California’s life expectancy drops, ranking 10th in nation, according to CDC study

Iman Palm
·1 min read

Life expectancy in California has dropped, according to a recent study from the Centers for Disease Control. The Golden State, which once was the second best state for life expectancy, is now ranked 10th.

The report found that babies born in California in 2021 could expect to live 78.3 years, down from 79 years in 2020 and 80.9 years in 2019.

The decrease in life expectancy in California mirrors a national trend. From 2020 to 2021, the average life expectancy nationwide dipped from 77 years to 76.4 years, a change likely spearheaded by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The report found that Hawaii had the highest life expectancy nationwide in 2021, with residents living about 79.9 years.

These were the 10 states in terms of life expectancy, according to the CDC:

  • Hawaii (79.9 years)

  • Massachusetts (79.6)

  • Connecticut (79.2)

  • New York (79.0)

  • New Jersey (79.0)

  • Minnesota (78.8)

  • New Hampshire (78.5)

  • Rhode Island (78.5)

  • Vermont (78.4)

  • California (78.3)

On the other hand, Mississippi had the lowest life expectancy in the nation, with residents living an average of 70.9 years.

While the life expectancy dropped in California and 38 other states, it increased in 11 others and remained consistent in the District of Columbia.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System, mortality
data file.

However, it’s not all bad news. Life expectancy estimates increased nationwide in 2022, a signal that the country was bouncing back from the pandemic.

In March, a CDC report on mortality found that nationwide, life expectancy increased by 1.1 years, from 76.4 to 77.5 years in 2022.

The CDC hasn’t yet released 2022 life expectancy data at the state level.

The complete report can be found here.

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