Introduction to Life Expectancy in the US
How long you live depends on where you live, new research suggests. Americans’ life expectancy increased throughout the 20th century, although in some states, particularly in the South, people aren’t living much longer than they were 100 years ago. It’s worse among women.
Life Expectancy Trends
Researchers at the Yale School of Public Health analyzed the death data of 77 million women and 102 million men born from 1900 through 2000. The findings, published Monday in the journal JAMA Network Open, showed that nationwide life expectancy for women increased from 73.8 to 84.1 in that time frame, while it jumped from 62.8 to 80.3 for men.
Scientists and health officials calculate life expectancy at birth as a way of understanding a country’s health over time. How long people in the United States lived since the last century varied drastically by state.
States with Lower Life Expectancy
The bottom five states for life expectancy among women born in 2000, compared to women born in 1900, are:
- West Virginia, 75.3, up from 74.3.
- Oklahoma, 76, down from 76.7.
- Kentucky, 76.5, up from 74.9.
- Mississippi, 76.6, up from 73.2.
- Arkansas, 76.6, up from 75.7.
Southern men born in 2000 also tended to have lower life expectancies, though they showed greater improvements than women since 1900: - Mississippi, 71.8, up from 62.3.
- West Virginia, 72.6, up from 63.7.
- Alabama, 72.6, up from 62.5.
- Louisiana, 72.9, up from 61.5.
- Tennessee 73.4, up from 63.6.
Why is Life Expectancy Lower in the South?
The Yale study claims to be the first to analyze historic state mortality trends by birth cohort, meaning entire generations are tracked. Population health research more commonly involves a metric called period life expectancy, which estimates influences on mortality over a select year, such as during a pandemic.
“The idea here is to try to pick up on generational factors,” said study co-author Theodore Holford, a senior research scientist in biostatistics at Yale University. “There are lots of factors related to health that are more closely tied to generations than a calendar year.”
Factors Affecting Life Expectancy
Cindy Prins, an associate professor in the department of population health sciences at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine, who wasn’t involved in the study, said, “This is a unique and important approach to examining life expectancies.”
Overall, Americans are living longer, thanks to improvements in health care, sanitation, tobacco control, and the prevention of cancer, heart disease and other diseases, the study said. Previous research indicates that states with progressive public health policies are more likely to have higher life expectancies. Socioeconomic differences among states also impact longevity.
States with the Highest Life Expectancy
States with the longest life expectancies for women born in 2000 spanned both coasts and beyond the continental U.S.:
- New York, 91.9, up from 71.2.
- California, 91.3, up from 73.6.
- Massachusetts, 88.8, up from 74.2.
- Hawaii, 88.7, up from 75.6.
Other than D.C., these states show the longest life expectancy among men born in 2000: - New York, 87.8, up from 60.1.
- California, 86.8, up from 62.7.
- Massachusetts, 84.8, up from 63.4.
- Washington, 84.3, up from 63.7.
Conclusion
The study highlights the importance of understanding life expectancy trends and the factors that affect them. By analyzing historic state mortality trends by birth cohort, researchers can identify areas where public health policies can be improved to increase life expectancy. Implementing policies that support a more livable minimum wage, paid sick leave, and access to affordable medical care can help improve life expectancy and give people a chance to live longer, healthier lives.
FAQs
- Q: What is life expectancy and how is it calculated?
A: Life expectancy is the average number of years a person is expected to live, based on mortality rates for a given population. It is calculated by analyzing death data and birth rates. - Q: Which states have the lowest life expectancy?
A: The states with the lowest life expectancy are primarily located in the South, including West Virginia, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Arkansas. - Q: What factors contribute to lower life expectancy in the South?
A: Factors such as limited access to healthcare, socioeconomic disparities, and lower levels of education and income contribute to lower life expectancy in the South. - Q: Which states have the highest life expectancy?
A: States with the highest life expectancy include New York, California, Massachusetts, and Hawaii. - Q: How can life expectancy be improved?
A: Implementing policies that support a more livable minimum wage, paid sick leave, and access to affordable medical care can help improve life expectancy.
