US life expectancy rises as death rates return to pre-pandemic levels
People in the United States can expect to live longer than ever as death rates returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2024, reports BritPanorama.
Life expectancy in the US had been steadily increasing for decades before a decline of nearly a year and a half between 2019 and 2021. However, since 2022, life expectancy has resumed its upward trajectory.
A notable 4% drop in the death rate between 2023 and 2024 has contributed to this increase, raising life expectancy at birth to 79 years, the highest level recorded, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In 2024, there were 722 deaths for every 100,000 people in the US, translating to nearly 3.1 million deaths overall. The ten leading causes of death accounted for more than 70% of all fatalities, with heart disease and cancer each claiming over 600,000 lives.
Despite the high death toll, rates for all ten leading causes of death declined in 2024, most notably for unintentional injuries, which are predominantly related to drug overdoses.
Drug overdose deaths surged during the Covid-19 pandemic but have been decreasing since 2022. In 2024, overdose rates fell across all age and racial demographics, resulting in an overall decline of more than 26% within a year.
While fentanyl and other synthetic opioids remain implicated in the majority of overdose fatalities, their prevalence appears to be diminishing. CDC data indicates that approximately 60% of overdose deaths in 2024 involved fentanyl or similar substances, down from over 90% in 2023.
Deaths involving psychostimulants such as methamphetamine and cocaine also decreased in 2024, according to the CDC.
Despite the decline, drug overdoses continue to be a leading cause of death in the US, with over 79,000 fatalities attributed to this cause in 2024. Provisional data from the CDC suggests ongoing reductions into 2025.
Covid-19, which had been the third leading cause of death during the early years of the pandemic, dropped out of the list of the ten leading causes in 2024, replaced by suicide.
However, suicide remains a growing concern. In 2024, over 14 million adults reported serious thoughts of suicide, with 2.2 million making attempts. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has received millions of inquiries since mid-2022, providing critical support to those in need.
The gap in life expectancy between women and men continues to narrow. Life expectancy for women rose by 0.3 years to 81.4, while men saw an increase of 0.7 years to 76.5, according to CDC data.
Death rates declined across all racial and ethnic groups between 2023 and 2024, although disparities still exist. American Indian men and Black men had the highest age-adjusted death rates, with approximately 1,200 and 1,000 deaths per 100,000 people, respectively.
Infant mortality, which had been decreasing for decades, saw a spike in 2022 and has been slowly recovering. In 2024, over 20,000 babies died before their first birthday, equating to about 5.5 deaths per 1,000 live births. Mississippi recently declared a public health emergency due to rising infant mortality rates.
The overall trends highlight complex public health dynamics in the US, revealing both progress and ongoing challenges in healthcare and mortality rates.
