Smoking is the main reason why men die sooner than women

The gender gap in death rates has sometimes been put down to simple biology, or the fact that women seek out health care more readily than men.

A recent study using World Health Organisation figures on death rates among men and women from all causes has revealed that smoking accounts for up to 60 percent of the gender gap in death rates across Europe, and kills twice as many men as alcohol.

Smoking related deaths included respiratory tract cancers, coronary artery disease, stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Those related to alcohol-included cancers of the throat and gullet and chronic liver disease as well as alcoholic psychosis and violence.

The proportion of the discrepancy in death rates for men and women attributable to smoking and alcohol was then calculated for all countries by dividing the gender gap for each cause by the gender gap for all causes.