6 sources·Health

U.S. Life Expectancy Rises to 78.4 Years Amid Continued Health Improvements

Life expectancy in the U.S. improved to 78.4 years in 2023, largely due to decreased COVID-19 and overdose deaths.

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Updated: Dec 19th, 2024, 7:10 PM ET

Summary

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According to the CDC, U.S. life expectancy increased to 78.4 years in 2023, nearly a year up from 2022, marked by significant declines in deaths from COVID-19, heart disease, and drug overdoses. While death rates decreased for most leading causes, including a 6% drop overall, experts caution that life expectancy has not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Provisional data for early 2024 indicates a smaller upward trend, suggesting additional improvements may occur, but experts stress vigilance against persistent health disparities and the need for ongoing public health measures.

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