--- title: "Average US Life Expectancy Statistics By Demographics!" canonical: "https://www.simplyinsurance.com/average-us-life-expectancy-statistics/" description: "Find average US life expectancy statistics by demographics, all in one place. We cover life expectancy over time by state, gender, and ethnicity." silo: "renters" published: "2026-05-21" author: "sa-el" source: "Simply Insurance" --- The global life expectancy at birth for women is 75 years old and for men, it’s 70 years old. However, **in America, the average life expectancy for women is 81 years and for men 77 years**. In this definitive guide, we explore all the latest lifespan statistics by state, gender, ethnicity, and income to summarize the current climate of life expectancy. This data could also be used in figuring out who are the best life insurance companiesbased on things like the average life expectancy of their customers based on [the state they live in](https://www.simplyinsurance.com/best-renters-insurance-alabama/), and [Compare Renters Insurance Quotes Online](https://www.simplyinsurance.com/compare-renters-insurance-quotes-online/) for more coverage options. Unless specified, all American lifespan expectancy figures on this page are ‘at birth’ as a standard. **In this section we cover** - [What is the average life expectancy at birth in the US?](#section-1) - [Where does the US rank in world life expectancy?](#section-2) - [What is the life expectancy of an American male or female?](#section-3) - [Which US ethnic group has the longest and shortest life expectancy?](#section-4)

What Is The Average Life Expectancy At Birth In The US?

The average lifespan at birth figures in the US are below;, these are the most up to date available from the OECD, CIA, and [life expectancy statistics](https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/life-expectancy.htm). **Latest US Average Life Expectancy At Birth Figures:** - **80.0 Years:** Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). - **78.6 Years:** Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). - **78.5 Years:** Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). **Latest available data is from 2017 | **Latest available data is from 2016*** There were a total of **2,813,503 resident deaths** recorded in 2017, **an increase of 69,255 from the previous year**. Life expectancy is essentially a snapshot of any populations overall health. Based on the latest OECD figures (a collection of developed nations), the **United States falls behind the member countries average lifespan by 1.9 years.**

So What Does the Age Adjusted Death Rate Change of 2016-2017 Look Like?

- Age groups **25-44 death rates increased** significantly. - People aged **85 and over also saw increased** death rates. - Age groups **45-54 decreased** in death rates. - Non-Hispanic **white males and females** also **increased.**

Where Does The US Rank In Global Life Expectancy?

**America is ranked 43rd** out of **224 countries** out of CIA’s World Factbook at **80 years.** **Monaco** leads with **89.4 years,** followed by **Japan (85.3)** and **Singapore (85.2).** The CIA data for average expectancy of life is considerably higher than in other studies. Additionally, it is worth mentioning that the percentage of developed nations that were classified as high income within this list are low.  The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows a good outline of where the United States rests out of **44 developed nations**.  Countries like Canada, Australia, and the majority of western European counties all rank above the US average of 78.5 years. In fact, there are 18 countries where the residents can expect to live 3 years longer and 25 countries with average lifespans over 80 years. - **US Ranked 29/44:** In the OECD’s developed nation members. - **US is 1.9 years lower** than the OECD’s **average life expectancy of 80.5.**

What Is The Life Expectancy Of An American Male Or Female?

**Gender Specific Figures:** - **Male: 76.1 years –** Average life expectancy of a US male (at birth). - **Female: 81.1 years –** Average life expectancy of a US female (at birth). - **5.0-year difference** between average US female and male lifespan expectancy. *Latest available data is from 2017 – OECD* In almost every country in the world, women outlive men and the US is no exception. Women in the US live longer than men by 5 years, according to data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The main change between the previous year’s data is in the lifespan of younger American males, increasing female’s gap by 0.1 years. Over 65 life expectancy data remained the same: - **Male over 65:** lifespan expectancy is **18.1** **years.** - **Female over 65:** lifespan expectancy is **20.6 years.** *Latest available data is from 2017 – OECD*

Which U.S. Ethnic Group Has The Longest Life Expectancy?

