States Where Life Expectancy Is Falling The Most And Least

Where you live in the United States can impact your life expectancy by as much as nine years.

To discover where life expectancy is decreasing the most and the least, Forbes Advisor used the most recent data available from the CDC (released on Aug. 26) to calculate the average life expectancy change in each state and the District of Columbia from 2018 to 2021. We chose to analyze this span of years to examine the average life expectancy nationwide and in each state before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. We also analyzed the average life expectancy among women and men, and within each race.

While the average life expectancy at birth serves as a gauge of the health of each state’s population, tragedy can strike at any time. Life insurance is part of a thorough financial plan and can help protect your loved ones from financial losses if you pass away.

Key Takeaways

• Life expectancy decreased in all 50 states from 2018 to 2021. New Mexico had the largest decrease (-5.4%, from 77.2 years to 73 years) and Massachusetts had the smallest (-0.6%, from 80.1 years to 79.6 years). Most of this decline is attributable to Covid-19 deaths, drug overdoses and accidental injury.
• Seven of the 10 states where life expectancy decreased the most are located in the South: Mississippi, West Virginia, Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas and Kentucky.
• Six of the 10 states where life expectancy has decreased the least are located in the Northeast: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Vermont, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
• The leading causes of death in the United States include heart disease, followed by cancer and accidents.

What Is the Average Life Expectancy in the U.S.?

• The average life expectancy at birth in the United States is 77.5 years (2022).
• The top three states with the longest life expectancy are Hawaii (79.9 years), Massachusetts (79.6 years) and Connecticut (79.2 years).
• The three states with the shortest life expectancy are Mississippi (70.9 years), West Virginia (71 years) and Alabama (72 years).
• The average life expectancy in the United States is higher for women than for men. Men are estimated to live 74.8 years and women are expected to live 80.2 years (2022).
• Utah has the smallest gap between the average life expectancy of men and women (3.9 years) and New Mexico has the largest (7.6 years).
• The average life expectancy in the U.S. increased between 2021 and 2022 (from 76.4 years in 2021 to 77.5 years in 2022). That was the first year-over-year increase since 2018-2019.

States Where Life Expectancy Decreased the Most

1. New Mexico

Life expectancy percentage change from 2018 to 2021: -5.44%

• Life expectancy from birth decreased in New Mexico from 77.2 years in 2018 to 73 years in 2021, the most significant decrease studywide.
• The three leading causes of death in New Mexico are heart disease, cancer and accidents.
• New Mexico has the ninth shortest average life expectancy among all U.S. states (73 years).
• Fatal accidents were slightly more than twice as common among men than women in New Mexico from 2018 to 2022 (6,253 deaths for men, and 3,115 deaths for women).

2. Mississippi

Life expectancy percentage change from 2018 to 2021: -4.96%

• Life expectancy from birth decreased in Mississippi from 74.6 years in 2018 to 70.9 years in 2021.
• The three leading causes of death in Mississippi are heart disease, cancer and Covid-19.
• Mississippi has the shortest average life expectancy among all U.S. states (70.9 years).
• Alzheimer’s disease is the third leading cause of death for women in Mississippi but doesn’t rank within the top five leading causes of death for men in the state. Meanwhile, accidents are the third leading cause of death for Mississippi men but don’t rank in the top five leading causes of death for women.

3. Arizona

Life expectancy percentage change from 2018 to 2021: -4.7%

• Life expectancy from birth decreased in Arizona from 78.7 years in 2018 to 75 years in 2021.
• The top three leading causes of death in Arizona are heart disease, cancer and accidents.
• Arizona and Wyoming tie for the 17th shortest average life expectancy among all states (75 years).
• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in Arizona. Although Arizona has more women than men, this disease caused nearly 10,000 more deaths among men between 2018 and 2022, with 39,106 male deaths compared to 29,275 female deaths.

4. West Virginia

Life expectancy percentage change from 2018 to 2021: -4.57%

• Life expectancy from birth decreased in West Virginia from 74.4 years in 2018 to 71 years in 2021.
• The top three leading causes of death in West Virginia are heart disease, cancer and accidents.
• West Virginia has the second shortest average life expectancy among all U.S. states (71 years).
• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both males and females in West Virginia.

