Life Expectancy in the US is Lowest in Two Decades
Highlights:
- Last year, Americans' average life expectancy fell by more than seven months
- Heart disease, the main cause of death in the United States, as well as other leading causes of death such as cancer, diabetes, and kidney disease, proven more dangerous in 2021
- Men and women experienced a similar fall in life expectancy last year, although women are living for an average of six years longer than men
According to final figures on death rates for the pandemic year, the average American's predicted life expectancy at birth took another significant hit in 2021.
Shortest Life Expectancy in United States
Whereas the average American might have anticipated living 78.8 years in 2019, life expectancy fell to 77 years in 2020 and 76.4 years in 2021, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.‘The dip in life expectancy in the United States comes after an already significant drop of 1.8 years in 2020. ’
According to the government, this is the shortest expected life expectancy in the United States since 1996.
Of course, COVID-19's toll - which has so far killed nearly 1.1 million Americans - is partly to blame for the reduction. However, the CDC warns that fatal overdoses from illicit narcotics such as fentanyl increased dramatically in 2021.
Seen another way, "the death rate for the entire U.S. population increased by 5.3%," the CDC added, "from 835.4 deaths per 100,000 population in 2020 to 879.7 in 2021."
Who Live Longer- Men or Women
Women will continue to outlive men: in 2021, the average female will live to be 79.3 years old, while males will live to be 73.5.According to the CDC, heart disease will continue to be the leading cause of death in 2021 (approximately 174 deaths per 100,000 people), followed by cancer (about 147 deaths per 100,000), and COVID-19 (about 104 deaths per 100,000).
Top 10 Causes of Death
Unintentional injuries, stroke, COPD and other chronic respiratory disorders, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, liver disease, and kidney disease rounded out the top ten causes of death.Drug Overdose Deaths in the United States
The CDC's second report examined the continuous growth in drug overdose deaths in the United States, using data from 2001 through 2021.However, fentanyl was not the only culprit: cocaine-related overdose deaths increased by 22% from 2020 to 2021, while meth-related fatal overdoses increased by a third, according to the agency.
The CDC analysis revealed one bit of good news: heroin-related mortality decreased by 32% during the same period.
Both studies were released by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics as Data Briefs.
Source: Medindia
Cite this Article ⇣⇡
Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:
-
APA
Dr. Trupti Shirole. (2022, December 28). Life Expectancy in the US is Lowest in Two Decades. Medindia. Retrieved on Jan 25, 2025 from https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/life-expectancy-in-the-us-is-lowest-in-two-decades-209841-1.htm.
MLA
Dr. Trupti Shirole. "Life Expectancy in the US is Lowest in Two Decades". Medindia. Jan 25, 2025. <https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/life-expectancy-in-the-us-is-lowest-in-two-decades-209841-1.htm>.
Chicago
Dr. Trupti Shirole. "Life Expectancy in the US is Lowest in Two Decades". Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/life-expectancy-in-the-us-is-lowest-in-two-decades-209841-1.htm. (accessed Jan 25, 2025).
Harvard
Dr. Trupti Shirole. 2022. Life Expectancy in the US is Lowest in Two Decades. Medindia, viewed Jan 25, 2025, https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/life-expectancy-in-the-us-is-lowest-in-two-decades-209841-1.htm.