US Life Expectancy by State, Race and Ethnicity Data
Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 10 May 2017 - Updated: 30 Aug 2026
Publication Type: Charts, Graphs, Tables
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content
Synopsis
This statistics report with supporting tables and charts provides valuable insights into life expectancy trends across U.S. states, highlighting significant disparities based on geography, race, and ethnicity. It offers a comprehensive overview of life expectancy statistics, including state-by-state rankings and historical data from 1950 to 2022. The information is particularly useful for understanding health disparities, socioeconomic factors influencing longevity, and the overall state of public health in the United States. By presenting data on life expectancy variations among different demographic groups and regions, the article serves as a crucial resource for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and researchers working to address health inequalities and improve overall population health outcomes.
At a Glance
- 1 - Hawaii ranks highest at 81.3 years while Mississippi sits lowest at 75.0 years. This spread of more than six years reflects deep regional health gaps.
- 2 - US life expectancy at birth fell by 2.2 years, from 78.8 in 2019 to 76.6 in 2021. The 2021 drop of 0.6 years exceeded the decline seen in 2020.
- 3 - Eight of the ten shortest-lived states also fall within the bottom ten for average household income. Six of the ten longest-living states rank in the top ten for income.
- 4 - Historical figures show life expectancy climbing from 68.14 years in 1950 to 79.05 years in 2022. Older Americans are projected to outnumber children for the first time within a few decades.
Topic Definition
- Longevity Versus Life Expectancy
Longevity and life expectancy are terms that often get used interchangeably, yet they carry a meaningful difference. Life expectancy is always a statistical measure, defined as the average number of years a person can expect to live from a given age based on current mortality rates across a population. Longevity, by contrast, tends to point to the long lifespan of an individual or to the especially long-lived members of a group rather than to a population average. In short, life expectancy describes the typical outcome for a whole population, while longevity speaks to how long particular people actually manage to live, which is why the two ideas, though related, are not truly the same thing.
Overview
By any statistic, the United States is far from the top regarding health stats. Life expectancy, childhood survival, and pathology-specific numbers around things like cancer survival, diabetes control, etc. tend to be pretty atrocious in the United States - even among the insured.
"Life expectancy in many places in this country (US) is declining. It's going backward instead of forward... Countries like Australia are far ahead of the U.S. in delivering preventive care and trying to curb harmful behaviors. Smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, and high blood pressure are all preventable risk factors" - washingtonpost.
U.S. Life Expectancy Figures
UPDATE: (3rd September 2022), An updated analysis of American COVID-19 deaths throughout 2021 highlights a continued drop in overall U.S. life expectancy as well as persistent disparities by race and ethnicity. The study, published in PLOS ONE, indicates that U.S. life expectancy at birth decreased by 2.2 years from 78.8 in 2019 to 76.6 in 2021. Covid-19: U.S. life expectancy continued to decrease in 2021; study finds despite vaccination rollout, 2021 reductions in life expectancy appear to exceed those in 2020, and racial disparities have persisted - USC researchers. The estimated decrease in life expectancy for 2021 is 0.6 years larger than the decrease observed in 2020. Despite the availability of effective vaccines, life expectancy continued to decline in 2021. Part of this is due to the large number of COVID-19 deaths that occurred at the beginning of 2021 before many individuals were eligible for vaccination. But even once all adults became eligible for vaccination, many chose not to be vaccinated, and even vaccinated individuals were not completely protected against the highly transmissible Delta and Omicron variants.
Today, the life expectancy of someone born in the United States is 78.9 years. Overall, Hawaii is the U.S. state with the highest life expectancy, and the state of Mississippi is rated the lowest for lifespan years.
According to 2011 U.S. Census Bureau data, 8 of 10 of the shortest lifespan states are also within the bottom 10 of average household income - these U.S. states are;
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- West Virginia
In addition, 6 of the ten longest-living U.S. states scored within the top 10 of average household income;
- California
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
Listed below is a chart of United States states sorted by human lifespan expectancy and race/ethnicity. These statistics are taken from the Measure of America 2013–2014 third national human development report. The measure of America calculations uses mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics 2009, and population data from the CDC WONDER database.
