Life expectancy by age · Male
Life expectancy of a 55-year-old male
A 55-year-old man in the United States has about 25.7 years of life left on average, which points to an average age at death of about 81. That figure comes from the Social Security Administration's 2023 period life table, used in the 2026 Social Security Trustees Report.
Average years left
25.7
Average age at death
81
Median age at death
82
Half live longer
Chance of dying this year
1 in 133
0.75% at age 55
Odds a 55-year-old man reaches each age
Life expectancy is only the average. The spread is wide: one in four 55-year-old men is expected to live past about 89, and one in ten past about 94. That is why retirement planners often plan for age 90 or later rather than the average.
| Reach age | Probability | Years from now |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | 96% | 5 |
| 65 | 89% | 10 |
| 70 | 81% | 15 |
| 75 | 71% | 20 |
| 80 | 57% | 25 |
| 85 | 40% | 30 |
What that time looks like
25.7 years is about 1,343 weeks, or 9,398 days. It also means roughly 25 more birthdays and 25 more summers on average. Enter an exact birth date in the life expectancy calculator for a result to the day.
55-year-old men compared with nearby ages
| Age | Male years left | Female years left | Chance of reaching 85 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 34.2 | 38.0 | 38% |
| 50 | 29.9 | 33.5 | 39% |
| 55 | 25.7 | 29.0 | 40% |
| 60 | 21.8 | 24.7 | 42% |
| 65 | 18.1 | 20.7 | 45% |
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 55-year-old men live longest
State life tables (NCHS, 2022) show real geographic gaps. At age 55, a man can expect the most remaining years in Hawaii and the fewest in Mississippi.
| Longest | Years left | Shortest | Years left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 26.4 | Mississippi | 21.9 |
| Massachusetts | 26.3 | West Virginia | 21.9 |
| Utah | 26.3 | Oklahoma | 22.4 |
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 55-year-old man live?
On average, about 25.7 more years, to roughly age 81, according to the SSA 2023 period life table. Half of 55-year-old men are expected to live past about age 82.
What are the chances a 55-year-old man lives to 90?
About 22%, based on current U.S. death rates at each age.
Do 55-year-old men live longer than 55-year-old women?
A 55-year-old woman has about 29.0 years left on average, more than the 25.7 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.