All 50 States Ranked by Longevity: See Where Your State Falls

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, life expectancy in the U.S. increased in 2022. It rose by 1.1 years to 77.5 years, up from 76.4 years in 2021.

However, this increase did not make up for the 2.4 year drop in life expectancy that occurred between 2019 and 2021. Researchers attribute that drop to excess deaths from COVID-19. Over 1.1 million COVID-19 deaths have been reported.

Experts say the decline in COVID-19 deaths accounted for about 84% of the rise in U.S. life expectancy in 2022. Reductions in deaths from heart disease and homicide also contributed.

To determine the states with the longest and shortest life expectancy, 24/7 Tempo reviewed 2018-2020 life expectancy at birth figures obtained from the 2023 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps report. Data on income, poverty rate, and the share of residents without health insurance came from the U.S. Census Bureau. Information on premature death also came from the 2023 CHR. All data are for the most recent period available.

While U.S. life expectancy rose in 2022, it is still lower than in most developed countries. In 1980, life expectancy in the U.S. and other large, wealthy nations was about the same. But over recent decades, the U.S. has lagged behind. Life expectancy peaked at 78.9 in 2014 and stayed fairly flat until the pandemic hit.

Certain factors impact a state’s life expectancy, like deaths before 75, poverty rate, health insurance coverage, and income level. States with longer life spans are mainly on the coasts and in the West, like Utah and Colorado. These states tend to have fewer early deaths, more insured adults, lower poverty, and higher incomes. (This is a list of the unhealthiest city in every state.)

Most of the states with lower life expectancy are found in the South. Nine of 10 states with the highest number of deaths before age 75 are in the South; eight of 10 have the highest poverty rates; six of 10 southern states have the highest percentage of uninsured adults; eight of 10 of states with the lowest incomes are southern states.

Here is a list of all states, ranked from lowest to highest life expectancy: 

50. Mississippi: 73.89 years

• Deaths before age 75: 543 per 100,000 people– the highest
• Poverty rate: 19.1% — the highest
• Adults without health insurance: 10.8% — 8th highest
• Median household income: $52,719 — the lowest

49. West Virginia: 74.26 years

• Deaths before age 75: 528 per 100,000 people– 2nd highest
• Poverty rate: 17.9% — 3rd highest
• Adults without health insurance: 5.9% — 16th lowest
• Median household income: $54,329 — 2nd lowest

48. Alabama: 74.84 years

• Deaths before age 75: 500 per 100,000 people– 3rd highest
• Poverty rate: 16.2% — 7th highest
• Adults without health insurance: 8.8% — 13th highest
• Median household income: $59,674 — 7th lowest

47. Kentucky: 75.08 years

• Deaths before age 75: 491 per 100,000 people– 4th highest
• Poverty rate: 16.5% — 6th highest
• Adults without health insurance: 5.6% — 13th lowest
• Median household income: $59,341 — 5th lowest

46. Louisiana: 75.22 years

• Deaths before age 75: 485 per 100,000 people– 5th highest
• Poverty rate: 18.6% — 2nd highest
• Adults without health insurance: 6.9% — 24th highest
• Median household income: $55,416 — 3rd lowest

45. Tennessee: 75.33 years

• Deaths before age 75: 478 per 100,000 people– 7th highest
• Poverty rate: 13.3% — 14th highest
• Adults without health insurance: 9.3% — 10th highest
• Median household income: $65,254 — 11th lowest

44. Arkansas: 75.49 years

• Deaths before age 75: 478 per 100,000 people– 6th highest
• Poverty rate: 16.8% — 5th highest
• Adults without health insurance: 8.4% — 16th highest
• Median household income: $55,432 — 4th lowest

43. Oklahoma: 75.54 years

• Deaths before age 75: 477 per 100,000 people– 8th highest
• Poverty rate: 15.7% — 8th highest
• Adults without health insurance: 11.7% — 2nd highest
• Median household income: $59,673 — 6th lowest

42. South Carolina: 76.44 years

• Deaths before age 75: 434 per 100,000 people– 10th highest
• Poverty rate: 14.0% — 11th highest
• Adults without health insurance: 9.1% — 12th highest
• Median household income: $64,115 — 9th lowest

41. Indiana: 76.51 years

• Deaths before age 75: 420 per 100,000 people– 13th highest
• Poverty rate: 12.6% — 19th highest
• Adults without health insurance: 7.0% — 23rd highest
• Median household income: $66,785 — 13th lowest

40. Ohio: 76.52 years

• Deaths before age 75: 420 per 100,000 people– 12th highest
• Poverty rate: 13.4% — 12th highest
• Adults without health insurance: 5.9% — 15th lowest
• Median household income: $65,720 — 12th lowest

39. Missouri: 76.64 years

• Deaths before age 75: 426 per 100,000 people– 11th highest
• Poverty rate: 13.2% — 15th highest
• Adults without health insurance: 8.6% — 15th highest
• Median household income: $64,811 — 10th lowest

