Life expectancy in the United States is rising again after losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. But major racial gaps remain, and Black Americans are still living shorter lives on average, according to an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
The good news is that health experts say there are steps you can take now to protect your health and lower your risk of the leading causes of death.
Steps you can take for preventive care: One of the most important steps is regular preventive care. Routine checkups, cancer screenings and blood pressure tests can catch problems early when treatment is most effective.
Managing chronic conditions is also critical. Heart disease and diabetes remain two of the leading causes of death in the United States. Keeping blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol under control can significantly lower risk.
Healthy lifestyle choices also make a difference. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends regular physical activity, balanced nutrition and avoiding tobacco products.
Mental health and social support matter as well. Research shows that strong relationships and community connections are linked to longer, healthier lives.
Awareness is the first step to leading a healthier life, according to public health experts. Understanding the factors that influence life expectancy can help people make informed choices about their health and seek care earlier when problems arise.
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Study finds life expectancy rising, but disparities persist
The recent analysis by KFF examined federal mortality data and found that life expectancy increased between 2021 and 2023 for every racial and ethnic group in the United States. The gains largely reflect the sharp decline in deaths caused by COVID-19 after vaccines and treatments became widely available.
Still, the report shows clear disparities. Life expectancy was lowest for American Indian and Alaska Native people at 70.1 years in 2023. Black Americans had the second lowest life expectancy at about 74 years.
By comparison, life expectancy was 78.4 years for white Americans and 81.3 years for Hispanic Americans. Asian Americans had the highest life expectancy at 85.2 years.
“While overall life expectancy has improved since the pandemic, racial and ethnic disparities persist,” the researchers wrote.
Life expectancy rebounded after the pandemic
Life expectancy dropped sharply between 2019 and 2021 as COVID-19 caused widespread deaths across the country. The decline was especially severe for communities of color.
According to KFF, life expectancy fell by 2.7 years overall during that period. American Indian and Alaska Native communities experienced the largest drop, followed by Hispanic and Black populations.
As COVID-19 deaths declined, life expectancy began to recover.
Between 2021 and 2023, American Indian and Alaska Native people saw the largest rebound at about 4.5 years. Hispanic Americans experienced an increase of about 3.5 years, while Black Americans saw a gain of about 2.8 years.
Researchers say the improvements were largely driven by falling COVID-19 deaths. In some groups, declines in deaths from heart disease, diabetes and accidents also helped boost life expectancy.
Leading causes of death
By 2023, COVID-19 had dropped out of the top three causes of death for most racial and ethnic groups.
Heart disease and cancer once again ranked as the two leading causes of death nationwide.
Among Black Americans, accidents and stroke were also major contributors to deaths. Homicide remained a significant factor as well.
Researchers say differences in life expectancy are shaped by many factors, including access to health care, insurance coverage and income. Structural issues such as housing segregation and economic inequality can also affect long-term health outcomes.
A puzzling trend among Hispanic Americans
The analysis also highlights a long-standing pattern sometimes referred to as the Hispanic health paradox.
Despite facing barriers to health care and lower average incomes, Hispanic Americans tend to live longer than white Americans.
Researchers say the reasons are still not fully understood. Some studies suggest the trend may be linked to stronger social networks or healthier behaviors among some immigrant groups.
At the same time, experts caution that broad racial and ethnic categories can hide important differences within communities.
