"Average life expectancy across the U.S. population has trended steadily upward for over a century. Due to factors such as advancements in medical care, consumer safety regulations, and the near eradication of certain infectious diseases, average life expectancy at birth in the United States rose from 47.3 years in 1900 to 78.7 years in 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."
"Between 2019 and 2021, average life expectancy at birth in the United States fell by nearly two and a half years, from 78.8 to 76.4. The leading cause of the decline was the COVID-19 pandemic, which, according to the World Health Organization , has killed more than 1.2 million Americans since early 2020. Additionally, so-called "deaths of despair," such as cirrhosis of the liver, accidental overdoses, and suicide, also contributed meaningfully to falling life expectancy in the United States, according to the CDC."
Average U.S. life expectancy increased from 47.3 years in 1900 to 78.7 years in 2010 due to medical advances, consumer safety measures, and reduced infectious disease. Small year-to-year declines occurred in recent decades but were generally modest. Between 2019 and 2021, life expectancy fell nearly 2.5 years, from 78.8 to 76.4, primarily driven by COVID-19 and increased deaths of despair including cirrhosis, accidental overdoses, and suicide. Life expectancy recovered to 78.4 by 2023 but remains below pre-pandemic levels. Pandemic-related mortality effects varied across regions, leaving persistent geographic disparities.
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