5. Louisiana

Life expectancy percentage change from 2018 to 2021: -4.5%

• Life expectancy from birth decreased in Louisiana from 75.6 years in 2018 to 72.2 years in 2021.
• The top three leading causes of death in Louisiana are heart disease, cancer and accidents.
• Louisiana has the fourth shortest average life expectancy among all U.S. states (72.2 years).
• Women in Louisiana are estimated to live 7.1 years longer than men in the state, the second largest gap studywide (68.8 years for men versus 75.9 years for women).

6. Alaska

Life expectancy percentage change from 2018 to 2021: -4.49%

• Life expectancy from birth decreased in Alaska from 78 years in 2018 to 74.5 years in 2021.
• The top three leading causes of death in Alaska are cancer, heart disease and accidents.
• Alaska has the 12th shortest average life expectancy among all U.S. states (74.5 years, tying with Ohio).
• The gap between life expectancies of men and women in Alaska is 5.1 years (tying with Rhode Island and Minnesota), the sixth smallest studywide.

7. Alabama

Life expectancy percentage change from 2018 to 2021: -4.13%

• Life expectancy from birth decreased in Alabama from 75.1 years in 2018 to 72 years in 2021.
• The top three leading causes of death in Alabama are heart disease, cancer and Covid-19.
• Alabama has the third shortest average life expectancy among all U.S. states (72 years).
• Accidents are the fourth leading cause of death for men in Alabama but don’t rank in the top five leading causes of death for women. Meanwhile, cerebrovascular diseases (i.e. strokes and complications from brain aneurysms) are the fifth leading cause of death for Alabama women but don't rank within the top five leading causes of death for men.

• Life expectancy from birth decreased in Tennessee from 75.5 years in 2018 to 72.4 years in 2021.
• The top three leading causes of death in Tennessee are heart disease, cancer and accidents.
• Tennessee has the sixth shortest average life expectancy among all U.S. states (72.4 years).
• Women are estimated to live 6.1 years longer than men in Tennessee, the 10th largest gap study-wide (69.4 years for men versus 75.5 years for women, tying with California, Delaware, Hawaii and West Virginia)

9. Arkansas

Life expectancy percentage change from 2018 to 2021: -4.10%

• Life expectancy from birth decreased in Arkansas from 75.6 years in 2018 to 72.5 years in 2021.
• The top three leading causes of death in Arkansas are heart disease, cancer and chronic lower respiratory diseases.
• Arkansas has the seventh shortest average life expectancy among all U.S. states (72.5 years).
• Arkansas is one of three states where chronic lower respiratory diseases (such as asthma) rank in the top three leading causes of death (other states include Indiana and Nebraska).

10. Kentucky

Life expectancy percentage change from 2018 to 2021: -3.98%

• Life expectancy from birth decreased in Kentucky from 75.3 years in 2018 to 72.3 years in 2021.
• The top three leading causes of death in Kentucky are heart disease, cancer and accidents.
• Kentucky has the fifth shortest average life expectancy among all U.S. states (72.3 years).
• Although Kentucky has slightly more women than men, fatal accidents were nearly twice as common among men than women from 2018 to 2022, with 12,111 male deaths and 6,577 for female deaths.

States Where Life Expectancy Decreased the Least

1. Massachusetts

Life expectancy percentage change from 2018 to 2021: -0.62%

• Life expectancy from birth decreased in Massachusetts from 80.1 years in 2018 to 79.6 years in 2021.
• The top three leading causes of death in Massachusetts are cancer, heart disease and accidents.
• Massachusetts has the second longest average life expectancy among all U.S. states (79.6 years).
• Massachusetts is one of eight states where heart disease isn’t the No. 1 leading cause of death.

