Life expectancy by age · Female
Life expectancy of a 72-year-old female
A 72-year-old woman in the United States has about 15.3 years of life left on average, which points to an average age at death of about 87. That figure comes from the Social Security Administration's 2023 period life table, used in the 2026 Social Security Trustees Report.
Average years left
15.3
Average age at death
87
Median age at death
88
Half live longer
Chance of dying this year
1 in 56
1.77% at age 72
Odds a 72-year-old woman reaches each age
Life expectancy is only the average. The spread is wide: one in four 72-year-old women is expected to live past about 93, and one in ten past about 97. That is why retirement planners often plan for age 90 or later rather than the average.
| Reach age | Probability | Years from now |
|---|---|---|
| 75 | 94% | 3 |
| 80 | 81% | 8 |
| 85 | 62% | 13 |
| 90 | 38% | 18 |
| 95 | 16% | 23 |
| 100 | 3% | 28 |
What that time looks like
15.3 years is about 796 weeks, or 5,574 days. It also means roughly 15 more birthdays and 15 more summers on average. Enter an exact birth date in the life expectancy calculator for a result to the day.
72-year-old women compared with nearby ages
| Age | Female years left | Male years left | Chance of reaching 85 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | 23.1 | 20.3 | 55% |
| 67 | 19.1 | 16.7 | 58% |
| 72 | 15.3 | 13.3 | 62% |
| 77 | 11.7 | 10.2 | 69% |
| 82 | 8.6 | 7.5 | 84% |
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 72-year-old women live longest
State life tables (NCHS, 2022) show real geographic gaps. At age 72, a woman can expect the most remaining years in Hawaii and the fewest in West Virginia.
| Longest | Years left | Shortest | Years left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 16.4 | West Virginia | 12.9 |
| New York | 15.6 | Kentucky | 13.0 |
| California | 15.5 | Mississippi | 13.2 |
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 72-year-old woman live?
On average, about 15.3 more years, to roughly age 87, according to the SSA 2023 period life table. Half of 72-year-old women are expected to live past about age 88.
What are the chances a 72-year-old woman lives to 90?
About 38%, based on current U.S. death rates at each age.
Do 72-year-old women live longer than 72-year-old men?
A 72-year-old man has about 13.3 years left on average, less than the 15.3 years for a woman 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.