Global life expectancy has improved significantly over the years. It has increased from just 51 years in 1960 to around 71 years in the present decade. Data from the World Health Organization shows that global life expectancy is continuing to improve in the 21st century. It increased by six years between 2000 and 2019 before the pandemic, going from 66.8 years in 2000 to 73.1 years in 2019. In addition, healthy life expectancy (HALE) also improved by 9%, increasing from 58.1 years in 2000 to 63.5 years in 2019. This improvement was attributed to a decline in mortality instead of a decrease in the number of years lived with disability,
However, these positive trends were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which reversed around a decade of HALE and life expectancy improvement. The World Health Statistics 2024 report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that global life expectancy and HALE reverted to their 2016 levels in 2020 due to the effects of the pandemic. 2021 saw a similar recession, with the two metrics returning to their 2012 levels. HALE dropped to 61.9 years, while global life expectancy fell to 71.4 years. However, with the effects of the pandemic now almost completely waned out, an improvement is on the way.
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Life Expectancy in the US: Trends and Changes
According to data from the United Nations, the life expectancy at birth in the US worsened by 0.285 years between 2000 and 2021, going from 76.7 years to 76.4 years. However, data from the Provisional Life Expectancy Estimates for 2022 report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows improvement in these trends. Life expectancy at birth in the US increased by 1.1 years between 2021 and 2022, going from 76.4 years to 77.5 years. Although positive, these trends did not fully offset the loss of around 2.4 years in life expectancy between 2019 and 2021, which primarily resulted from higher death tolls due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report further highlighted that male life expectancy regained 1.3 years of its 2.8-year loss between 2019 and 2021, increasing from 73.5 years in 2021 to 74.8 years in 2022. In a similar positive trend, female life expectancy bounced back by 0.9 years after a 2.1-year loss. It went from 79.3 years in 2021 to 80.2 years in 2022.
Similar to differences in life expectancy trends based on gender, people with different backgrounds experienced varying trends in the metric. American Indian-Alaskan Native people (AIAN) experienced the most significant increase in life expectancy, regaining 2.3 years of a 6.2-year loss between 2019 and 2021. Their life expectancy went from 65.6 years in 2021 to 67.9 in 2022. Hispanic people took the second place in terms of life expectancy increases, going from 77.8 years to 80.0 years with a gain of 2.2 years.
The black non-Hispanic population gained 1.6 years, improving their life expectancy from 71.2 to 72.8. The Asian non-Hispanic and White non-Hispanic populations came next, adding 1.0 and 0.8 years to their life expectancies, respectively.
Life Expectancy Changes: What Are The Reasons?
The overall increase of 1.1 years in the life expectancy at birth in the US between 2021 and 2022 was attributed to a fall in mortality rates due to the COVID-19 pandemic, unintentional injuries, cancer, disease, and homicide. However, a decrease in COVID-19 mortality accounted for around 84% of the improvement in life expectancy. This improvement is expected to have been greater if it was not for offsetting mortality increases due to pneumonia, influenza, kidney disease, perinatal conditions, congenital malformations, and nutritional deficiencies.
Similarly, the 1.3-year improvement in the life expectancy of men in the US was primarily due to mortality decreases due to COVID-19, heart disease, homicide, cancer, and unintentional injuries. However, the reasons for the improvement in the life expectancy of women revolved around the decrease in mortality due to COVID-19, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and unintentional injuries.
With these trends in view, let’s look at the 20 states with the lowest life expectancy in the US. You can also look at the 15 Countries with the Highest Life Expectancy in Africa.
20 States with the Lowest Life Expectancy in the US
Our Methodology
To compile a list of the 20 states with the lowest life expectancy in the US, we sourced data from the most recent volume of the National Vital Statistics Report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dated August 21, 2024. The most recent statistics are available from 2021. The 20 states with the lowest life expectancy in the US are arranged in descending order of their life expectancy at birth.
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20 States with the Lowest Life Expectancy in the US
20. District of Columbia
Life Expectancy at Birth: 75.3 years
The District of Columbia takes the 20th spot on our list of the 20 states with the lowest life expectancy in the US. The state’s life expectancy at birth is 75.3 years, while its fertility rate is 44.9, which refers to births per 1,000 women aged 15-44.
19. Nevada
Life Expectancy at Birth: 75.1 years
Nevada is a landlocked state located in the western region of the United States and is most famous for the Las Vegas Strip. It has a life expectancy of 75.1 years at birth, making it the state with the 19th lowest life expectancy in the United States.
18. Arizona
Life Expectancy at Birth: 75.0 years
With a life expectancy of 75.0 years, Arizona ranks on our list of the states with the lowest life expectancy in the US. This southwestern US state is prominently known for the Grand Canyon and several other natural sites, including the Saguaro National Park, which protects the cactus-filled Sonoran Desert landscape.