2. New Hampshire

Life expectancy percentage change from 2018 to 2021: -0.76%

• Life expectancy from birth decreased in New Hampshire from 79.1 years in 2018 to 78.5 years in 2021.
• The top three leading causes of death in New Hampshire are heart disease, cancers and accidents.
• New Hampshire has the seventh longest average life expectancy among all U.S. states (78.5 years, tying with Rhode Island).
• Women are estimated to live exactly five years longer than men in New Hampshire, tying with Washington for the fifth smallest gap studywide (81.1 years for women versus 76.1 years for men).

3. New Jersey

Life expectancy percentage change from 2018 to 2021: -1%

• Life expectancy from birth decreased in New Jersey from 79.8 years in 2018 to 79 years in 2021.
• The top three leading causes of death in New Jersey are heart disease, cancer and Covid-19.
• New Jersey has the fourth longest average life expectancy among all U.S. states (79 years, tying with New York).
• New Jersey is one of 13 states where Covid-19 ranks in the top three leading causes of death.

4. Vermont

Life expectancy percentage change from 2018 to 2021: -1.13%

• Life expectancy from birth decreased in Vermont from 79.3 years in 2018 to 78.4 years in 2021.
• The top three leading causes of death in Vermont are heart disease, cancer and accidents.
• Vermont has the ninth longest average life expectancy among all U.S. states (78.4 years).
• Although Vermont ranks ninth highest in overall life expectancy, it ranks 11th highest for life expectancy among men (75.7 years).

5. Hawaii

Life expectancy percentage change from 2018 to 2021: -1.36%

• Life expectancy from birth decreased in Hawaii from 81 years in 2018 to 79.9 years in 2021.
• The top three leading causes of death in Hawaii are heart disease, cancer and cerebrovascular diseases (i.e. strokes and complications from brain aneurysms).
• Hawaii has the longest average life expectancy (79.9 years) among all U.S. states.
• Hawaii also has the longest average life expectancy for men (77 years) and women (83.1 years) among all U.S. states.

The Leading Causes of Death in the U.S. and in Each State

• The top five leading causes of death in the U.S. are heart disease, cancer, fatal accidents, Covid-19 and cerebrovascular diseases (i.e. strokes and complications from brain aneurysms, etc.).
• Heart disease is the leading cause of death in all but eight states. In those eight states, cancer ranks as the leading cause of death.
• Chronic lower respiratory disease ranks as one of the top five leading causes of death in 28 states, and Alzheimer's disease ranks as one of the top five leading causes of death in eight states.
• Covid-19 ranks in the top five leading causes of death in all but six states; Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, Vermont and Washington.

Life Expectancy in the U.S. by Gender

• The average life expectancy at birth for both men and women decreased from 2018 to 2021 (decreasing 2.7 years for men and 1.9 years for women). However, from 2021 to 2022, the average life expectancy increased for both genders (increasing 1.3 years for men and 0.9 years for women).
• Although there are more women than men in America, fatal accidents were still more common among men in every U.S. state.
• Alzheimer's disease is one of the top five leading causes of death in women in 34 states, however, this disease does not rank within the top five leading causes of death for men in any state.
• This disease is thought to be more common among women, due to women generally living longer than men and old age being the biggest risk factor for Alzheimer's.

• Women are expected to live longer in every U.S. state and the District of Columbia. The average expected life expectancy age gap between women and men is 5.7 years.

Life Expectancy by Race

• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for all races except Asian Americans, where it ranked second. Cancer ranked as the leading cause of death for Asian Americans.
• The only race in which chronic liver disease and cirrhosis appeared among the top five leading causes of death are American Indians or Alaska Natives, where it ranked as the fifth most common type of death.
• Native Hawaiians (or other Pacific Islanders) are the only race to have diabetes mellitus in the top five leading causes of death.
• Heart disease and fatal accidents were most common among white Americans followed by Black or African Americans.
• Asian Americans and Black or African Americans were the only races to have cerebrovascular diseases (i.e. strokes, complications from brain aneurysms) among the top five leading causes of death.

What Is Life Insurance and How Does It Work?

While it can be uncomfortable to discuss, life insurance can serve as a valuable tool to help protect your loved ones from financial difficulties when you pass away.

Life insurance is a contract you make with an insurance company that states you will make premium payments. In exchange, the insurance company agrees to pay a lump sum known as a death benefit to your beneficiaries when you pass away.

