U.S. life expectancy hits a new high, as deaths from overdoses and COVID fall

"We seem to have rebounded from the pandemic. This may just signal that we're back to some semblance of normal post-pandemic."

"We should celebrate. It's very encouraging to see that mortality is declining and life expectancy is increasing in the United States,"

"But we still see very high mortality from drugs, very high mortality from suicide, infant mortality remains high and maternal mortality remains high. So as we celebrate we still have a lot of work ahead."

An American born in 2024 can expect to live to age 79 on average, an increase of more than half a year from 2023. The average U.S. life expectancy reached an all-time high in 2024, surpassing the 2019 peak and marking the highest level since tracking began in 1900. The increase reflects continued recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and a sustained decline in drug overdose deaths. COVID dropped out of the top 10 causes of death in 2024. Significant disparities persist across population groups, and mortality from drugs, suicide, infant and maternal causes remains high.

Read at www.npr.org