Focusing on longevity is all the rage right now. How can we live longer? To some degree, certain contributors are in our control; for example, quality sleep, getting enough vitamin D and even flossing can promote health and help us live longer.
Not all of it is up to us, though. Between genetics, freak accidents, systemic discrimination, rampant drug problems, gun deaths, and other biological and political issues that exist on the macro level, there are plenty of factors we can’t influence as easily or quickly. Some of them depend on where you live, too: What’s the culture like? What are the state’s laws? That sort of thing.
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Enter August 2024 research in BMJ Open on life expectancy in Anglophone countries (AKA English-speaking ones). Out of six of the high-income countries listed, Australia was rated highest. They have lower levels of inequality, for example, and a better grip on treatable diseases, drug-related deaths and the like. The United States, on the other hand, has something to learn from them. But let’s get into the specific data.
The Average Life Expectancy by State
The average life expectancy for people in most states is somewhere in the mid to late 70s, according to the latest research, but residents in some states are more likely to make it to their 80s. Those few states include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York and Washington.
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As far as people who live the shortest amount of time, on average, we have those in West Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Ahead, check out the average life expectancy for people in each state, in alphabetical order:
- Alabama: 75.05 years
- Alaska: 78.1 years
- Arizona: 78.75 years
- Arkansas: 75.6 years
- California: 80.75 years
- Colorado: 80 years
- Connecticut: 80.4 years
- Delaware: 77.7 years
- Florida: 78.9 years
- Georgia: 77.2 years
- Hawaii: 81 years
- Idaho: 79.05 years
- Illinois: 78.75 years
- Indiana: 76.85 years
- Iowa: 79.2 years
- Kansas: 78 years
- Kentucky: 75.25 years
- Louisiana: 75.6 years
- Maine: 78.55 years
- Maryland: 78.45 years
- Massachusetts: 80.1 years
- Michigan: 77.75 years
- Minnesota: 80.5 years
- Mississippi: 74.6 years
- Missouri: 76.6 years
- Montana: 78.8 years
- Nebraska: 79.1 years
- Nevada: 77.95 years
- New Hampshire: 79.1 years
- New Jersey: 79.8 years
- New Mexico: 77.3 years
- New York: 80.45 years
- North Carolina: 77.5 years
- North Dakota: 79.35 years
- Ohio: 76.75 years
- Oklahoma: 75.65 years
- Oregon: 79.7 years
- Pennsylvania: 78.15 years
- Rhode Island: 79.7 years
- South Carolina: 76.5 years
- South Dakota: 78.95 years
- Tennessee: 75.55 years
- Texas: 78.4 years
- Utah: 79.6 years
- Vermont: 79.35 years
- Virginia: 78.95 years
- Washington: 80 years
- West Virginia: 74.5 years
- Wisconsin: 79.25 years
- Wyoming: 78.2 years
When it comes to how long each of us lives, we do have some control, on an individual level. Besides taking care of our health, we can also make changes with our vote during the upcoming election this year.
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