**Gender Specific Figures:** - **86.5 years –** Asian-American - **82.8 years –** Latino - **78.9 years –** White - **76.9 years –** Native American - **74.6 years –** African-American *Latest available data is from 2017 – OECD* According to the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, there was an 11.9-year gap between Asian American and African American residents from 2016-2017. The ethnic groups with lower life expectancy had higher death rates from heart disease and other common mortality factors detailed below. - The **11.9-year gap** between Asian American and African American life expectancy. - **60% of the deaths** in the gap were from heart disease, cancer, homicide, diabetes, and mental health conditions. - **African-Americans** in the US are more likely to die from heart disease - **White-Americans** suicide rates are twice as likely than African-Americans *Latest available data is from 2017 – OECD*

SOURCE REFERENCES

**[→](#references)**[OECD LE at birth data](#references)[ CDC Mortality in the United States](#references)[ CIA world book](#references)[ The Lancet, Forecasting life expectancy](#references) **Check Out More Relevant Content – >** Best Life Insurance In Alabama ## US Life Expectancy Over Time ### Has American Life Expectancy Changed Over Time **In this section we cover** - [What is the average Americans lifespan over time (1960-2017)?](#section-5) - [Why has the US had the longest sustained lifespan decline in over a century?](#section-6) - [Projected American life expectancy figures for 2030](#section-7)

What Is The Average Americans Lifespan Over Time? (1960-2017)

Using data from the World Bank and Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), we’ve mapped the United States average life expectancy at birth from 1960 to 2017 (being the latest date published). - **Current US life expectancy figures match 2010 (78.6 years)** - **Since 1960, US life expectancy has risen 8.7 years** - **This could be the first decade the US sees zero increase** On average, age of death averages have increased each decade. However, recent declines have placed the latest figures in 2017 matching that of 2010 meaning we’ll be entering 2020 with the lowest 10 year increase since the 19th century.
**Dates** **Life Expectancy (Yrs)** **Increase (Yrs)**
2010-2017 78.6 – 78.6 0
2000-2010 76.7 – 78.6 1.9
1990-2000 75.3 – 76.7 1.4
1980-1990 73.7 – 75.3 1.6
1970-1980 70.9 – 73.7 2.8
1960-1970 69.9 – 70.9 1

Why Has The US Had The Longest Sustained Lifespan Decline In Over A Century?

- **2014-2015 –** Figures declined from **78.9 to 78.7** - **2015-2016 –** Figures declined from **78.7 to 78.6** - **2016-2017 –** Figures declined from **78.6 to 78.6*** **CDC recorded this as a drop by decimal points; this figure was not disclosed* Since 2010, like in many countries across the world, life expectancy is steadily increasing for the United States. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and many other sources, it hit a peak in 2014 and has been on a downward trend since. - **2014-2017** was the **longest sustained decline** in expected lifespan **in a century** - The United States **hasn’t declined** in expected lifespan **for over 2 decades** - The **last decline** recorded was **1992-1993,** dropping **75.8 to 75.5 years** The 2014-2017 drop in the United States life expectancy is the longest sustained downward trend since 1915-1918, where figures were impacted by World War I and an influenza pandemic. **Projected American Life Expectancy Figures For 2030** - **Male US life expectancy** is projected to increase **76.1** to **79.51 years by 2030** - **Female US life expectancy** is projected to increase **81.1** to **83.32 years by 2030** Studies from the World Health Organization and Imperial College London suggest life expectancy at birth is set to increase significantly in many developed countries by 2030. Countries like Japan and Monaco currently have the highest rates; however, according to this research, France and South Korea are expected to surpass them in the rankings. Furthermore, South Korean women will pass the average age of death expectancy of 90 years for the first time for any country. **By 2040:** According to a new report from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, the United States is expected to decline in these rankings by 2040. They reviewed their data against the CIA World Factbook data, and it showed an expected decline of 21 spots. - The US to **drop 21 places** in global life expectancy ranking by **2040 (64th)** - The US **currently ranks 43rd place** in the world life expectancy (CIA) **The underlying reasons the US is set to fall behind are:** - Lack of universal health insurance - Raising obesity levels and correlating diseases - Higher rates of child mortality **What’s the pattern?** In contrast, countries with lower mortality rates share excellent healthcare, low obesity rates, better nutritional diets, and fewer smokers. Of course, this is not pre-ordained, and there is ample time for these projected trajectories to alter their path.