| Rank | State | Average | White | African American | Asian American | Latino | Native American |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | 81.3 | 80.4 | - | 82.0 | 76.8 | - |
| 2 | Minnesota | 81.1 | 81.2 | 79.7 | 83.5 | 87.3 | 70.2 |
| 3 | Connecticut | 80.8 | 81.0 | 77.8 | 89.1 | 83.1 | - |
| 4 | California | 80.8 | 79.8 | 75.1 | 86.3 | 83.2 | 80.2 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 80.5 | 80.4 | 78.8 | 89.1 | 87.1 | - |
| 6 | New York | 80.5 | 80.5 | 77.4 | 88.6 | 83.5 | - |
| 7 | Vermont | 80.5 | 80.4 | - | - | - | - |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 80.3 | 80.1 | - | - | - | - |
| 9 | New Jersey | 80.3 | 80.3 | 75.5 | 89.4 | 84.7 | - |
| 10 | Utah | 80.2 | 80.1 | - | 84.6 | 82.1 | - |
| 11 | Colorado | 80.0 | 80.2 | 76.7 | 87.4 | 79.4 | - |
| 12 | Wisconsin | 80.0 | 80.3 | 74.0 | 86.4 | 86.0 | 72.5 |
| 13 | Washington | 79.9 | 79.7 | 77.5 | 85.4 | 85.4 | 73.8 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | 79.9 | 79.7 | - | - | - | - |
| 15 | Nebraska | 79.8 | 80.0 | 73.9 | - | 85.5 | - |
| 16 | Iowa | 79.7 | 79.8 | 75.3 | - | - | - |
| 17 | Arizona | 79.6 | 79.8 | 76.5 | 86.7 | 80.8 | 72.7 |
| 18 | North Dakota | 79.5 | 80.2 | - | - | - | - |
| 19 | Oregon | 79.5 | 79.2 | 77.2 | 86.2 | 85.4 | - |
| 20 | Idaho | 79.5 | 79.4 | - | - | 83.4 | - |
| 21 | South Dakota | 79.5 | 80.4 | - | - | - | 68.2 |
| 22 | Florida | 79.4 | 79.1 | 75.8 | 88.9 | 83.1 | - |
| 23 | Maine | 79.2 | 79.1 | - | - | - | - |
| 24 | Virginia | 79.0 | 79.4 | 75.3 | 87.2 | 88.3 | - |
| 25 | Illinois | 79.0 | 79.3 | 73.7 | 87.9 | 85.3 | - |
| 26 | Maryland | 78.8 | 79.4 | 75.5 | 88.2 | - | - |
| 27 | Kansas | 78.7 | 78.8 | 73.6 | - | 83.5 | - |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | 78.5 | 78.9 | 73.4 | 89.0 | 85.3 | - |
| 29 | Montana | 78.5 | 79.1 | - | - | - | 69.2 |
| 30 | Texas | 78.5 | 78.0 | 74.4 | 88.1 | 80.7 | - |
| 31 | New Mexico | 78.4 | 79.0 | - | - | 78.8 | 74.8 |
| 32 | Delaware | 78.4 | 78.6 | 75.4 | - | - | - |
| 33 | Wyoming | 78.3 | 78.4 | - | - | - | - |
| 34 | Alaska | 78.3 | 79.4 | - | - | - | 70.5 |
| 35 | Michigan | 78.2 | 79.0 | 73.4 | 88.7 | 80.0 | 75.3 |
| 36 | Nevada | 78.1 | 76.7 | 75.9 | 88.1 | 84.7 | - |
| 37 | North Carolina | 77.8 | 78.3 | 74.7 | 88.9 | - | 76.6 |
| 38 | Ohio | 77.8 | 78.1 | 73.9 | 87.0 | 85.3 | - |
| 39 | Indiana | 77.6 | 77.7 | 73.8 | 88.1 | 85.9 | - |
| 40 | Missouri | 77.5 | 77.7 | 74.2 | - | - | - |
| 41 | Georgia | 77.2 | 77.6 | 74.7 | 88.0 | - | - |
| 42 | South Carolina | 77.0 | 77.8 | 74.0 | - | - | - |
| 43 | District of Columbia | 76.5 | 84.3 | 71.6 | - | - | - |
| 44 | Tennessee | 76.3 | 76.7 | 72.9 | 84.2 | - | - |
| 45 | Kentucky | 76.0 | 76.0 | 73.5 | - | - | - |
| 46 | Arkansas | 76.0 | 76.3 | 72.2 | - | - | - |
| 47 | Oklahoma | 75.9 | 76.0 | 72.8 | - | 85.0 | 73.8 |
| 48 | Louisiana | 75.7 | 76.7 | 72.4 | 85.6 | - | - |
| 49 | Alabama | 75.4 | 76.0 | 72.9 | 85.3 | - | - |
| 50 | West Virginia | 75.4 | 75.4 | 72.8 | - | - | - |
| 51 | Mississippi | 75.0 | 76.1 | 72.4 | - | - | - |
Notes:
- In cases where there is no life expectancy estimate, the population of that group is too small to enable reliable estimates.
- Life expectancy values are rounded to within one decimal place. As a result, the values may appear tied in several instances, but the rankings reflect the original calculations, not the rounded values.
