MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-The recently released results of the 2022 Population and Housing Census has revealed the marital landscape and gender disparity in life expectancy in the Midlands Province.
According to the census report, 59.5% of the population aged 15 years and above in the province are married, while 28% have never been married.
The population of the province stands at 1,811 905 with 941,475 females and 870,430 males, resulting in a sex ratio of 92 males for every 100 females.
The report highlights the different types of marriages, including civil, customary registration, and customary unregistered.
It also reveals variations in the male-female ratio across districts, “ranging from 82 males per 100 females in Gokwe Centre to an equal ratio of 100 males per 100 females in Kwekwe rural,”
ZIMSTAT demographic analysis manager, Perfect Makumbe told The Midweek Watch that 5.8% of the Midlands population were widowed, 2.7% were divorced, 2.2% were separated, 1.6% were cohabiting, and 0.2% had an unknown marital status.
Furthermore, the majority of the province’s population were identified as Christian.
“Christians constituted 87.7% of the population in the province. Population which did not identify with any religion was 6.7%. With respect to Christianity, 40% belonged to apostolic sects,” reads the report.
In terms of life expectancy, the census report indicated that the overall life expectancy at birth in the province was 63.9 years, slightly lower than the national average of 64.7 years.
Females had a higher life expectancy of 67.3 years, while males had a lower life expectancy of 60.3 years.
The World Health Organization’s 2021 report on global health identified various factors contributing to the lower life expectancy of males compared to females in many countries.
These factors include biological differences, such as genetics and hormones, with females benefiting from an additional X chromosome that may provide some protection against certain genetic diseases.
Additionally, behavioral factors, health-seeking behavior, occupational hazards, and mental health were highlighted as significant contributors to the gender disparity in life expectancy.