SOURCE REFERENCES

These links will jump you to the bottom of the page with the references URL’s. **[→](#references)**[OECD LE at birth data](#references)[ The World Bank LE at birth data](#references)[ CDC national health statistics](#references)[ Statista US LE in 2030](#references) ## US Disease Health Impacts ### What Is Causing The Decline In Us Lifetime **In this section we cover** - [Top 10 causes in the average US life expectancy decline](#section-8) - [The 3 fundamental areas of change that caused America’s lifespan decay](#section-9) - [Percent of US states without health cover](#section-10)

Top 10 Causes In The Average US Life Expectancy Decline

**Overdoses are included in the ‘unintentional injuries’ category* - **Heart disease and cancer** each cause **4x as many deaths** as all other leading causes - Nationwide, **70,237 people died** following a **drug overdose** in 2017, a **9.6-percent increase** over 2016 **.** - **Suicides** took **45,808 lives** in 2017 - **42,000 died** from **opioid overdoses** in 2017 The ranking of the top 10 causes of mortality in the US remained the same from 2016 to 2017. The main areas of change came from age-adjusted death rates in suicide, unintentional injuries, diabetes, and pneumonia and influenza. We see increases in deaths from obesity, substance abuse, and despair; in fact, the decline in the nation’s emotional well-being has been enough to drag down America’s average length of life. **The 3 Core Areas Of Change That Caused America’s Lifespan Decay** The percentage of the USA population that is obese shows a steady increase. Some thought-provoking statistics include: - The United States had a **40.59% obesity rate in 2017.** - Projected **obesity set to rise to 46.6%** in the next **10 years** (almost half the population) - Obesity rates rose from **37.06% to 40.59%** between **2014-2017** - US is the **highest out of OECD’s 44 developed nations**, 5.6% ahead of Chile at #2 - The **average OECD** developed nations **obesity rate is 19.5%** - The **lowest OECD** developed nations **obesity rate is Japan** at **4.2%** In essence, obesity is the leading factor in the decline in America’s average length of life due to its intertwined relationship with leading mortality issues. Some interesting statistics on this include: - **57.9% of the calories** eaten by Americans come from ultra-processed foods - **Only 30%** come from fresh foods - **2 out of 5** of Americans over the age of 20 are obese - Being **40lbs** overweight cuts **3 years of life expectancy** - Being **100lbs** overweight **reduces lifespan by 10 years** USA overdose rates show huge increases in deaths from 2014-2017, particularly in males aged 25-54. - Overdose deaths per 100,000 increased from **13.8 to 21.7** between **2014-2017** - In 2017, there were **70,237 drug overdose deaths** in the United States. - The rate of drug overdose deaths in 2017 was **9.6% higher than the rate in 2016.** - **Adults aged 25–54 had higher rates** of drug overdose deaths in 2017 - In 2017, the **states with the highest drug overdose** death rates were: - **West Virginia** (**57.8** per 100,000) - **Ohio** (**46.3** per 100,000) - **Pennsylvania** (**44.3** per 100,000) - **District of Columbia** (**44.0** per 100,000) One of the leading factors is the increase deaths from synthetic opioid overdoses such as fentanyl analogs, fentanyl, and tramadol. - Drug **overdose deaths** involving **synthetic opioids increased** by **45%** in **2016-2017** - **2017 – 70,237** overdose deaths **, 47,600 by opioid (67.77%)** - **2007 – 36,010** overdose deaths, **18,515 by opioid (51.41%)** - **1999 – 16,849** overdose deaths, **8,048 by opioid (47.76%)** Above, the USA suicide rates over time chart shows the steady increase in suicide deaths per 100,000 population. - Suicide deaths per 100,000 increased from **13 to 14** between **2014-2017** - Suicide rate **increased 33%** from 1999-2017 – **10.5** to **14.0** per 100,000. - In 2017, the suicide rate in **rural counties** was **1.8 times more** than most urban counties - Suicide deaths per 100,000 for **males** are **up 22.22%** per from 1999-2017 - Suicide deaths per 100,000 for **females** are **up 27.27%** per from 1999-2017 It’s clear from the data that suicide rates among men are almost 4 times higher than women. However, a study recently published by the JAMA Network Open found that the gap is narrowing in some age groups. Researchers discovered that suicides among girls 10 to 14 years of age have risen by 13% since 2007. Whereas the same age group for boys increased by 7% in the same period. Confronting these issues is going to be a huge undertaking, they’re multifaceted problems that require in-depth investigation and are often complex due to economic involvement. It is clear that if we want Americans to climb the rankings and live long lives like other prosperous developed countries, change is needed. **Why Has The US Had The Longest Sustained Lifespan Decline In Over A Century?**

