Age gaps in relationships have always created curiosity and debate. While quite a common feature is that men are usually older than their partners, it's very seldom one sees the reverse. But what does science actually say about relationship age differences?
Here are seven fascinating, research-based facts about age gaps and love:
1. Men Live Longer With Younger Partners, Women Thrive With Same-Age Partners
The Danish study by Drefahl in 2010 found that men with younger female partners tend to live longer. Perhaps the reason is because a younger partner may provide emotional support and vitality, or even better care in later years.
For men whose wives were 15 years younger, the risk of death was about 4% lower than for others.
For women, the opposite was true; those who had partners around the same age tended to live longer, possibly because caregiving and emotional support differ between genders.
2. It's Rare for Men to Be Younger Than Their Wives
Only 10% of marriages involve men who are younger than their wives. The remaining 15% are couples of roughly the same age. Clearly, most heterosexual relationships still follow the traditional older-man-younger-woman pattern.
3. Both Genders Prefer Younger Partners But Men More So
A 2024 study conducted by Gottfried and colleagues found evidence that the preference for a younger partner becomes stronger as people age.
For instance, while 70-year-old men preferred partners around 58 years old, 70-year-old women preferred partners averaging 68.5 years old.
So while both genders show this tendency, it’s more pronounced in men.
4. The Global Average Age Gap Is 4.2 Years
According to a study conducted by Ausubel et al. in 2022, men are, on average, 4.2 years older than their female partners worldwide.
This trend, although consistent across most countries, varies in the size of the age gap.
5. Age Gaps Differ Greatly Across Countries
This same 2022 study demonstrated huge regional differences in relationship age gaps:
- North America: On average, men are about 2.2 years older than women.
- Europe: Approximately 2.7 years older.
- Bangladesh: 8.7 years older.
- Nigeria: 11.8 years older.
- Gambia: An impressive 14.8 years older.
6. Older Partners Are Often Happier in Their Relationships
Indeed, in a 2025 study conducted by Banbury et al., older men who were in relationships with younger women reportedly had higher relationship satisfaction compared to men with an older partner. Interestingly, women didn't report significantly higher levels of happiness regardless of whether their male partner was older or younger than them-they were relatively happy either way.
7. Younger Women With Older Men Feel
More Financially Secure The same study also demonstrated that younger women who dated older men felt more financially secure than those who dated their younger counterparts. However, this sense of security was not felt by younger men with an older woman.
Final Thoughts
Science indicates that age gaps in relationships are influenced by biology, culture, and psychology. Whereas men generally feel happier and live longer with younger partners, women mostly feel emotionally better when their partner is closer to their age. After all, the success of a relationship depends more on love, trust, and compatibility than on just the number of candles on your birthday cake.