US Life Expectancy Hits Record 79 Years in 2024

The United States recorded its highest life expectancy on record in 2024, reaching 79 years, according to final data released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. This marks an increase of more than half a year from 2023 and reflects a broad decline in death rates across major causes, signaling a recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic's impact.

Life expectancy at birth estimates the average number of years a newborn might live based on prevailing death rates. The figure had steadily climbed for decades due to advances in medicine and public health, peaking just below 79 years in 2014. It remained relatively stable until the pandemic caused a sharp drop, with more than 1.2 million Americans dying from COVID-19 and related effects. By 2021, life expectancy had fallen to under 76.5 years. Since then, it has rebounded, surpassing pre-pandemic levels in 2024.

The improvement stems from an overall age-adjusted death rate that decreased by about 3.8 percent from 2023, resulting in roughly 3.07 million total deaths nationwide, or 18,000 fewer than the previous year. Declines occurred across all racial and ethnic groups, both...