SOURCE REFERENCES

These links will jump you to the bottom of the page with the references URL’s. **[→](#references)**[CDC Mortality in the United States](#references)[ OECD obesity update](#references)[ CDC Drug Overdose Deaths in the United States](#references)[ CDC Suicide Mortality in the United States](#references) ## Some Americans Don’t Have Health Coverage ### Percent Of U.S. States Without Health Insurance - The number of uninsured Americans has **gone up 7 million** without solid health insurance coverage under Trump - United States uninsured rate was **10.9%** in 2016 to **13.7%** in 2018 - The critical areas for the decline are in **lower income** and **younger Americans** - **1 in 6 people** in **Texas** doesn’t have health coverage **(17.1%)** - Compared with **1 in 36 people** in **Massachusetts** doesn’t have health coverage **(2.8%)** The expected lifespan of the average American is a glimpse into the nation’s health as a whole. This sobering data highlights one of the issues mentioned previously, the countries with lower mortality rates share excellent healthcare. **Top 5 US states with the best / worst health insurance coverage percentages:**
Top 5 States % No Cover
Massachusetts 2.8%
District of Columbia 3.8%
Vermont 3.8%
Hawaii 4%
Minnesota 4.5%
Bottom 5 States % No Cover
Texas 17.1%
Alaska 14.9%
Oklahoma 13.9%
Georgia 13.9%
Florida 13.3%
**Why are uninsured rates increasing with Obamacare still active?** - Obamacare premiums have been on the rise. - Enrollment and outreach funding for Obamacare has been slashed drastically. - Under Trump, some states now require you to work to get health coverage. - Some Americans believe Obamacare was revoked.

SOURCE REFERENCES

These links will jump you to the bottom of the page with the references URL’s. **[→](#references)**[Measure of America – Uninsured US states](#references)[ VOX uninsured America](#references) ### Life Expectancy In Us By State

Which States Have The Lowest Average Life Expectancy?

- **Hawaii** is the state with the highest life expectancy at birth being **81.5 years** - **Women in** Hawaii are the **longest living Americans, at 84.3 years** - **Men in** Mississippi have the **lowest expectancy of life** in any state, at **71.4 years** - Compared to **Hawaii**, there are only **20 countries that have a higher life expectancy** - Americans living in much of the **South lead shorter lives** than the rest of the country. We know from looking at the global figures earlier that health and lifespan expectancy can be drastically dissimilar geographically. In the US, you can expect to live very different timescales depending on the state and county you reside in.
Top 5 States Average Life Expectancy
1). Hawaii 81.5
2). California 81.0
3). Minnesota 80.8
4). New York 80.7
5). Connecticut 80.6 Average Life Expectancy
1). Mississippi 74.6
2). West Virginia 74.9
3). Alabama 74.9
4). Kentucky 75.1
5). Arkansas 75.4
If you live in Hawaii, you can expect to live 6.9 years longer than if you lived in Mississippi, which range increases to 7.3 years for males. **Longest to shortest US life expectancy at birth states (Hawaii > Mississippi):** - **US Average: 6.9-year** expectancy of life difference by US state **(74.6 – 81.5)** - **US Male Average: 7.3-year** expectancy of life difference by US state **(71.4 – 78.7)** - **US Female Average: 6.6-year** expectancy of life difference by US state **(77.7 – 84.3)**

