Special Report

The States With the Longest (and Shortest) Life Expectancies

Thinkstock

The average American born in 1960 is expected to live for 69.8 years. Today, the life expectancy of someone born in the United States is 78.9 years. Thanks to advances in medical technology and healthcare spending, longevity in the country continues to rise.

Compared to other advanced economies, however, health in the United States is improving at a relatively slow pace. According to the the OECD’s Health at a Glance Report, while life expectancy in the United States has increased by nine years since 1960, average life expectancy across all OECD nations improved by 13 years. The slower pace is somewhat disquieting, especially considering that the United States spends $9,146 per capita in public health annually — the third most in the world and nearly double the average expenditure across OECD nations.

While the nation as a whole is trailing most developed countries, some states are keeping up better than others. In Hawaii, Americans are expected to live 81.3 years, the longest of all states and in line with most of Western Europe. Meanwhile, Mississippi’s 75 year life expectancy is closer to the 74.7 year life expectancy across all Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Click here to see the states with the longest (and shortest) life expectancies.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the OECD Regional Well-Being study to determine the states with the longest and shortest life expectancy at birth.

Within most western economies, differences in life expectancy are heavily tied to behavioral factors. One likely reason for the U.S.’s relatively low life expectancy is its widespread obesity. Obesity can be indicative of unhealthy behavior, and is itself a major risk factor in diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other life-threatening conditions. The obesity rate in the United States is 28.9%, by far the highest of any OECD nation.

The discrepancies in life expectancy between states can also largely be explained by obesity. In the five states where more than a third of the population is obese, the average life expectancy is no more than 76 years. Likewise, life expectancy in the each of the states with the five lowest obesity rates is 80 years or greater.

The same relationship exists between physical activity and life expectancy. States in which a higher share of residents exercise regularly in their leisure time are much more likely to have a longer average life expectancy.

Socioeconomic status is another significant determinant of a population’s longevity. While not as directly related to health outcomes as obesity or the frequency of physical activity, the wealth of an area’s population tends to reflect its life expectancy. Higher incomes provide for access to better medical care, healthier foods, and more leisure time that can encourage physical activity and ultimately prolong life. Similarly, a higher share of residents living in poverty tends to correspond with a lower life expectancy.

Recent research suggests that the gap in life expectancies between higher and lower income residents is growing. One reason may be the difference in smoking rates between the rich and the poor — the nation’s number one cause of preventable death. While smoking rates have declined nationwide, they’ve declined more among the wealthier population. Nevertheless, no comprehensive explanation for the widening gap exists.

To determine the states with the longest and shortest life expectancies at birth, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed figures from the OECD Regional Well-Being study. Data on obesity and physical inactivity rates came from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Population estimates, median household income, and poverty data came from the 2014 American Community Survey, produced by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Vicksburg, Mississippi
Thinkstock

50. Mississippi
> Life expectancy:
75.0 years
> Population: 2,994,079
> Obesity rate: 35.5% (3rd highest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 31.6% (the highest)
> Poverty rate: 21.5% (the highest)
> Median household income: $39,680 (the lowest)

Birmingham, Alabama
Thinkstock

49. Alabama
> Life expectancy:
75.4 years
> Population: 4,849,377
> Obesity rate: 33.5% (5th highest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 27.6% (4th highest)
> Poverty rate: 19.3% (4th highest)
> Median household income: $42,830 (4th lowest)

West Virginia Bridge
Thinkstock

48. West Virginia
> Life expectancy:
75.4 years
> Population: 1,850,326
> Obesity rate: 35.7% (2nd highest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 28.7% (7th highest)
> Poverty rate: 18.3% (7th highest)
> Median household income: $41,059 (2nd lowest)

New Orleans, Louisiana 2
Thinkstock

47. Louisiana
> Life expectancy:
75.7 years
> Population: 4,649,676
> Obesity rate: 34.9% (4th highest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 29.5% (3rd highest)
> Poverty rate: 19.8% (3rd highest)
> Median household income: $44,555 (7th lowest)

Oklahoma
Thinkstock

46. Oklahoma
> Life expectancy:
75.9 years
> Population: 3,878,051
> Obesity rate: 33.0% (6th highest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 28.3% (14th highest)
> Poverty rate: 16.6% (14th highest)
> Median household income: $47,529 (13th lowest)

Hot Springs, Arkansas
Thinkstock

45. Arkansas
> Life expectancy:
76.0 years
> Population: 2,966,369
> Obesity rate: 35.9% (the highest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 30.7% (6th highest)
> Poverty rate: 18.9% (6th highest)
> Median household income: $41,262 (3rd lowest)

