026, life expectancy among males is projected to increase to 68.05 years, while females are expected to reach 74.60 years, narrowing the gap to 6.55 years.
“The slow upward trend of life expectancy is expected to continue through 2035, with males projected to live up to 70.42 years and females up to 77.06 years. The gap between male and female life expectancy is projected to be 6.64 years, indicating that the difference in longevity between men and women will be nearly constant over time,” the PSA said.
Across regions, the National Capital Region (NCR) is expected to continue leading in male life expectancy through 2035.
PSA data showed male life expectancy at birth in Metro Manila is projected to increase from 72.09 years in 2020 to 75.31 years by 2035.
The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) follows, with male life expectancy projected to rise from 71.65 years in 2020 to 74.95 years in 2035, while Cagayan Valley ranks third, increasing from 68.88 years to 72.68 years over the same period.
Meanwhile, regions with the lowest male life expectancy include SOCCSKSARGEN, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and MIMAROPA.
In SOCCSKSARGEN, male life expectancy is projected to rise from 61.79 years in 2020 to 66.68 years by 2035. In BARMM, it is expected to increase from 61.94 years to 66.81 years, while in MIMAROPA, it is projected to grow from 62.82 years to 67.56 years.
For females, Metro Manila also records the highest life expectancy, at 79.42 years in 2020, followed by CAR at 78.94 years and Cagayan Valley at 76.15 years.
By 2025, female life expectancy in NCR is projected to rise to 80.25 years, increasing further to 81.17 years in 2030 and 82.04 years by 2035.
In CAR, female life expectancy is expected to increase from 79.80 years in 2025 to 80.82 years in 2030 and 81.70 years in 2035. In Cagayan Valley, it is projected to rise from 77.11 years in 2025 to 78.30 years in 2030 and 79.39 years by 2035.
On the other hand, SOCCSKSARGEN, BARMM, and MIMAROPA are expected to post the lowest female life expectancy at birth over the same period.
The PSA said SOCCSKSARGEN recorded the lowest female life expectancy in 2020 at 68.51 years, followed by BARMM at 68.67 years and MIMAROPA at 69.66 years.
Despite steady gains, these regions are still projected to rank among the lowest nationwide. By 2035, female life expectancy in SOCCSKSARGEN is expected to reach 73.00 years, 73.13 years in BARMM, and 73.95 years in MIMAROPA.
In a separate interview, Teodoro Orteza, chief statistical specialist at the PSA’s Demographic and Health Statistics Division, said patterns consistently show that women outlive men.
Orteza explained that lifestyle factors or “vices” contribute to higher mortality among men, while women tend to have better survival rates across age groups.
With life expectancy projected to increase for both men and women, Orteza said the country needs to strengthen healthcare, social protection, and pension systems as the population ages.
Longevity, he added, should not only be viewed as a demographic shift but also as a call for policymakers to ensure that Filipinos can live longer, healthier lives.