17. Wyoming
Life Expectancy at Birth: 75.0 years
Wyoming is located in the Mountain West subregion of the western wing of the United States. This landlocked state has a life expectancy of around 75.0 years at birth as of 2021, allowing it the 17th spot on our list of the 20 states with the lowest life expectancy in the US.
16. North Carolina
Life Expectancy at Birth: 74.9 years
North Carolina’s average life expectancy at birth is 74.9 years. The state lies in the southeastern region of the United States and has a population of more than 10.8 million people as of 2023.
15. Missouri
Life Expectancy at Birth: 74.6 years
Missouri holds the 15th spot on our list of the US states with the lowest life expectancy. Its residents have an average life expectancy of 74.6 years. Missouri is located in the Midwestern region of the United States. According to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, the state had the sixth lowest cost of living in fiscal Q3 2024.
14. Indiana
Life Expectancy at Birth: 74.6 years
Indiana is located in the Midwestern region of the United States and is popularly nicknamed “the Hoosier State.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state has a birth rate of 59.7, which refers to births per 1,000 women 15-44 years of age. Its life expectancy at birth stands at 74.6 years.
13. Alaska
Life Expectancy at Birth: 74.5 years
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area and takes the 13th spot on our list of the 20 states with the lowest life expectancy. According to statistics by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, its life expectancy at birth is 74.5 years, and its infant mortality rate is 6.62 (infant deaths per 1,000 live births).
12. Ohio
Life Expectancy at Birth: 74.5 years
Ohio takes the 12th spot on our list with a life expectancy of 74.5 years. The state lies in the Midwestern region of the United States and has a fertility rate of 57.3, which refers to births per 1,000 women 15-44 years of age, according to statistics by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
11. Georgia
Life Expectancy at Birth: 74.3 years
With the leading cause of death in the state being heart disease, Georgia takes the 11th spot on our list of the US states with the lowest life expectancies. Its residents have an average life expectancy of 74.3 years at birth. Its infant mortality rate is 7.08, which refers to infant deaths per 1,000 live births.
10. South Carolina
Life Expectancy at Birth: 73.5 years
South Carolina is located in the southeastern part of the United States and is dotted with sea islands and subtropical beaches. The state’s residents have a life expectancy of 73.5 years at birth, ranking it tenth on our list.
9. New Mexico
Life Expectancy at Birth: 73.0 years
New Mexico is a state in the southwestern region of the US and ranks among the Mountain States of the Rocky Mountains in the south. It shares the Four Corners regions with Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. The state’s life expectancy at birth is 73.0 years.
8. Oklahoma
Life Expectancy at Birth: 72.7 years
Oklahoma’s fertility rate is 60.4, which refers to births per 1,000 women 15-44 years of age. Its teen fertility rate is 21.2, which translates to births per 1,000 females aged 15-19 years. The state’s life expectancy at birth is 72.7 years, ranking it eighth on our list.
7. Arkansas
Life Expectancy at Birth: 72.5 years
Arkansas is a state located in the southern portion of the United States, bordering the Mississippi River. It spans an expansive region of wilderness and parks, with terrains ranging from mountains and caves to rivers and hot springs. Its residents have a life expectancy of 72.5 years at birth.
6. Tennessee
Life Expectancy at Birth: 72.4 years
Tennessee ranks sixth on our list of the states with the lowest life expectancy in the US. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it has a 59.3 fertility rate, which translates to births per 1,000 women between the ages of 15 and 44. Its life expectancy at birth is 72.4 years.
5. Kentucky
Life Expectancy at Birth: 72.3 years
Kentucky has one of the lowest life expectancies in the United States, at 72.3 years. Officially known as the Commonwealth of Kentucky, this landlocked state is located in the southeastern region of the country.
4. Louisiana
Life Expectancy at Birth: 72.2 years
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that Louisiana’s birth rate is 61.8, which refers to births per 1,000 women aged 15-44. Its residents have a life expectancy of 72.2 years at birth.
3. Alabama
Life Expectancy at Birth: 72.0 years
With a life expectancy of 72.0 years at birth, Alabama takes the third spot on our list of the US states with the lowest life expectancy. The state is located in the southeastern wing of the United States, and has a population of more than 5 million as of 2023.
2. West Virginia
Life Expectancy at Birth: 71.0 years
West Virginia is an eastern US state in the tree-filled Appalachian Mountains. Its residents have a life expectancy of 71.0 years, ranking it second on our list. According to statistics by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, its fertility rate is 54.0 (births per 1,000 women 15-44 years of age).
1. Mississippi
Life Expectancy at Birth: 70.9 years
With a life expectancy of 70.9 years, Mississippi has the lowest life expectancy among all 51 US states. Located in the Southeastern region of the United States, the state has a fertility rate of 59.7 (births per 1,000 women 15-44 years of age) and an infant mortality rate of 9.11 (infant deaths per 1,000 live births).
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Disclosure. None. This article was originally published on Insider Monkey.