US Life Expectancy Increases in 2022, Yet Remains Below Pre-Pandemic Levels

United States of America
Life expectancy in the US increased by 1.1 years in 2022, primarily due to a decrease in COVID-19 related mortality.
Racial and ethnic disparities in life expectancy persisted, with American Indian and Alaska Native individuals having a life expectancy of 67.9 years, more than 16 years less than Asian Americans and roughly a decade less than white Americans.
The number of U.S. suicides reached an all-time high last year, and drug overdose deaths also saw a slight increase.

Life expectancy in the United States saw an increase in 2022, marking a rebound from the historic drops experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the current life expectancy of 77.5 years, an increase of 1.1 years from the previous year, still falls short of pre-pandemic levels. The rise in life expectancy was primarily driven by a significant drop in COVID-19 related mortality, which accounted for more than 84% of the positive contribution to the change in life expectancy in 2022.

In 2022, about 245,000 people died from COVID-19, a decrease from about 385,000 deaths in 2020 and more than 462,000 deaths in 2021. This decline in COVID-19 deaths was a key factor in driving the increase in life expectancy, with the disease falling to the fourth leading cause of death in the country. Other factors contributing to the increase include declines in deaths caused by heart disease, unintentional injuries, cancer, and homicide.

However, increases in mortality tied to causes such as influenza, pneumonia, perinatal conditions, and kidney disease offset the potential for a greater increase in life expectancy. Additionally, the number of U.S. suicides reached an all-time high last year, and drug overdose deaths also saw a slight increase.

Racial and ethnic disparities in life expectancy persisted, with American Indian and Alaska Native individuals having a life expectancy of 67.9 years, more than 16 years less than Asian Americans and roughly a decade less than white Americans. However, life expectancy increased the most among American Indian people with 2.3 years added in 2022. White people have a higher life expectancy than Black people in the US, but that gap has been narrowing over the past three decades.


Confidence

100%

No Doubts Found At Time Of Publication

Sources

97%

  • Unique Points
    • The rise in life expectancy was primarily driven by a drop in COVID-19 mortality, which accounted for more than 84% of the positive contribution to the change in life expectancy in 2022.
    • Other factors contributing to the increase include declines in deaths caused by heart disease, unintentional injuries, cancer, and homicide.
    • Increases in mortality tied to causes such as influenza, pneumonia, perinatal conditions, and kidney disease offset the potential for a greater increase in life expectancy.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

95%

  • Unique Points
    • Racial and ethnic disparities in life expectancy persisted, with American Indian and Alaska Native individuals having a life expectancy of 67.9 years, more than 16 years less than Asian Americans and roughly a decade less than white Americans.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (90%)
    • Compared to other developed nations, the U.S. sits at the bottom when it comes to how long people live, said Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist who directs Brown University's Pandemic Center and a professor at Brown's School of Public Health. That's 'unacceptable' and 'embarrassing,' Nuzzo said.
    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication

    97%

    • Unique Points
      • The number of U.S. suicides reached an all-time high last year, and the national suicide rate was the highest seen since 1941.
      • Drug overdose deaths also went up slightly last year.
    • Accuracy
      No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
    • Deception (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Fallacies (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Bias (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication

    96%

    • Unique Points
      • About 245,000 people died from Covid-19 in 2022, down from about 385,000 deaths in 2020 and more than 462,000 deaths in 2021.
      • Life expectancy increased the most among American Indian people with 2.3 years added in 2022.
      • White people have a higher life expectancy than Black people in the US, but that gap has been narrowing over the past three decades.
    • Accuracy
      No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
    • Deception (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Fallacies (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Bias (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication

    96%

    • Unique Points
      • The decline in COVID-19 deaths drove 2022's improvement, with the disease falling to the fourth leading cause of death in the country.
      • Hispanic Americans and American Indians and Alaska Natives seeing the largest increases.
    • Accuracy
      No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
    • Deception (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Fallacies (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Bias (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication