Life expectancy in U.S. hit record high of 79 years in 2024, CDC says

"Life expectancy, a fundamental measure of a population's health, is an estimate of the average number of years a baby born in a given year might expect to live, given death rates at that time. For decades, U.S. life expectancy rose at least a little bit almost every year, thanks to medical advances and public health measures. It peaked in 2014, just shy of 79 years."

"It was relatively flat for several years before plunging as the COVID-19 pandemic killed more than 1.2 million Americans. In 2021, life expectancy fell to just under 76 1/2 years. It has been rebounding since. The data reflect not only a complete turnaround from the pandemic but also a lasting improvement in the drug overdose epidemic, said Andrew Stokes, a researcher at Boston University. The bad news is that the U.S. still ranks below dozens of other countries, Stokes noted."

"In 2024, about 3.07 million U.S. residents died, about 18,000 fewer than the year before. Death rates declined across all racial and ethnic groups, and in both men and women. The infant mortality rate didn't change significantly from 2023, when there were 560.2 infant deaths per 100,000 live births, to 2024,ewhen there were 552.5. Heart disease remained the nation's leading cause of death, but the death rate due to it dropped by about 3% for the second year in a row."

U.S. life expectancy increased to 79 years in 2024, the highest recorded. The rise reflects waning COVID-19 mortality and falling death rates from leading causes such as heart disease, cancer, and drug overdoses. Preliminary statistics indicate continued improvement into 2025. Annual deaths totaled about 3.07 million in 2024, roughly 18,000 fewer than 2023, with declines across racial and ethnic groups and both sexes. Infant mortality remained essentially unchanged, from 560.2 to 552.5 per 100,000 live births. Heart disease stayed the top cause of death, though its death rate dropped about 3% for the second consecutive year. The U.S. still ranks below many other countries.

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