Ranking The States By Life Expectancy

Ranking The States By Life Expectancy


January 5, 2025 | Jesse Singer

Ranking The States By Life Expectancy


The State Of Life

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average life expectancy in the United States in 2020 was 77 years, with women having a life expectancy of 79.9 years and men coming in a little younger at 76.2 years. But what about if we look at the data for each state? In which of the 50 states (and the District of Columbia) are Americans living the longest? And how do men and women fare across the country? Take a look...

States Ranked Life L

51: Mississippi

Overall Life Expectancy: 71.9

Men: 68.6

Women: 75.2

The life expectancies for both men and women in Mississippi are the lowest for any state—and the 6.6-year gap is the second largest gap between men and women in any state.

Canoeing at LeFleur's Bluff State Park in Jackson, MississippiCharlie Brenner, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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50: West Virginia

Overall Life Expectancy: 72.8

Men: 69.8

Women: 76.1

John Denver didn't mention that in his song.

Hiker reaching the edge of a cliff at Lindy Point Overlook in West VirginiaMichael, Adobe Stock

49: Louisiana

Overall Life Expectancy: 73.1

Men: 69.9    

Women: 76.4

The view at Fairview-Riverside State Park, in Madisonville, LouisianaMiguel. Adobe Stock    

48: Alabama

Overall Life Expectancy: 73.2

Men: 70.1

Women: 76.4

Woman sitting on cliff edge at Cheaha State Park Mountain in AlabamaJon, Adobe Stock

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47: Kentucky

Overall Life Expectancy: 73.5

Men: 70.6

Women: 76.5

Photo of a Person Kayaking on Grayson LakeAlexey Stiop, Adobe Stock

46: Tennessee

Overall Life Expectancy: 73.8

Men: 70.7

Women: 77.0

People Walking on the streets of Gatlinburg, TennesseeDon McCulley, Wikimedia Commons

45: Arkansas

Overall Life Expectancy: 73.8

Men: 71.1

Women: 76.6

People Visiting White Oak Lake State Park in ArkansasBonita, Adobe Stock

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44: Oklahoma

Overall Life Expectancy: 74.1

Men: 71.5

Women: 76.9

Family Fishing At Osage Point In Skiatook Lake, OklahomaCavan, Adobe Stock

43: New Mexico

Overall Life Expectancy: 74.5

Men: 71.3

Women: 77.8

Portrait Photo of A Cyclist Rides the Santa Fe River TrailDerrick Neill, Adobe Stock

42: South Carolina

Overall Life Expectancy: 74.8

Men: 71.7

Women: 78.0

People in Angel Oak Park near Charleston, South CarolinaMeadering Moments, Adobe Stock

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41: Indiana

Overall Life Expectancy: 75.0

Men: 72.3

Women: 77.9

A couple admiring the scenery at Brown County State Park in fallKengYang, Adobe Stock

40: Missouri

Overall Life Expectancy: 75.1

Men: 72.1

Women: 78.1

Tourists taking in view of Mississippi River in St. Louis MissouriTom Nast, Adobe Stock

39: Washington, DC

Overall Life Expectancy: 75.3

Men: 71.7

Women: 78.7

The seven-year gap between men and women in DC is the largest gap in the country.

People Walking near The Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.kmiragaya, Adobe Stock

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38: Ohio

Overall Life Expectancy: 75.3

Men: 72.5

Women: 78.1

Woman in front of Columbus Ohio city skylineAmanda Hofman, Adobe Stock

37: Georgia

Overall Life Expectancy: 75.6

Men: 72.8

Women: 78.3

Main fountain in the entrance of the park in Savannah GeorgiaTamara Sales, Adobe Stock

36: Michigan

Overall Life Expectancy: 76.0

Men: 73.4

Women: 78.8

Photo of People Standing near the Mackinac BridgeLes Palenik, Adobe Stock

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35: North Carolina

Overall Life Expectancy: 76.1

Men: 73.3

Women: 79.0

Woman Hiker Gazes on Dry Falls Water Fall, North CarolinaBrian Swanson, Adobe Stock

34: Arizona

Overall Life Expectancy: 76.3

Men: 73.4

Women: 79.5

Elderly woman in blue outfit hiking on Sedona, Arizona trailronaldccastle, Adobe Stock

33: Nevada

Overall Life Expectancy: 76.3

Men: 73.5

Women: 79.2

Couple standing on rocks with scenic view in Mojave DesertChris, Adobe Stock

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32: Wyoming

Overall Life Expectancy: 76.3

Men: 74.0

Women: 78.9

People go boating, fishing or for fun on the Snake River in WyomingMarco, Adobe Stock

31: Kansas

Overall Life Expectancy: 76.4

Men: 73.8

Women: 79.2

Sunny view of The Keeper of the Plains Wichita, KansasKit Leong, Adobe Stock

30: Texas

Overall Life Expectancy: 76.5

Men: 73.7

Women: 79.3

Photo of People walking on the streets of Austin. TexasJonas Brodd, Adobe Stock

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29: Alaska

Overall Life Expectancy: 76.6

Men: 74.3

Women: 79.2

Families take to the ice on Wasilla Lake, AlaskaJT Fisherman, Adobe Stock

28: Delaware

Overall Life Expectancy: 76.7

Men: 73.9

Women: 79.5

Two surfers walk trail to beach at Herring Point, Cape Henlopen State Park, DelawareDanaDaglePhotography, Adobe Stock

27: South Dakota

Overall Life Expectancy: 76.7

Men: 74.2

Women: 79.4

Street Photo of Rapid City in South Dakota, USA. Cloudy Sky in the Background.malajscy, Adobe Stock