There are two main types of life insurance you can choose from, both of which come with certain benefits.

Term life insurance

Term life insurance covers you for a specific period of time, such as 5, 10, 15, 25, or 30 years. During the term of your insurance, both the premium and death benefit remain the same.

You can renew the policy if and when the term ends, but keep in mind you will likely pay higher rates with each renewal.

If the term ends and you don’t renew, coverage will end with no payout.

Some consider term life insurance a safety net if you are the sole source of income in your family, and losing that income could result in financial difficulty.

Term life insurance usually costs less than other types of life insurance.

Permanent life insurance

Permanent life insurance is exactly as it sounds: the policies don’t expire as long as you continue paying the premium.

One thing to understand about permanent life insurance is that the policies usually build up cash value over time, and you don’t need to pay taxes on the amount as it increases. You can also borrow against it, bearing in mind that any amount you remove will reduce the death benefit to your beneficiaries.

There are several types of permanent life insurance, including whole life insurance and universal life insurance.

Permanent life insurance tends to be more expensive than term life insurance, and the exact rules and cash value component will depend on the type of policy you choose, and the insurer.

On average, a whole life insurance policy would cost $4,323 per year, and a 30-year term life insurance policy would cost $357 per year for a 30-year old male of average height and weight for $500,000 in coverage.

Life insurance rates can vary remarkably due to a variety of factors that affect premiums, including:

• Health
• Age
• Gender
• Amount of coverage
• Type of policy (life vs. permanent)

For example, based on our research, a 20-year term policy with $500,000 in coverage is 19% more expensive for a 30-year-old male than for a 30-year-old female.

When Is the Best Time To Buy Life Insurance?

The best time to purchase life insurance is when you’re young.

Your age will significantly affect your life insurance premium. Based on our research, we found that the premium for a 20-year, $250,000 term life insurance policy will differ based on not only your age, but your gender:

• For a 30-year old male vs. a 30-year-old female: $14 a month ($162 a year) vs. $12 a month ($144 a year)
• For a 40-year-old male vs. a 40-year-old female: $19 a month ($227 a year) vs. $16 a month ($197 a year)
• For a 50-year-old male vs. a 50-year-old female: $40 a month ($485 a year) vs. $32 a month ($386 a year)

It’s possible to find good life insurance over 50, and there is even good life insurance for seniors, too.

How to find the best life insurance policy

When choosing the best life insurance, there are many options to choose from, making the decision even more complicated.

Consider the following to choose the right policy:

• To decide if life insurance is worth it, consider the financial impact your death would have on your dependents, and what resources you have in place to support them upon your passing.
• Determine how much coverage you will need. Some recommend a policy with a death benefit equal to 10 times your annual salary, to account for things like bills, college tuition, mortgage payments and debt payoff.
• Decide on the type of policy you want based on your needs.
• Decide if you will need “riders” or additional coverage or benefits for things like long-term care, child life insurance, disability coverage, or an accelerated death benefit.
• Remember to consider the main factors that will affect life insurance rates.
• Use a life insurance calculator to determine how much life insurance you need.
• Compare life insurance quotes to ensure you’re getting the best deal.

Once you’ve chosen the life insurance policy that fits your needs, you will need to fill out an application that will ask questions about your age, weight, personal medical history, mental health, family medical history, and your use of nicotine.

The insurer will also ask you about your job, hobbies and your driving record to determine how much of a risk you are to insure.

You will likely undergo a life insurance medical exam to determine your life expectancy, and you will also at some point need to designate a life insurance beneficiary, or the person who will receive the death benefit upon your death.

The final step is reviewing your policy, signing it, and paying your first premium.

Methodology

To uncover the states where life expectancy was decreasing the most and least, Forbes Advisor analyzed the most recent data available from the Centers for Disease Control for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

To determine the average life expectancy shift we analyzed the average life expectancy in 2018 and 2021, calculating the percentage change. We chose to analyze this span of years to examine the average life expectancy nationwide and in each state before and during the Covid-19 pandemic.