Life expectancy by age · Male
Life expectancy of a 40-year-old male
A 40-year-old man in the United States has about 38.6 years of life left on average, which points to an average age at death of about 79. That figure comes from the Social Security Administration's 2023 period life table, used in the 2026 Social Security Trustees Report.
Average years left
38.6
Average age at death
79
Median age at death
81
Half live longer
Chance of dying this year
1 in 321
0.31% at age 40
Odds a 40-year-old man reaches each age
Life expectancy is only the average. The spread is wide: one in four 40-year-old men is expected to live past about 89, and one in ten past about 93. That is why retirement planners often plan for age 90 or later rather than the average.
| Reach age | Probability | Years from now |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 96% | 10 |
| 60 | 89% | 20 |
| 65 | 83% | 25 |
| 70 | 76% | 30 |
| 75 | 66% | 35 |
| 80 | 54% | 40 |
What that time looks like
38.6 years is about 2,014 weeks, or 14,095 days. It also means roughly 38 more birthdays and 38 more summers on average. Enter an exact birth date in the life expectancy calculator for a result to the day.
40-year-old men compared with nearby ages
| Age | Male years left | Female years left | Chance of reaching 85 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 47.5 | 52.1 | 37% |
| 35 | 43.0 | 47.3 | 37% |
| 40 | 38.6 | 42.6 | 38% |
| 45 | 34.2 | 38.0 | 38% |
| 50 | 29.9 | 33.5 | 39% |
Each year you survive, the average age you can expect to reach goes up slightly, because you have already passed the risks of the year behind you.
Where 40-year-old men live longest
State life tables (NCHS, 2022) show real geographic gaps. At age 40, a man can expect the most remaining years in Utah and the fewest in West Virginia.
| Longest | Years left | Shortest | Years left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | 39.6 | West Virginia | 33.3 |
| Minnesota | 39.5 | Mississippi | 33.7 |
| Massachusetts | 39.5 | Kentucky | 34.4 |
Source: SSA Office of the Chief Actuary, 2023 period life table. A period table assumes today's death rates stay fixed; if rates keep improving, actual lifespans will run longer. Probabilities are computed from the table's death rates. Statistical estimate only, not a medical prediction.
Questions
How long will a 40-year-old man live?
On average, about 38.6 more years, to roughly age 79, according to the SSA 2023 period life table. Half of 40-year-old men are expected to live past about age 81.
What are the chances a 40-year-old man lives to 90?
About 20%, based on current U.S. death rates at each age.
Do 40-year-old men live longer than 40-year-old women?
A 40-year-old woman has about 42.6 years left on average, more than the 38.6 years for a man of the same age.
Is this a prediction of when I will die?
No. It is a population average from an official life table. Health, habits, family history, income, and chance all move individual outcomes well above or below the average.