SOURCE REFERENCES

These links will jump you to the bottom of the page with the references URL’s. [ IHME country profiles](#references) ### US States Vs Countries

Comparing State Specific Life Expectancy Globally

There’s a 6.9-year difference between living in Mississippi and Hawaii – We decided to investigate deeper into the disparity between states in terms of how long people live. We compared the countries in the CIA’s global life expectancy report to US states, revealing where your lifespan at birth is on a global scale. Comparing states to countries enables us to visualize the huge discrepancy in expectancy of life when compared to the global rankings. People living in Mississippi, the lowest state, have the same average lifespan as Montserrat (74.6 years), ranked 122 out of 224 countries. Whereas, residents of Hawaii live as long as people from Anguilla (81.5), the country with the 24th longest lifespan expectancy globally. **Highest States** - **Hawaii** comes in at **81.5 years,** matching Anguilla, **ranked 24/224 countries** - **California** comes in at **81.0 years**, matching Finland, **ranked 31/224 countries** - **Minnesota** comes in at **80.8 years,** matching the UK, **ranked 35/224 countries** - **New York** comes in at **80.7 years**, matching Greece, **ranked 36/224 countries** **Lowest States** - **Mississippi** comes in at **74.6 years,** matching Montserrat, **ranked 122/224 countries** - **West Virginia** comes in at **74.9 years**, matching Thailand, **ranked 116/224 countries** - **Alabama** comes in at **74.9 years,** matching Iraq,  **ranked 117/224 countries** - **Kentucky** comes in at **75.1 years**, matching Syria, **ranked 111/224 countries** Other exciting pairings are where the state life expectancy matches countries that have been through a conflict of late. Countries like Iraq, Syria, Libya are all matching clustered southern states with low life expectancy such as South Carolina, Alabama, and Kentucky.

SOURCE REFERENCES

These links will jump you to the bottom of the page with the references URL’s. [ CIA world book](#references)[ IHME country profiles](#references) ### Life Expectancy: Income VS State

How Much Longer Do The Rich Live In The Us?

We used income data from a study by JAMA Network by Raj Chetty, his team, and Vox to populate this visualization showing the consistent lifespan disparity between the richest and poorest in every state. The Chetty study linked 1.4 billion tax returns to the Social Security Administration from all over the US, measuring mortality data. This data shows that, even now, each step you climb on the income ladder will consistently have a significant impact on your overall health and lifespan. - Every step of the income ladder **consistently adds years to your life** in every state. - With a **10-year life expectancy gap** between rich and poor residents, the nation’s capital, **D.C. has the biggest disparity.** - Kansas. Michigan, Delaware, South Carolina, Georgia, and Indiana have the next **largest joint gap of 9 years** - California, Hawaii, Arizona, Alaska, Nevada, New York, New Jersey are the states with the **joint lowest gap of 6 years** - **1850 to 1874,** there was a **20-year gap between** the rich and general population’s expectancy of life. This gives a unique view of geographic variability in terms of the relationship between life expectancy and income. There was not one single state where income increases negatively impacted lifespan expectancy, and the gap in individual states was alarming. The poorest residents in D.C. could expect to live almost 10 years less than the richest. Even at the other end of the gradient, the data shows us there was still a 6 year gap between each end of the income scale.  Looking back it the 1800’s, there was an upsurge in the availability of medical innovations in which only the very rich could afford. During 1850-1874, there was a 20-year gap between the rich and general population’s average lifespan; the irony is that this gap isn’t too different from the one present in D.C. today. A strong reason for the income gap could be related to the fact that the average age of a small business owner is 50.3 years old.  This means a small business owner in D.C. is going to live longer and probably build more wealth over time. This data can also be used by companies that offer no medical exam life insurance to help them determine their rates based on overall life expectancy. If you haven’t looked into getting covered, don’t waste any time because we aren’t living longer now days.

