In Russia, women now outlive men by an average of 12 years. In Nepal, however, men outlive women by one year. The average life expectancy for women in developed countries is 79 years, compared with 71 years for males. Wealth, available health care, and the environment play a role in life expectancy. Zimbabwe's male life expectancy is now about 40 years at birth, down from 56 years in the mid-1980s.
People living on island nations seem to have an advantage when it comes to life expectancy.
The island nations of Cape Verde, Mauritius, and the Seychelles all have total life expectancies at birth of 70 years. Cape Verdeans live on average 18 years longer than the regional average of 52 years for West Africa and 11 years longer than Ghana and Liberia. But it is interesting to note that Hawaii has the highest a life expectancy in the United States at 78.2 years. Japan, with a life expectancy of 81 years, leads all of Asia as well as its East Asian neighbors. In Southern Europe, Malta's life expectancy of 78 is tied with Greece, Italy, and Spain for the highest total life expectancy at birth in the world.