38. New Mexico: 76.88 years

• Deaths before age 75: 437 per 100,000 people– 9th highest
• Poverty rate: 17.6% — 4th highest
• Adults without health insurance: 8.2% — 18th highest
• Median household income: $59,726 — 8th lowest

37. Georgia: 77.31 years

• Deaths before age 75: 400 per 100,000 people– 14th highest
• Poverty rate: 12.7% — 18th highest
• Adults without health insurance: 11.7% — 3rd highest
• Median household income: $72,837 — 21st highest

36. Michigan: 77.48 years

• Deaths before age 75: 385 per 100,000 people– 15th highest
• Poverty rate: 13.4% — 13th highest
• Adults without health insurance: 4.5% — 7th lowest
• Median household income: $66,986 — 14th lowest

35. North Carolina: 77.68 years

• Deaths before age 75: 384 per 100,000 people– 16th highest
• Poverty rate: 12.8% — 16th highest
• Adults without health insurance: 9.3% — 11th highest
• Median household income: $67,481 — 15th lowest

34. Kansas: 77.81 years

• Deaths before age 75: 373 per 100,000 people– 18th highest
• Poverty rate: 12.0% — 25th lowest
• Adults without health insurance: 8.6% — 14th highest
• Median household income: $68,925 — 17th lowest

33. Delaware: 78.01 years

• Deaths before age 75: 371 per 100,000 people– 19th highest
• Poverty rate: 9.4% — 3rd lowest
• Adults without health insurance: 5.6% — 14th lowest
• Median household income: $82,174 — 14th highest

32. Pennsylvania: 78.02 years

• Deaths before age 75: 366 per 100,000 people– 21st highest
• Poverty rate: 11.8% — 23rd lowest
• Adults without health insurance: 5.3% — 12th lowest
• Median household income: $71,798 — 25th lowest

31. Wyoming: 78.08 years

• Deaths before age 75: 368 per 100,000 people– 20th highest
• Poverty rate: 11.8% — 22nd lowest
• Adults without health insurance: 11.5% — 4th highest
• Median household income: $70,042 — 23rd lowest

30. Nevada: 78.11 years

• Deaths before age 75: 379 per 100,000 people– 17th highest
• Poverty rate: 12.5% — 22nd highest
• Adults without health insurance: 11.1% — 6th highest
• Median household income: $72,333 — 23rd highest

29. South Dakota: 78.19 years

• Deaths before age 75: 353 per 100,000 people– 25th lowest
• Poverty rate: 12.5% — 20th highest
• Adults without health insurance: 8.1% — 21st highest
• Median household income: $69,728 — 22nd lowest

28. Montana: 78.37 years

• Deaths before age 75: 353 per 100,000 people– 24th lowest
• Poverty rate: 12.1% — 24th highest
• Adults without health insurance: 8.3% — 17th highest
• Median household income: $67,631 — 16th lowest

27. Texas: 78.39 years

• Deaths before age 75: 362 per 100,000 people– 23rd highest
• Poverty rate: 14.0% — 10th highest
• Adults without health insurance: 16.6% — the highest
• Median household income: $72,284 — 24th highest

26. Maine: 78.56 years

• Deaths before age 75: 344 per 100,000 people– 21st lowest
• Poverty rate: 10.8% — 16th lowest
• Adults without health insurance: 6.6% — 24th lowest
• Median household income: $69,543 — 19th lowest

25. Maryland: 78.58 years

• Deaths before age 75: 358 per 100,000 people– 25th highest
• Poverty rate: 9.6% — 5th lowest
• Adults without health insurance: 6.1% — 18th lowest
• Median household income: $94,991 — 2nd highest

23. Alaska: 78.62 years

• Deaths before age 75: 364 per 100,000 people– 22nd highest
• Poverty rate: 11.0% — 19th lowest
• Adults without health insurance: 11.0% — 7th highest
• Median household income: $88,121 — 11th highest

23. Illinois: 78.62 years

• Deaths before age 75: 352 per 100,000 people– 23rd lowest
• Poverty rate: 11.9% — 24th lowest
• Adults without health insurance: 6.6% — 23rd lowest
• Median household income: $76,708 — 17th highest

22. Iowa: 78.74 years

• Deaths before age 75: 340 per 100,000 people– 19th lowest
• Poverty rate: 11.0% — 18th lowest
• Adults without health insurance: 4.5% — 5th lowest
• Median household income: $69,588 — 20th lowest

21. North Dakota: 78.77 years

• Deaths before age 75: 343 per 100,000 people– 20th lowest
• Poverty rate: 11.5% — 21st lowest
• Adults without health insurance: 6.4% — 20th lowest
• Median household income: $71,970 — 25th highest

20. Wisconsin: 78.87 years

• Deaths before age 75: 324 per 100,000 people– 16th lowest
• Poverty rate: 10.7% — 14th lowest
• Adults without health insurance: 5.2% — 11th lowest
• Median household income: $70,996 — 24th lowest

