U.S. Life Expectancy Rose Last Year to Highest Levels Since Pandemic

U.S. life expectancy rose to 78.4 years in 2023, the highest since the pandemic, with nearly a full year of recovery from 2022. However, it remains below pre-pandemic levels. Men’s life expectancy increased to 76, while women’s rose to just over 81. Death rates also dropped, with 189,000 fewer deaths in 2023 compared to the previous year.

The top causes of death—heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, stroke, and chronic respiratory diseases—saw reduced mortality rates, with significant decreases among Hispanic and Native American populations. COVID-19 deaths fell dramatically, dropping from the fourth leading cause in 2022 to the tenth in 2023. Read more from The Hill here.