Lexington, Kentucky
Thinkstock

44. Kentucky
> Life expectancy:
76.0 years
> Population: 4,413,457
> Obesity rate: 31.6% (12th highest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 28.2% (5th highest)
> Poverty rate: 19.1% (5th highest)
> Median household income: $42,958 (5th lowest)

Tennessee
Thinkstock

43. Tennessee
> Life expectancy:
76.3 years
> Population: 6,549,352
> Obesity rate: 31.2% (14th highest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 26.8% (7th highest)
> Poverty rate: 18.3% (7th highest)
> Median household income: $44,361 (6th lowest)

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Thinkstock

42. South Carolina
> Life expectancy:
77.0 years
> Population: 4,832,482
> Obesity rate: 32.1% (10th highest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 25.3% (11th highest)
> Poverty rate: 18.0% (11th highest)
> Median household income: $45,238 (9th lowest)

Atlanta, Georgia 3
Thinkstock

41. Georgia
> Life expectancy:
77.2 years
> Population: 10,097,343
> Obesity rate: 30.5% (19th highest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 23.6% (7th highest)
> Poverty rate: 18.3% (7th highest)
> Median household income: $49,321 (17th lowest)

Missouri
Thinkstock

40. Missouri
> Life expectancy:
77.5 years
> Population: 6,063,589
> Obesity rate: 30.2% (20th highest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 25.0% (21st highest)
> Poverty rate: 15.5% (21st highest)
> Median household income: $48,363 (15th lowest)

Indianapolis, Indiana
Thinkstock

39. Indiana
> Life expectancy:
77.6 years
> Population: 6,596,855
> Obesity rate: 32.7% (7th highest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 26.1% (23rd highest)
> Poverty rate: 15.2% (23rd highest)
> Median household income: $49,446 (18th lowest)

38. North Carolina
> Life expectancy:
77.8 years
> Population: 9,943,964
> Obesity rate: 29.7% (24th highest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 23.2% (12th highest)
> Poverty rate: 17.2% (12th highest)
> Median household income: $46,556 (11th lowest)

Columbus, Ohio
Thinkstock

37. Ohio
> Life expectancy:
77.8 years
> Population: 11,594,163
> Obesity rate: 32.6% (8th highest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 25.0% (20th highest)
> Poverty rate: 15.8% (20th highest)
> Median household income: $49,308 (16th lowest)

Las Vegas, Nevada
Thinkstock

36. Nevada
> Life expectancy:
78.1 years
> Population: 2,839,099
> Obesity rate: 27.7% (16th lowest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 22.5% (23rd highest)
> Poverty rate: 15.2% (23rd highest)
> Median household income: $51,450 (24th lowest)

Michigan
Thinkstock

35. Michigan
> Life expectancy:
78.2 years
> Population: 9,909,877
> Obesity rate: 30.7% (17th highest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 25.5% (18th highest)
> Poverty rate: 16.2% (18th highest)
> Median household income: $49,847 (20th lowest)

Juneau, Alaska
Thinkstock

34. Alaska
> Life expectancy:
78.3 years
> Population: 736,732
> Obesity rate: 29.7% (24th highest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 19.2% (6th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 11.2% (6th lowest)
> Median household income: $71,583 (3rd highest)

Wyoming
Thinkstock

33. Wyoming
> Life expectancy:
78.3 years
> Population: 584,153
> Obesity rate: 29.5% (24th lowest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 22.1% (6th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 11.2% (6th lowest)
> Median household income: $57,055 (18th highest)

Wilmington, Delaware
Thinkstock

32. Delaware
> Life expectancy:
78.4 years
> Population: 935,614
> Obesity rate: 30.7% (17th highest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 24.9% (17th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 12.5% (17th lowest)
> Median household income: $59,716 (14th highest)

Albuquerque, New Mexico 2
Thinkstock

31. New Mexico
> Life expectancy:
78.4 years
> Population: 2,085,572
> Obesity rate: 28.4% (19th lowest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 23.3% (2nd highest)
> Poverty rate: 21.3% (2nd highest)
> Median household income: $44,803 (8th lowest)

Billings, Montana
Thinkstock

30. Montana
> Life expectancy:
78.5 years
> Population: 1,023,579
> Obesity rate: 26.4% (9th lowest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 19.6% (22nd highest)
> Poverty rate: 15.4% (22nd highest)
> Median household income: $46,328 (10th lowest)