19. Nebraska: 79.02 years

• Deaths before age 75: 328 per 100,000 people– 17th lowest
• Poverty rate: 11.2% — 20th lowest
• Adults without health insurance: 6.7% — 25th lowest
• Median household income: $69,597 — 21st lowest

18. Arizona: 79.06 years

• Deaths before age 75: 360 per 100,000 people– 24th highest
• Poverty rate: 12.5% — 21st highest
• Adults without health insurance: 10.3% — 9th highest
• Median household income: $74,568 — 19th highest

17. Virginia: 79.07 years

• Deaths before age 75: 335 per 100,000 people– 18th lowest
• Poverty rate: 10.6% — 13th lowest
• Adults without health insurance: 6.5% — 21st lowest
• Median household income: $85,873 — 12th highest

16. Idaho: 79.19 years

• Deaths before age 75: 311 per 100,000 people– 12th lowest
• Poverty rate: 10.7% — 15th lowest
• Adults without health insurance: 8.2% — 19th highest
• Median household income: $72,785 — 22nd highest

15. Rhode Island: 79.37 years

• Deaths before age 75: 314 per 100,000 people– 14th lowest
• Poverty rate: 10.8% — 17th lowest
• Adults without health insurance: 4.2% — 4th lowest
• Median household income: $81,854 — 15th highest

14. New Jersey: 79.49 years

• Deaths before age 75: 319 per 100,000 people– 15th lowest
• Poverty rate: 9.7% — 7th lowest
• Adults without health insurance: 6.8% — 25th highest
• Median household income: $96,346 — the highest

13. New Hampshire: 79.59 years

• Deaths before age 75: 307 per 100,000 people– 9th lowest
• Poverty rate: 7.2% — the lowest
• Adults without health insurance: 4.9% — 9th lowest
• Median household income: $89,992 — 7th highest

12. Vermont: 79.67 years

• Deaths before age 75: 309 per 100,000 people– 11th lowest
• Poverty rate: 10.4% — 12th lowest
• Adults without health insurance: 3.9% — 3rd lowest
• Median household income: $73,991 — 20th highest

11. Florida: 79.69 years

• Deaths before age 75: 351 per 100,000 people– 22nd lowest
• Poverty rate: 12.7% — 17th highest
• Adults without health insurance: 11.2% — 5th highest
• Median household income: $69,303 — 18th lowest

10. Oregon: 79.7 years

• Deaths before age 75: 311 per 100,000 people– 13th lowest
• Poverty rate: 12.1% — 25th highest
• Adults without health insurance: 6.0% — 17th lowest
• Median household income: $75,657 — 18th highest

9. Utah: 79.72 years

• Deaths before age 75: 291 per 100,000 people– 5th lowest
• Poverty rate: 8.2% — 2nd lowest
• Adults without health insurance: 8.1% — 20th highest
• Median household income: $89,168 — 9th highest

8. Colorado: 79.98 years

• Deaths before age 75: 298 per 100,000 people– 8th lowest
• Poverty rate: 9.4% — 4th lowest
• Adults without health insurance: 7.1% — 22nd highest
• Median household income: $89,302 — 8th highest

7. Connecticut: 80.11 years

• Deaths before age 75: 298 per 100,000 people– 7th lowest
• Poverty rate: 9.8% — 8th lowest
• Adults without health insurance: 5.2% — 10th lowest
• Median household income: $88,429 — 10th highest

6. Massachusetts: 80.19 years

• Deaths before age 75: 288 per 100,000 people– 3rd lowest
• Poverty rate: 10.4% — 11th lowest
• Adults without health insurance: 2.4% — the lowest
• Median household income: $94,488 — 3rd highest

5. Washington: 80.21 years

• Deaths before age 75: 296 per 100,000 people– 6th lowest
• Poverty rate: 10.0% — 9th lowest
• Adults without health insurance: 6.1% — 19th lowest
• Median household income: $91,306 — 6th highest

4. New York: 80.26 years

• Deaths before age 75: 307 per 100,000 people– 10th lowest
• Poverty rate: 14.3% — 9th highest
• Adults without health insurance: 4.9% — 8th lowest
• Median household income: $79,557 — 16th highest

3. Minnesota: 80.4 years

• Deaths before age 75: 280 per 100,000 people– the lowest
• Poverty rate: 9.6% — 6th lowest
• Adults without health insurance: 4.5% — 6th lowest
• Median household income: $82,338 — 13th highest

2. California: 81.01 years

• Deaths before age 75: 288 per 100,000 people– 2nd lowest
• Poverty rate: 12.2% — 23rd highest
• Adults without health insurance: 6.5% — 22nd lowest
• Median household income: $91,551 — 5th highest

1. Hawaii: 82.26 years

• Deaths before age 75: 289 per 100,000 people– 4th lowest
• Poverty rate: 10.2% — 10th lowest
• Adults without health insurance: 3.5% — 2nd lowest
• Median household income: $92,458 — 4th highest