The State Of Life
In 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the average American could expect to live to 77 years old. Women were leading the charge at 79.9 years, while men trailed slightly behind at 76.2.
But national averages only tell part of the story. What happens when you zoom in on each state? Which corners of the country are quietly stacking the most birthday candles—and how does the battle of the sexes shake out from coast to coast? Let’s dig into the numbers.
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.
Charlie Brenner, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
50: West Virginia
Overall Life Expectancy: 72.8
Men: 69.8
Women: 76.1
John Denver didn't mention that in his song.
49: Louisiana
Overall Life Expectancy: 73.1
Men: 69.9
Women: 76.4
48: Alabama
Overall Life Expectancy: 73.2
Men: 70.1
Women: 76.4
47: Kentucky
Overall Life Expectancy: 73.5
Men: 70.6
Women: 76.5
46: Tennessee
Overall Life Expectancy: 73.8
Men: 70.7
Women: 77.0
Don McCulley, Wikimedia Commons
45: Arkansas
Overall Life Expectancy: 73.8
Men: 71.1
Women: 76.6
44: Oklahoma
Overall Life Expectancy: 74.1
Men: 71.5
Women: 76.9
43: New Mexico
Overall Life Expectancy: 74.5
Men: 71.3
Women: 77.8
42: South Carolina
Overall Life Expectancy: 74.8
Men: 71.7
Women: 78.0
Meadering Moments, Adobe Stock
41: Indiana
Overall Life Expectancy: 75.0
Men: 72.3
Women: 77.9
40: Missouri
Overall Life Expectancy: 75.1
Men: 72.1
Women: 78.1
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.
38: Ohio
Overall Life Expectancy: 75.3
Men: 72.5
Women: 78.1
37: Georgia
Overall Life Expectancy: 75.6
Men: 72.8
Women: 78.3
36: Michigan
Overall Life Expectancy: 76.0
Men: 73.4
Women: 78.8
35: North Carolina
Overall Life Expectancy: 76.1
Men: 73.3
Women: 79.0
34: Arizona
Overall Life Expectancy: 76.3
Men: 73.4
Women: 79.5
33: Nevada
Overall Life Expectancy: 76.3
Men: 73.5
Women: 79.2
32: Wyoming
Overall Life Expectancy: 76.3
Men: 74.0
Women: 78.9
31: Kansas
Overall Life Expectancy: 76.4
Men: 73.8
Women: 79.2
30: Texas
Overall Life Expectancy: 76.5
Men: 73.7
Women: 79.3
29: Alaska
Overall Life Expectancy: 76.6
Men: 74.3
Women: 79.2
28: Delaware
Overall Life Expectancy: 76.7
Men: 73.9
Women: 79.5
DanaDaglePhotography, Adobe Stock
27: South Dakota
Overall Life Expectancy: 76.7
Men: 74.2
Women: 79.4
26: Illinois
Overall Life Expectancy: 76.8
Men: 73.8
Women: 79.8
25: Maryland
Overall Life Expectancy: 76.8
Men: 73.8
Women: 79.7
24: Pennsylvania
Overall Life Expectancy: 76.8
Men: 74.0
Women: 79.6
23: Montana
Overall Life Expectancy: 76.8
Men: 74.2
Women: 79.6
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.
21: Florida
Overall Life Expectancy: 77.5
Men: 74.6
Women: 80.5
20: New Jersey
Overall Life Expectancy: 77.5
Men: 74.6
Women: 80.5
19: Iowa
Overall Life Expectancy: 77.5
Men: 74.9
Women: 80.1
Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
18: Virginia
Overall Life Expectancy: 77.6
Men: 75.1
Women: 80.1
17: New York
Overall Life Expectancy: 77.7
Men: 74.8
Women: 80.7
16: Nebraska
Overall Life Expectancy: 77.7
Men: 75.2
Women: 80.3
15: Wisconsin
Overall Life Expectancy: 77.7
Men: 75.2
Women: 80.3
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.
13: Rhode Island
Overall Life Expectancy: 78.2
Men: 75.5
Women: 80.9
12: Colorado
Overall Life Expectancy: 78.3
Men: 75.8
Women: 80.9
Chalk one up to that Rocky Mountain air?
11: Connecticut
Overall Life Expectancy: 78.4
Men: 75.6
Women: 81.3
10: Idaho
Overall Life Expectancy: 78.4
Men: 76.1
Women: 80.8
And the men finally get over 76 years.
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.
8: Vermont
Overall Life Expectancy: 78.8
Men: 76.1
Women: 81.4
7: Oregon
Overall Life Expectancy: 78.8
Men: 76.3
Women: 81.3
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.
5: New Hampshire
Overall Life Expectancy: 79.0
Men: 76.5
Women: 81.5
4: Massachusetts
Overall Life Expectancy: 79.0
Men: 76.4
Women: 81.5
3: Minnesota
Overall Life Expectancy: 79.1
Men: 76.8
Women: 81.4
2: Washington (State)
Overall Life Expectancy: 79.2
Men: 76.9
Women: 81.6
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.
.jpg){kind=link}