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Thinkstock

29. Pennsylvania
> Life expectancy:
78.5 years
> Population: 12,787,209
> Obesity rate: 30.2% (20th highest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 23.3% (21st lowest)
> Poverty rate: 13.6% (21st lowest)
> Median household income: $53,234 (22nd highest)

Austin, Texas
Thinkstock

28. Texas
> Life expectancy:
78.5 years
> Population: 26,956,958
> Obesity rate: 31.9% (11th highest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 27.6% (12th highest)
> Poverty rate: 17.2% (12th highest)
> Median household income: $53,035 (23rd highest)

Topeka, Kansas
Wikimedia Commons

27. Kansas
> Life expectancy:
78.7 years
> Population: 2,904,021
> Obesity rate: 31.3% (13th highest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 23.8% (21st lowest)
> Poverty rate: 13.6% (21st lowest)
> Median household income: $52,504 (25th lowest)

Annapolis, Maryland
Thinkstock

26. Maryland
> Life expectancy:
78.8 years
> Population: 5,976,407
> Obesity rate: 29.6% (25th lowest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 21.4% (2nd lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.1% (2nd lowest)
> Median household income: $73,971 (the highest)

Chicago, Illinois 2
Thinkstock

25. Illinois
> Life expectancy:
79.0 years
> Population: 12,880,580
> Obesity rate: 29.3% (23rd lowest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 23.9% (25th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 14.4% (25th lowest)
> Median household income: $57,444 (17th highest)

Richmond, Virginia 2
Thinkstock

24. Virginia
> Life expectancy:
79.0 years
> Population: 8,326,289
> Obesity rate: 28.5% (20th lowest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 23.5% (12th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 11.8% (12th lowest)
> Median household income: $64,902 (8th highest)

Cumberland County, Maine
Wikimedia Commons

23. Maine
> Life expectancy:
79.2 years
> Population: 1,330,089
> Obesity rate: 28.2% (18th lowest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 19.7% (22nd lowest)
> Poverty rate: 14.1% (22nd lowest)
> Median household income: $49,462 (19th lowest)

Miami, Florida
Thinkstock

22. Florida
> Life expectancy:
79.4 years
> Population: 19,893,297
> Obesity rate: 26.2% (7th lowest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 23.7% (16th highest)
> Poverty rate: 16.5% (16th highest)
> Median household income: $47,463 (12th lowest)

Bosie, Idaho
Thinkstock

21. Idaho
> Life expectancy:
79.5 years
> Population: 1,634,464
> Obesity rate: 28.9% (22nd lowest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 18.7% (25th highest)
> Poverty rate: 14.8% (25th highest)
> Median household income: $47,861 (14th lowest)

North Dakota, Farm, Tractor
Thinkstock

20. North Dakota
> Life expectancy:
79.5 years
> Population: 739,482
> Obesity rate: 32.2% (9th highest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 21.3% (9th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 11.5% (9th lowest)
> Median household income: $59,029 (15th highest)

Portland, Oregon
Thinkstock

19. Oregon
> Life expectancy:
79.5 years
> Population: 3,970,239
> Obesity rate: 27.9% (17th lowest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 16.5% (14th highest)
> Poverty rate: 16.6% (14th highest)
> Median household income: $51,075 (23rd lowest)

Deadwood, South Dakota
Thinkstock

18. South Dakota
> Life expectancy:
79.5 years
> Population: 853,175
> Obesity rate: 29.8% (23rd highest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 21.2% (23rd lowest)
> Poverty rate: 14.2% (23rd lowest)
> Median household income: $50,979 (22nd lowest)

Phoenix, Arizona
Thinkstock

17. Arizona
> Life expectancy:
79.6 years
> Population: 6,731,484
> Obesity rate: 28.9% (22nd lowest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 21.2% (10th highest)
> Poverty rate: 18.2% (10th highest)
> Median household income: $50,068 (21st lowest)

Des Moines, Iowa 2
Thinkstock

16. Iowa
> Life expectancy:
79.7 years
> Population: 3,107,126
> Obesity rate: 30.9% (16th highest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 22.6% (15th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 12.2% (15th lowest)
> Median household income: $53,712 (21st highest)

Lincoln, Nebraska
Thinkstock

15. Nebraska
> Life expectancy:
79.8 years
> Population: 1,881,503
> Obesity rate: 30.2% (20th highest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 21.3% (16th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 12.4% (16th lowest)
> Median household income: $52,686 (24th highest)

