These are the Counties with the shortest life expectancy in North Carolina

Photo byTown Talks

Life expectancy is influenced by various factors, with about 25% determined by genetics, according to the National Library of Medicine.

Health habits like a balanced diet, not smoking, and staying active can add over a decade to your life, per NIH research. However, environment and community also play a significant role.

In the United States, life expectancy has generally risen, increasing from about 70.8 years in 1970 to 77.5 in 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

However, this metric can vary greatly depending on where you live, with some regions experiencing a decline in average lifespan due to various risk factors, including socioeconomic factors like poverty, unemployment, income, and education.

A 2020 study from researchers at Penn State, West Virginia, and Michigan State Universities found that communities with higher population densities, more fast-food restaurants, and a significant number of extraction industry-based jobs tend to have shorter life expectancies.

To understand how life expectancy varies across North Carolina, Stacker used the 2024 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute to identify the counties with the shortest life expectancy.

Here are the top 5 counties in North Carolina with the shortest life expectancy:

#5. Scotland County

• Life expectancy: 71.0 years (5.6 years below state average)

#4. Columbus County

• Life expectancy: 70.7 years (5.9 years below state average)

#3. Richmond County

• Life expectancy: 70.5 years (6.1 years below state average)

#1. Robeson County (tie)

• Life expectancy: 69.3 years (7.3 years below state average)

#1. Swain County (tie)

• Life expectancy: 69.3 years (7.3 years below state average)