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26: Illinois

Overall Life Expectancy: 76.8

Men: 73.8

Women: 79.8

Aerial view of people sitting and walking on the Chicago riverwalkTosca66, Adobe Stock

25: Maryland

Overall Life Expectancy: 76.8

Men: 73.8

Women: 79.7

Woman jumps with an umbrella in Baltimore at Federal Hill ParkMelissaMN, Adobe Stock

24: Pennsylvania

Overall Life Expectancy: 76.8

Men: 74.0

Women: 79.6

Photo of couple enjoy of view of Pittsburgh. PennsylvaniaBelikova Oksana, Adobe Stock

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23: Montana

Overall Life Expectancy: 76.8

Men: 74.2

Women: 79.6

Photo of Women Backpacking in Glacier National Park in MontanaAlisha, Adobe Stock

22: North Dakota

Overall Life Expectancy: 76.9

Men: 74.2

Women: 80.0

North Dakota is the lowest ranking state, with women averaging in the 80s.

Portrait Photo of Bearded Hiker in Roosevelt National ParkChris, Adobe Stock

21: Florida

Overall Life Expectancy: 77.5

Men: 74.6

Women: 80.5

Active retirees enjoy the sunset on Siesta Key beachcsfotoimages, Adobe Stock

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20: New Jersey

Overall Life Expectancy: 77.5

Men: 74.6

Women: 80.5

An aerial view of a boardwalk amusement park in Wildwood, New Jerseykirkikis, Adobe Stock

19: Iowa

Overall Life Expectancy: 77.5

Men: 74.9

Women: 80.1

Photo of Attendees at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa.Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

18: Virginia

Overall Life Expectancy: 77.6

Men: 75.1

Women: 80.1

Aerial view of Town Point Park in Norfolk Virginia USA.Kyle, Adobe Stock

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17: New York

Overall Life Expectancy: 77.7

Men: 74.8

Women: 80.7

Photo of Ice skaters having fun in New York Central Parktravnikovstudio, Adobe Stock

16: Nebraska

Overall Life Expectancy: 77.7

Men: 75.2

Women: 80.3

Landscape Photo of the Platte River sand bars west of Omaha, Nebraskasoupstock, Adobe Stock

15: Wisconsin

Overall Life Expectancy: 77.7

Men: 75.2

Women: 80.3

Summer sunset over the lake Mendota pier in the city of MadisonMaryna, Adobe Stock

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14: Maine

Overall Life Expectancy: 77.8

Men: 74.9

Women: 80.7

Maine is the highest ranking state on the list whose males average at under 75 years old.

People Sitting on Rocks above Bar Harbor in MainStuart Monk, Adobe Stock

13: Rhode Island

Overall Life Expectancy: 78.2

Men: 75.5

Women: 80.9

People are enjoying sunshine in Providence, Rhode Island, United Statesedb3_16, Adobe Stock

12: Colorado

Overall Life Expectancy: 78.3

Men: 75.8

Women: 80.9

Chalk one up to that Rocky Mountain air?

Denver Colorado downtown skyline with people riding bicyclesdeberarr, Adobe Stock

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11: Connecticut

Overall Life Expectancy: 78.4

Men: 75.6

Women: 81.3

View of downtown New Haven, Connecticut, United StatesHarold Stiver, Adobe Stock

10: Idaho

Overall Life Expectancy: 78.4

Men: 76.1

Women: 80.8

And the men finally get over 76 years.

Portrait Photo of Two People hiking in Hailey Idaho, Cloudy Sky in the BackgroundBonnie, Adobe Stock

9: Utah

Overall Life Expectancy: 78.6

Men: 76.7

Women: 80.6

Utah has the smallest gap between men and women: 3.9 years.

Enjoying skiing downhill at Park City Canyons Ski Area in UtahFashionStock, Adobe Stock

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8: Vermont

Overall Life Expectancy: 78.8

Men: 76.1

Women: 81.4

Renovated traditional American brick buildings Woodstock, Vermont, USAalpegor, Adobe Stock

7: Oregon

Overall Life Expectancy: 78.8

Men: 76.3

Women: 81.3

Photo of People walking in the Portland city centerjovannig, Adobe Stock

6: California

Overall Life Expectancy: 79.0

Men: 76.2

Women: 82.0

At 82 years, California women have the second highest life expectancy of women in any state.

Couple having fun riding bikes together at Santa Monica CaliforniaJoshua Resnick, Adobe Stock

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5: New Hampshire

Overall Life Expectancy: 79.0

Men: 76.5

Women: 81.5

Woman hiking at Artist's Bluff in autumn. View of Echo Lake.haveseen, Adobe Stock

4: Massachusetts

Overall Life Expectancy: 79.0

Men: 76.4

Women: 81.5

People sitting on a bench in front of a lake, Boston CommonsJUAN, Adobe Stock

3: Minnesota

Overall Life Expectancy: 79.1

Men: 76.8

Women: 81.4

Photo of People Walking on the 7th Street, Minneapolis, USAothman, Adobe Stock

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2: Washington (State)

Overall Life Expectancy: 79.2

Men: 76.9

Women: 81.6

Photo of People walking on the bridge in Poulsbo, Kitsap CountyJanice, Adobe Stock

1: Hawaii

Overall Life Expectancy: 80.7

Men: 77.6

Women: 83.8

The only state with men averaging over 77, women averaging over 83, and an overall number over 80.

Portrait of elderly woman playing ukulele in her gardenmeeboonstudio, Adobe Stock


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