Life Expectancy by State in the United States
Life expectancy in the United States varies meaningfully by state — often by as much as around 7 years between the highest and lowest states. Hawaii consistently ranks highest and Mississippi consistently ranks lowest in CDC summaries. These gaps reflect big differences in healthcare access, obesity and smoking rates, poverty, and environmental conditions. If you want to estimate your personal timeline, start with our life expectancy calculator — it takes about 60 seconds.
Life Expectancy by State (Approx. 2021)
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics (approximate 2021 figures). US average: 76.4 years.
| Rank | State | Life Expectancy (Years) | vs US Average (+/−) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | 80.7 | +4.3 |
| 2 | California | 79.2 | +2.8 |
| 3 | Minnesota | 79.1 | +2.7 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 79.0 | +2.6 |
| 5 | Connecticut | 78.8 | +2.4 |
| 6 | New York | 78.7 | +2.3 |
| 7 | Colorado | 78.6 | +2.2 |
| 8 | Washington | 78.5 | +2.1 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | 78.4 | +2.0 |
| 10 | Vermont | 78.3 | +1.9 |
| 11 | Oregon | 78.1 | +1.7 |
| 12 | New Jersey | 78.0 | +1.6 |
| 13 | Utah | 77.9 | +1.5 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | 77.8 | +1.4 |
| 15 | Idaho | 77.6 | +1.2 |
| 16 | Nebraska | 77.5 | +1.1 |
| 17 | Iowa | 77.4 | +1.0 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | 77.3 | +0.9 |
| 19 | North Dakota | 77.2 | +0.8 |
| 20 | South Dakota | 77.1 | +0.7 |
| 21 | Arizona | 77.0 | +0.6 |
| 22 | Maine | 76.9 | +0.5 |
| 23 | Maryland | 76.8 | +0.4 |
| 24 | Virginia | 76.7 | +0.3 |
| 25 | Illinois | 76.5 | +0.1 |
| 26 | Kansas | 76.4 | +0.0 |
| 27 | Florida | 76.3 | -0.1 |
| 28 | Delaware | 76.2 | -0.2 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | 76.1 | -0.3 |
| 30 | Michigan | 75.9 | -0.5 |
| 31 | Montana | 75.8 | -0.6 |
| 32 | Nevada | 75.7 | -0.7 |
| 33 | Texas | 75.6 | -0.8 |
| 34 | North Carolina | 75.4 | -1.0 |
| 35 | Georgia | 75.3 | -1.1 |
| 36 | Missouri | 75.1 | -1.3 |
| 37 | Ohio | 75.0 | -1.4 |
| 38 | Indiana | 74.8 | -1.6 |
| 39 | South Carolina | 74.7 | -1.7 |
| 40 | New Mexico | 74.6 | -1.8 |
| 41 | Alaska | 74.5 | -1.9 |
| 42 | Wyoming | 74.4 | -2.0 |
| 43 | Arkansas | 74.2 | -2.2 |
| 44 | Tennessee | 74.1 | -2.3 |
| 45 | Kentucky | 73.9 | -2.5 |
| 46 | Louisiana | 73.8 | -2.6 |
| 47 | Alabama | 73.7 | -2.7 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | 73.5 | -2.9 |
| 49 | West Virginia | 73.2 | -3.2 |
| 50 | Mississippi | 72.9 | -3.5 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | 76.1 | -0.3 |
What Drives Differences in State Life Expectancy?
State life expectancy rankings are a snapshot of population-level trends — not a verdict on any individual. Still, the patterns are consistent. Smoking rates remain one of the biggest drivers of early mortality; states with higher tobacco use tend to see more cardiovascular disease, cancer, and chronic lung disease. Obesity and physical inactivity compound risk through diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease — and these are shaped by food environments, walkability, and safe places to be active.
Healthcare access matters too. Preventive care (blood pressure checks, diabetes screening, cancer screening, vaccinations) catches risk early — but insurance coverage and clinic availability vary widely, especially across rural areas. Poverty and income inequality influence stress load, housing stability, nutrition, and the ability to consistently access care. In some regions, the opioid crisis has also reduced life expectancy through overdose deaths, particularly among working-age adults.
Finally, “place” includes the built environment: transportation, air quality, occupational risk, and how quickly emergencies can be treated. The empowering takeaway is that these factors are not fixed — policy can improve systems, and individuals can still move the needle through the core habits in our life expectancy calculator. For the modeling assumptions, see how our calculator works.
Highest and Lowest Life Expectancy States
States with the Highest Life Expectancy
Hawaii tends to lead the rankings. Researchers often point to a combination of dietary patterns, daily activity, social connection, and lower smoking rates. Other high-ranking states like California, Minnesota, and Massachusetts also share strengths such as stronger preventive healthcare systems, higher education levels, and environments that support healthier defaults.
States with the Lowest Life Expectancy
Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama, and Kentucky are frequently near the bottom. This is not about personal character — it reflects systemic issues: higher poverty rates, fewer healthcare resources in some areas, higher chronic disease burden, and higher rates of smoking and obesity. The encouraging news is that these trends can improve with sustained public health investment and local programs that make healthy choices easier.
How to Improve Your Life Expectancy Regardless of Where You Live
State averages matter — but individuals are not averages. Your choices compound over years. Quitting smoking, moving more, improving sleep quality, moderating alcohol, managing stress, and improving diet quality can all shift your personal trajectory. If you want to understand how these inputs stack together (and how they differ by sex), see life expectancy differences between men and women.
FAQ
Which state has the highest life expectancy?
Hawaii consistently ranks as the highest life expectancy state in CDC summaries, at roughly 80.7 years in approximate 2021 figures.
Which state has the lowest life expectancy?
Mississippi consistently ranks as the lowest life expectancy state in CDC summaries, at roughly 72.9 years in approximate 2021 figures.
Why does Hawaii have such high life expectancy?
Hawaii’s advantage is often attributed to lower smoking rates, strong social connection, daily activity, and dietary patterns that support cardiometabolic health. Statewide systems and built environments also influence outcomes.
Why does Mississippi have the lowest life expectancy?
Lower life expectancy in Mississippi is linked to systemic factors: higher poverty rates, lower access to preventive care in some regions, higher chronic disease burden, and higher rates of risk factors like smoking and obesity. These are population trends — not individual destinies.
How much does state of residence affect life expectancy?
State averages can differ by roughly 7 years between the highest and lowest states. But your personal outcomes are influenced by many factors — healthcare access, environment, and especially habits like smoking, activity, sleep, diet, and alcohol use.
What is the average life expectancy in the United States?
A commonly cited US average around 2021 is approximately 76.4 years (CDC). The national average changes over time and can differ by sex, race/ethnicity, and county.
Data Sources
CDC National Center for Health Statistics — State Life Expectancy data. Data reflects approximate 2021 figures; check CDC for the latest updates.