Life expectancy by age · Female
Life expectancy of a 78-year-old female
A 78-year-old woman in the United States has about 11.1 years of life left on average, which points to an average age at death of about 89. That figure comes from the Social Security Administration's 2023 period life table, used in the 2026 Social Security Trustees Report.
Average years left
11.1
Average age at death
89
Median age at death
89
Half live longer
Chance of dying this year
1 in 30
3.31% at age 78
Odds a 78-year-old woman reaches each age
Life expectancy is only the average. The spread is wide: one in four 78-year-old women is expected to live past about 94, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | 93% | 2 |
| 85 | 71% | 7 |
| 90 | 44% | 12 |
| 95 | 18% | 17 |
| 100 | 4% | 22 |
| 105 | <1% | 27 |
What that time looks like
11.1 years is about 578 weeks, or 4,047 days. It also means roughly 11 more birthdays and 11 more summers on average. Enter an exact birth date in the life expectancy calculator for a result to the day.
78-year-old women compared with nearby ages
| Age | Female years left | Male years left | Chance of reaching 85 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 68 | 18.3 | 16.0 | 58% |
| 73 | 14.5 | 12.7 | 63% |
| 78 | 11.1 | 9.6 | 71% |
| 83 | 8.1 | 7.0 | 88% |
| 88 | 5.6 | 4.8 | — |
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 78-year-old women live longest
State life tables (NCHS, 2022) show real geographic gaps. At age 78, a woman can expect the most remaining years in Hawaii and the fewest in West Virginia.
| Longest | Years left | Shortest | Years left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 12.0 | West Virginia | 9.3 |
| District of Columbia | 11.6 | Kentucky | 9.3 |
| New York | 11.3 | Mississippi | 9.5 |
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 78-year-old woman live?
On average, about 11.1 more years, to roughly age 89, according to the SSA 2023 period life table. Half of 78-year-old women are expected to live past about age 89.
What are the chances a 78-year-old woman lives to 90?
About 44%, based on current U.S. death rates at each age.
Do 78-year-old women live longer than 78-year-old men?
A 78-year-old man has about 9.6 years left on average, less than the 11.1 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.