This paper has two broad aims. First, we consider whether mortality explains the ‘man drought’ in the broad 25-44 age group. Confirming earlier work, we find it does not and explanations need to be found elsewhere. But men do die at a higher rate than women through the lifecycle with an overall result that men have a life expectancy of around four years lower than women. Given this overall pattern of higher mortality for men, we then draw on a number of studies to attempt to learn more about the reasons for the differences in life expectancy. In particular, we focus on those men who in other studies we identify as ‘missing’ in many areas of life.  They are the group who tend to have little formal education and who are then over-represented in terms of being on the margins of employment and family life. They are also the group most at risk of poor mortality outcomes.