U.S. Life Expectancy 1950-2022
| Year | Life Expectancy | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 79.05 | 0.080% |
| 2021 | 78.99 | 0.080% |
| 2020 | 78.93 | 0.080% |
| 2019 | 78.87 | 0.080% |
| 2018 | 78.81 | -0.030% |
| 2017 | 78.84 | -0.030% |
| 2016 | 78.86 | -0.030% |
| 2015 | 78.89 | -0.030% |
| 2014 | 78.91 | -0.030% |
| 2013 | 78.94 | 0.190% |
| 2012 | 78.79 | 0.190% |
| 2011 | 78.64 | 0.190% |
| 2010 | 78.49 | 0.190% |
| 2009 | 78.34 | 0.190% |
| 2008 | 78.19 | 0.260% |
| 2007 | 77.99 | 0.260% |
| 2006 | 77.79 | 0.260% |
| 2005 | 77.58 | 0.260% |
| 2004 | 77.38 | 0.260% |
| 2003 | 77.18 | 0.180% |
| 2002 | 77.04 | 0.180% |
| 2001 | 76.90 | 0.190% |
| 2000 | 76.75 | 0.190% |
| 1999 | 76.61 | 0.190% |
| 1998 | 76.47 | 0.210% |
| 1997 | 76.31 | 0.220% |
| 1996 | 76.14 | 0.220% |
| 1995 | 75.98 | 0.220% |
| 1994 | 75.81 | 0.220% |
| 1993 | 75.65 | 0.200% |
| 1992 | 75.50 | 0.200% |
| 1991 | 75.35 | 0.200% |
| 1990 | 75.19 | 0.200% |
| 1989 | 75.04 | 0.200% |
| 1988 | 74.89 | 0.140% |
| 1987 | 74.79 | 0.140% |
| 1986 | 74.68 | 0.140% |
| 1985 | 74.58 | 0.140% |
| 1984 | 74.47 | 0.140% |
| 1983 | 74.37 | 0.300% |
| 1982 | 74.15 | 0.300% |
| 1981 | 73.92 | 0.300% |
| 1980 | 73.70 | 0.300% |
| 1979 | 73.47 | 0.310% |
| 1978 | 73.25 | 0.500% |
| 1977 | 72.88 | 0.500% |
| 1976 | 72.52 | 0.510% |
| 1975 | 72.15 | 0.510% |
| 1974 | 71.79 | 0.510% |
| 1973 | 71.42 | 0.300% |
| 1972 | 71.21 | 0.300% |
| 1971 | 71.00 | 0.300% |
| 1970 | 70.78 | 0.300% |
| 1969 | 70.57 | 0.300% |
| 1968 | 70.36 | 0.070% |
| 1967 | 70.31 | 0.070% |
| 1966 | 70.26 | 0.070% |
| 1965 | 70.21 | 0.070% |
| 1964 | 70.16 | 0.070% |
| 1963 | 70.11 | 0.130% |
| 1962 | 70.02 | 0.130% |
| 1961 | 69.93 | 0.130% |
| 1960 | 69.84 | 0.130% |
| 1959 | 69.75 | 0.130% |
| 1958 | 69.66 | 0.270% |
| 1957 | 69.47 | 0.270% |
| 1956 | 69.28 | 0.280% |
| 1955 | 69.09 | 0.280% |
| 1954 | 68.90 | 0.280% |
| 1953 | 68.71 | 0.280% |
| 1952 | 68.52 | 0.280% |
| 1951 | 68.33 | 0.280% |
| 1950 | 68.14 | 0.000% |
The aging of US baby boomers means that older people are projected to outnumber children for the first time within just a few decades. Between 2020 and 2050, the number of deaths is projected to rise substantially as the population ages and a significant share of the population, the baby boomers, ages into older adulthood. As a result, the population will naturally grow very slowly, leaving net international migration to overtake natural increase as the leading cause of population growth, even as projected levels of migration remain relatively constant - U.S. Seniors to Outnumber Children for the First Time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current life expectancy in the United States
The life expectancy of someone born in the United States is about 78.9 years, though it dipped during the pandemic years.
Which US state has the highest life expectancy
Hawaii has the highest average life expectancy at 81.3 years, followed by Minnesota and Connecticut.
Which US state has the lowest life expectancy
Mississippi has the lowest average life expectancy at 75.0 years, with West Virginia and Alabama close behind.
Why did US life expectancy decline in 2020 and 2021
COVID-19 drove the decline, with many deaths early in 2021 before vaccination and continued spread of the Delta and Omicron variants.
How does income relate to life expectancy by state
Wealthier states tend to live longer, as most shortest-lived states rank among the lowest for average household income.
How does the US compare with other developed countries
The United States trails many peer nations, with countries like Australia ahead on preventive care and curbing harmful behaviors.
Where does the state life expectancy data come from
The rankings draw on the Measure of America report using CDC mortality data and population figures from the CDC WONDER database.
How much has US life expectancy grown since 1950
US life expectancy rose from 68.14 years in 1950 to 79.05 years in 2022, an increase of nearly eleven years.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: The disparities in life expectancy across U.S. states, as highlighted in this report, underscore the profound impact of socioeconomic factors on health outcomes. States with lower average household incomes, such as Mississippi and West Virginia, consistently report shorter lifespans, while wealthier states like Hawaii and California enjoy greater longevity. This correlation suggests that income inequality, access to healthcare, and lifestyle choices play pivotal roles in determining life expectancy. Addressing these disparities requires comprehensive public health strategies that focus on improving education, economic opportunities, and healthcare access in underserved communities.
Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability, a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.