"U.S. life expectancy rose to 79 years in 2024 - the highest mark in American history. It's the result of not only the dissipation of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also waning death rates from all the nation's top killers, including heart disease, cancer and drug overdoses. What's more, preliminary statistics suggest a continued improvement in 2025. 'It's pretty much good news all the way around,' said Robert Anderson, of the National Center for Health Statistics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,"
"Life expectancy, a fundamental measure of a population's health, is an estimate of the average number of years a baby born in a given year might expect to live, given death rates at that time. For decades, U.S. life expectancy rose at least a little bit almost every year, thanks to medical advances and public health measures. It peaked in 2014, just shy of 79 years."
"In 2024, about 3.07 million U.S. residents died, about 18,000 fewer than the year before. Death rates declined across all racial and ethnic groups, and in both men and women. Heart disease remained the nation's leading cause of death, but the death rate due to it dropped by about 3% for the second year in a row. A combination of factors are likely at play, including advances in medical treatments and weight management, said Dr. Sadiya Khan, who treats and studies heart disease"
U.S. life expectancy reached 79 years in 2024, marking the highest level in American history. The rise reflects the waning of the COVID-19 pandemic and falling death rates from major causes such as heart disease, cancer, and drug overdoses. Total deaths in 2024 were about 3.07 million, roughly 18,000 fewer than the prior year. Declines in death rates occurred across racial and ethnic groups and in both sexes. Heart disease remained the leading cause of death, but its death rate fell about 3% for the second consecutive year. Preliminary data indicate continued improvement into 2025, while the U.S. still ranks below many other countries.
Read at Fast Company
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