Behind every old man is an older woman — 4.8 years older, to be precise.

Figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show females continue to outlive males and have been doing so since CSO Irish Life records began.

In 1926, when summers were longer and lives shorter, both sexes could hope to live to the ripe old age of 57, although women hedged closer to 58. In the intervening 80 years, with improving health and lifestyle choices, men have gained an additional 19.4 years and women 23.7.

Between 2002 and 2006, life expectancy at birth for males and females was 76.8 and 81.6 respectively, separated by 4.8 years. The gap was wider in 1986, when it peaked at 5.7 years. By 2002, it was down to 5.2 years and continued to narrow over the next four years.

Life expectancy increased for males and females in the same period. The mid-east and midlands reported the highest life expectancy for males at 77.2 years, while females were at their best in the west, with an average life expectancy of 82.7 years. Out of 25 countries in the EU, the longevity of the Irish male ranked in joint 12th place and women at 16th.

The joy of living in a climate where sunshine, not supplements, equals vitamin D, may play a part in prolonging the lives of those whose coastline crashes in on the Mediterranean. Spain and France have the highest life expectancy for females at 84.4 years. Cypriot males can hope to reach the ripe old age of 79, almost. Sweden offers the same lifespan to its men. In Lithuania, the gap between male and female is 11.7 years. Cyprus has the smallest differential at 3.6 years.

Life expectancy at birth has increased consistently for both men and women since the first Irish Life table was compiled in 1926. A statement from the CSO said: “The improvement is a direct result of decreasing mortality, particularly infant mortality rates over the period.” The CSO points out that much of the improvement occurred between 1946 and 1961 with more modest increases since then.

Since 1980, the improvement in Irish female life expectancy at birth continues to be above the EU15 average.

As one wag put it: “Someone has to stay behind to clean up the mess.”