United States life expectancy reached an unprecedented 79 years in 2024, marking a historical high for the nation.
This positive development is attributed not only to the receding impact of the COVID-19 pandemic but also to a reduction in the mortality rates associated with the country’s primary causes of death, such as cardiovascular ailments, malignant neoplasms, and substance abuse fatalities.
Moreover, initial statistical indicators point towards a continuation of this upward trend into 2025.
“The overall picture is overwhelmingly favorable,” stated Robert Anderson, representing the National Center for Health Statistics within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which disseminated the 2024 statistics on Thursday.
Life expectancy, a pivotal metric reflecting a population’s health status, is calculated as the estimated average number of years a newborn in a specific year might anticipate living, contingent upon the prevailing mortality rates of that period.
For a considerable duration, life expectancy in the U.S. exhibited consistent, albeit modest, annual increases, propelled by advancements in medical science and the implementation of public health initiatives. The figure approached 79 years in 2014, its prior apex.
Following a period of relative stasis, the metric experienced a significant decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which claimed over 1.2 million American lives. By 2021, life expectancy had receded to just under 76.5 years. A resurgence has been observed since then.
These figures not only signify a comprehensive reversal of the pandemic’s impact but also a sustained improvement in addressing the drug overdose crisis, according to Andrew Stokes, a researcher affiliated with Boston University.
However, Stokes highlighted that the United States continues to lag behind numerous other nations in this regard.
“There remains substantial scope for further progress,” he commented.
In 2024, approximately 3.07 million individuals in the U.S. passed away, a reduction of roughly 18,000 from the preceding year. Mortality rates saw a decrease across all demographic and ethnic groups, affecting both genders.
Cardiovascular disease persisted as the leading cause of mortality, yet its associated death rate diminished by approximately 3% for the second consecutive year. This improvement is likely attributable to a confluence of factors, including enhanced medical treatments and more effective weight management strategies, as suggested by Dr. Sadiya Khan, a cardiologist researching and treating heart conditions at Northwestern University.
Mortality from unintentional injuries, a category encompassing drug overdoses, experienced the most significant decline, falling by over 14% in 2024.
COVID-19, which was the nation’s third-leading cause of death only a few years prior, was no longer among the top 10 in 2024.
The diminished prevalence of COVID-19 as a cause of death resulted in suicide re-entering the top 10, notwithstanding a documented decrease in suicide rates in 2024. Homicides also saw a reduction during that year, as indicated by the recent report.
While final mortality statistics for 2025 have not yet been compiled, preliminary data suggest that approximately 3.05 million deaths have been recorded. This figure may be subject to upward revision as additional death certificates are collected and analyzed; however, Anderson anticipates that the past year will ultimately reflect at least a modest improvement over 2024.
