Life Expectancy by State 2026
United States 78.50
1.23%
US Average
Hawaii 81.11
Highest
Mississippi 73.89
Lowest
Life Expectancy, Both Sexes
74.00
76.00
78.00
80.00
82.00
States Ranked by Life Expectancy
State | Life Expectancy, Both Sexes 2023↓ | Male Life Expectancy 2023 | Female Life Expectancy 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Hawaii | 81.11 | 77.92 | 84.43 |
 | New Jersey | 81.08 | 78.73 | 83.37 |
 | New York | 81.03 | 78.50 | 83.48 |
 | Massachusetts | 80.82 | 78.41 | 83.15 |
 | California | 80.62 | 78.00 | 83.31 |
 | Connecticut | 80.48 | 78.01 | 82.93 |
 | Minnesota | 80.24 | 78.10 | 82.45 |
 | Rhode Island | 80.12 | 77.71 | 82.49 |
 | Utah | 79.73 | 77.92 | 81.63 |
 | Colorado | 79.56 | 77.09 | 82.16 |
 | New Hampshire | 79.43 | 77.11 | 81.87 |
 | Florida | 79.32 | 76.68 | 82.05 |
 | Idaho | 79.24 | 77.25 | 81.37 |
 | Vermont | 79.22 | 76.81 | 81.74 |
 | Washington | 79.19 | 76.70 | 81.81 |
 | North Dakota | 79.08 | 76.48 | 81.96 |
 | Maryland | 79.06 | 76.30 | 81.75 |
 | Wisconsin | 79.04 | 76.76 | 81.43 |
 | Illinois | 79.00 | 76.30 | 81.74 |
 | Nebraska | 78.98 | 76.83 | 81.21 |
 | Iowa | 78.82 | 76.49 | 81.25 |
 | Virginia | 78.67 | 76.23 | 81.11 |
 | Pennsylvania | 78.54 | 76.03 | 81.10 |
 | Oregon | 78.46 | 75.77 | 81.31 |
 | Montana | 78.43 | 76.39 | 80.64 |
 | Arizona | 78.36 | 75.65 | 81.26 |
 | South Dakota | 78.29 | 76.20 | 80.54 |
 | Texas | 78.26 | 75.85 | 80.75 |
 | Michigan | 78.00 | 75.61 | 80.45 |
 | Delaware | 77.88 | 75.20 | 80.57 |
 | Maine | 77.88 | 75.39 | 80.47 |
 | Wyoming | 77.84 | 75.83 | 80.05 |
 | District of Columbia | 77.70 | 74.46 | 80.72 |
 | Kansas | 77.70 | 75.31 | 80.19 |
 | Nevada | 77.69 | 75.04 | 80.60 |
 | Georgia | 77.14 | 74.52 | 79.73 |
 | Ohio | 77.00 | 74.41 | 79.66 |
 | North Carolina | 76.83 | 74.04 | 79.62 |
 | Indiana | 76.81 | 74.24 | 79.48 |
 | Missouri | 76.70 | 73.94 | 79.56 |
 | Alaska | 76.65 | 73.98 | 79.74 |
 | South Carolina | 76.15 | 73.23 | 79.10 |
 | New Mexico | 75.91 | 72.53 | 79.60 |
 | Oklahoma | 75.16 | 72.69 | 77.75 |
 | Louisiana | 75.05 | 71.76 | 78.43 |
 | Arkansas | 75.01 | 72.33 | 77.82 |
 | Tennessee | 75.01 | 72.21 | 77.92 |
 | Alabama | 74.91 | 71.86 | 78.02 |
 | Kentucky | 74.83 | 72.31 | 77.47 |
 | West Virginia | 74.02 | 71.50 | 76.77 |
 | Mississippi | 73.89 | 70.79 | 77.04 |
- Life expectancies may be expressed as “regular” estimates, which measure the total years alive regardless of health, or as HALE (Healthy Average Life Expectancy) estimates, which instead measure just the “reasonably healthy” years and average about 10 years less than regular life expectancy.
- See also Quality of Life by State
Key Findings
States with Highest Life Expectancy
-
Hawaii (81.11), New Jersey (81.08), and New York (81.03) lead the nation in life expectancy.
-
These states frequently appear among the best states to live in, largely thanks to strong healthcare systems, higher median incomes, and healthier lifestyle patterns.
States with Lowest Life Expectancy
-
Mississippi (73.89) currently has the lowest life expectancy in the nation.
-
States with lower life expectancy often face higher obesity rates, limited healthcare access, and increased rates of chronic disease.
The Gender Gap in Life Expectancy
-
Women outlive men in every U.S. state.
-
This gap reflects a mix of biological differences, health behaviors, and differences in preventive care usage.
-
Life expectancy still varies widely by state, showing how local health conditions can shape outcomes.
How US Life Expectancy Has Changed Over Time
-
U.S. life expectancy increased steadily from 1950 through the early 2010s due to medical advances and improved public health.
-
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant decline, reversing years of progress.
-
Recent data shows partial recovery, though state-level differences remain substantial.
United States Trend Line
Average US Life Expectancy: History
U.S. life expectancy increased steadily for decades before declining during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent data shows signs of recovery, but long-term trends reveal uneven progress, with significant variation among states.
Life Expectancy
Comparison
Life expectancy varies widely across U.S. states, reflecting differences in healthcare access, socioeconomic conditions, and population health.
Definitions & Methodology
What is life expectancy? Life expectancy is the statistical measure of the average number of years a person is expected to live, based on current mortality rates at birth.
Data sources and methodology State rankings are based on life expectancy at birth estimates from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Figures reflect birth-year–based projections using the most recent available mortality data.
Last Updated: May 14, 2026
Sources
- 2021 National Vital Statistics Reports - National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- 2020 National Vital Statistics Reports - National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Life expectancy and healthy life expectancy (HALE) at birth in 2022 and 2050 - IHME
- Mortality and Life Expectancy Forecasts 2022-2050 - IHME