SOURCE REFERENCES

These links will jump you to the bottom of the page with the references URL’s. [ CIA world book](#references)**[→](#references)**[ IHME country profiles](#references)**[→](#references)**[ JAMA Network income vs LE](#references)**[→](#references)**[ VOX income vs LE](#references) ### STUDY RESOURCES

REFERENCES, DATA SOURCES & DOWNLOADS

DATA SOURCE AND METHODS

All the data in this study was collected from the medical institutions, and the government body’s references included below. The raw data from the charts and figures are available to download and includes the custom data used to create our own resources and unique views. At the time of this study in June 2019, the majority of life expectancy data is only available up until 2017, when 2018 data is released we will endeavor to update this resource to continue to provide an evergreen location for information.

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

All data within this study is available via the public domain; therefore, may be copied without permission. We do, however, appreciate linking the citation as the source.

SOURCE REFERENCES

**https://data.oecd.org/healthstat/life-expectancy-at-birth.htm** **https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db328.htm** **https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html** **https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(18)31694-5/fulltext#seccestitle230** **https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/sp.dyn.le00.in** **https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/index.htm** **https://www.statista.com/chart/8286/us-will-trail-other-rich-nations-in-life-expectancy-by-2030/** **https://www.oecd.org/health/obesity-update.htm** **https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db329.htm** **https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db330.htm** **https://www.measureofamerica.org/maps/?state^uninsured^all_all^Health^health** **https://www.vox.com/2019/1/23/18194228/trump-uninsured-rate-obamacare-medicaid** **https://www.healthdata.org/results/country-profiles** **https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2513561** https://www.vox.com/2016/4/25/11501370/health-longevity-inequality-life-expectancy ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the average US life expectancy? Based on the CDC National Center for Health Statistics’ most recent provisional data, US life expectancy at birth is approximately **78.4 years** overall — **75.8 years** for males and **81.1 years** for females. That represents a rebound from the COVID-era low of 76.4 years recorded in 2021. ### Which US state has the highest life expectancy? Hawaii consistently ranks highest, with a life expectancy at birth of roughly **80.7 years**. California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Connecticut round out the top five. Common factors across these states include higher median incomes, broader healthcare access, lower smoking rates, and Mediterranean-style dietary patterns. ### Which US state has the lowest life expectancy? Mississippi has the lowest state-level life expectancy at approximately **71.9 years** — nearly nine years behind Hawaii. West Virginia, Alabama, and Louisiana rank next-lowest. Contributing factors include higher obesity rates, lower median income, limited rural healthcare access, and elevated cardiovascular mortality. ### How does US life expectancy compare to other countries? The United States ranks approximately **40th globally** among developed nations. Switzerland, Japan, Australia, and Singapore all exceed 83 years — five-plus years longer than the US average. The gap persists despite the US spending nearly twice as much per capita on healthcare, a long-standing OECD outlier. ### Why do women live longer than men in the US? US women outlive US men by about **5.3 years** on average. The gap reflects a mix of biological factors — lower cardiovascular mortality in women, cellular-level protective effects of estrogen — and behavioral factors including higher male rates of smoking, fatal accidents, suicide, and occupational hazards. The gap widened during the pandemic and has partially narrowed since. ### How much does income affect US life expectancy? Research from Stanford and Harvard (Chetty et al., JAMA 2016) found the richest 1% of American men live roughly **15 years** longer than the poorest 1%, and women show a similar 10-year gap. The drivers are healthcare access, nutrition, occupational exposures, chronic stress, and behavioral differences in smoking, exercise, and preventive care. ## Methodology Figures in this guide are compiled from three primary sources: the **CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)** — specifically the most recent National Vital Statistics Reports and provisional life-expectancy data releases; the **OECD Health Statistics** database for international comparisons; and the **US Census Bureau American Community Survey** for income and demographic cross-cuts. State-level rankings use three-year averages to reduce small-state volatility. Income-correlated life-expectancy data draws on the landmark Chetty et al. *JAMA* 2016 study and subsequent National Academies of Sciences reports on working-age mortality. The CDC life-expectancy-at-birth metric uses the period life-table method, which estimates how long a person born today would live if current age-specific mortality rates held constant. It is a snapshot of current conditions, not a projection of future longevity for anyone currently alive. *This guide was last updated April 2026.*