Rhode Island dock
Thinkstock

14. Rhode Island
> Life expectancy:
79.9 years
> Population: 1,055,173
> Obesity rate: 27.0% (12th lowest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 22.5% (24th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 14.3% (24th lowest)
> Median household income: $54,891 (19th highest)

Bremerton, Washington
Thinkstock

13. Washington
> Life expectancy:
79.9 years
> Population: 7,061,530
> Obesity rate: 27.3% (13th lowest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 18.1% (19th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 13.2% (19th lowest)
> Median household income: $61,366 (11th highest)

Grand Junction, Colorado
Wikimedia Commons

12. Colorado
> Life expectancy:
80.0 years
> Population: 5,355,866
> Obesity rate: 21.3% (the lowest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 16.4% (13th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 12.0% (13th lowest)
> Median household income: $61,303 (12th highest)

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Thinkstock

11. Wisconsin
> Life expectancy:
80.0 years
> Population: 5,757,564
> Obesity rate: 31.2% (14th highest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 21.2% (19th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 13.2% (19th lowest)
> Median household income: $52,622 (25th highest)

Salt Lake City, Utah
Thinkstock

10. Utah
> Life expectancy:
80.2 years
> Population: 2,942,902
> Obesity rate: 25.7% (6th lowest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 16.8% (11th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 11.7% (11th lowest)
> Median household income: $60,922 (13th highest)

Manchester, New Hampshire
Wikimedia Commons

9. New Hampshire
> Life expectancy:
80.3 years
> Population: 1,326,813
> Obesity rate: 27.4% (14th lowest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 19.3% (the lowest)
> Poverty rate: 9.2% (the lowest)
> Median household income: $66,532 (7th highest)

New Jersey
Thinkstock

8. New Jersey
> Life expectancy:
80.3 years
> Population: 8,938,175
> Obesity rate: 26.9% (10th lowest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 23.3% (4th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 11.1% (4th lowest)
> Median household income: $71,919 (2nd highest)

George Washington Statue, Boston, Massachusetts
Thinkstock

7. Massachusetts
> Life expectancy:
80.5 years
> Population: 6,745,408
> Obesity rate: 23.3% (3rd lowest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 20.1% (10th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 11.6% (10th lowest)
> Median household income: $69,160 (6th highest)

New York City, Brooklyn Bridge, New York
Thinkstock

6. New York
> Life expectancy:
80.5 years
> Population: 19,746,227
> Obesity rate: 27.0% (12th lowest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 25.9% (19th highest)
> Poverty rate: 15.9% (19th highest)
> Median household income: $58,878 (16th highest)

Montpelier, Vermont
Thinkstock

5. Vermont
> Life expectancy:
80.5 years
> Population: 626,562
> Obesity rate: 24.8% (5th lowest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 19.0% (15th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 12.2% (15th lowest)
> Median household income: $54,166 (20th highest)

Los Angeles, California
Thinkstock

4. California
> Life expectancy:
80.8 years
> Population: 38,802,500
> Obesity rate: 24.7% (4th lowest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 21.7% (17th highest)
> Poverty rate: 16.4% (17th highest)
> Median household income: $61,933 (9th highest)

Hartford, Connecticut
Thinkstock

3. Connecticut
> Life expectancy:
80.8 years
> Population: 3,596,677
> Obesity rate: 26.3% (8th lowest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 20.6% (3rd lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.8% (3rd lowest)
> Median household income: $70,048 (4th highest)

Minneapolis, Minnesota
Thinkstock

2. Minnesota
> Life expectancy:
81.1 years
> Population: 5,457,173
> Obesity rate: 27.6% (15th lowest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 20.2% (9th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 11.5% (9th lowest)
> Median household income: $61,481 (10th highest)

Honolulu County, Hawaii
Thinkstock

1. Hawaii
> Life expectancy:
81.3 years
> Population: 1,419,561
> Obesity rate: 22.1% (2nd lowest)
> Pct. of adults physically inactive: 19.6% (7th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 11.4% (7th lowest)
> Median household income: $69,592 (5th highest)

The #1 Thing to Do Before You Claim Social Security (Sponsor)

Choosing the right (or wrong) time to claim Social Security can dramatically change your retirement. So, before making one of the biggest decisions of your financial life, it’s a smart idea to get an extra set of eyes on your complete financial situation.

A financial advisor can help you decide the right Social Security option for you and your family. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you.

Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you optimize your Social Security outcomes.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.