US Life Expectancy Rose The First Time Since COVID-19 Pandemic

For the first time ever since the COVID-19 pandemic. the United States has seen a rise in its life expectancy rates. The life expectancy rates in the United States continued to rebound in 2023 due to the decline it faced in pandemic-era, and had increased by a year from 2022.

The average life expectancy from birth rose from 77.5 years in 2022 to 78.4 years in 2023 as per the figures released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The number of deaths recorded in 2023 stood at 3,090,964, which was 189,000 less than in 2022. The rise in life expectancy also saw a hike by 6% drop in the overall mortality rate in the US population. Which, in numbers could be explained as 798.8 deaths per 100,000 people in 2022 to 750.5 per 100,000 in 2023.

The Trend of Life Expectancy in US from 1970 to 2023

If one must see the numbers in graph from 1970 to 2023, it seems like an upward trend, with a severe drop in 2020s, but again a rise in 2023. The average age between 1970 to 1975 remained between 70.8 years to 72.6, for the next five years, it remained till 73.7 years. A long line of increment on the graph, if one has to draw then peaked at 1992 at 75.8 years, but dropped at 75.5 in 1993, though, counted as a usual fluctuation. The graph, though grew stable, though with minor fluctuation till 2019 at 78.8 years and saw a severe decline in 2020 at 77 years, then again in 2021 at 76.4, its lowest level since 1996, which was at 76.1. The rise could be noted from 2022, when the vaccination was made available against the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2022, the life expectancy age was at 77.5. A visible change is noted in 2023, as the age is recorded at 78.4.

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Impact of COVID-19 pandemic

The pandemic was a major contributor for country's declining life expectancy rates. It was the 3rd-leading cause of death in 2020, being responsible for more than 10% of all deaths. In 2021, though seen a slight hike, the virus still remained the 3rd leading cause of death, accounting for 12% of the total deaths. Finally, in 2022, the virus became the 4th leading cause of death.

What are the other reasons apart from COVID-19 for America's life expectancy deaths?

Heart Disease: 167.2 death rate per 100,000 in 2022, which went down to 162.1 in 2023

Cancer: 142.3 death rate per 100,000 in 2022, which went down to 141.8 in 2023

Unintentional Injuries: 64 death rate per 100,000 in 2022, which went down to 62.3 in 2023

Stroke: 39.5 death rate per 100,000 in 2022, which went down to 69 in 2023

Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease: 34.3 death rate per 100,000 in 2022, which went down to 33.4 in 2023

Alzheimer's Disease: 28.9 death rate per 100,000 in 2022, which went down to 27.7 in 2023

Diabetes: 24 death rate per 100,000 in 2022, which went down to 22.4 in 2023

Kidney Disease: 13.8 death rate per 100,000 in 2022, which went down to 13.1 in 2023

Chronic Liver Disease and Cirrhosis: 13.8 death rate per 100,000 in 2022, which went down to 13 in 2023

COVID-19: 44.5 death rate per 100,000 in 2022, which went down to 11.9 in 2023