Life expectancy in United States of America
United States of America: Life expectancy was 77.41 years in 2020. ▲ Rising
Life expectancy in United States of America, 1870–2020
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
United States of America recorded 77.41 years for life expectancy in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life expectancy in United States of America peaked at 78.87 years in 2015 and was at its lowest, 39.42 years, in 1880.
That places United States of America 43rd out of 162 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Life expectancy in United States of America, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 43.98 years | — |
| 1880 | 39.42 years | -10.4% |
| 1890 | 45.21 years | +14.7% |
| 1900 | 49.29 years | +9.0% |
| 1913 | 53.5 years | +8.5% |
| 1925 | 58.5 years | +9.3% |
| 1929 | 58.5 years | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 60.9 years | +4.1% |
| 1938 | 62.39 years | +2.4% |
| 1950 | 68.06 years | +9.1% |
| 1955 | 69.56 years | +2.2% |
| 1960 | 69.82 years | +0.4% |
| 1965 | 70.25 years | +0.6% |
| 1970 | 70.74 years | +0.7% |
| 1975 | 72.54 years | +2.5% |
| 1980 | 73.74 years | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 74.66 years | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 75.37 years | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 75.85 years | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 76.81 years | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 77.56 years | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 78.77 years | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 78.87 years | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 77.41 years | -1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 43.98 years | 43.98 years | 43.98 years | 1 |
| 1880s | 39.42 years | 39.42 years | 39.42 years | 1 |
| 1890s | 45.21 years | 45.21 years | 45.21 years | 1 |
| 1900s | 49.29 years | 49.29 years | 49.29 years | 1 |
| 1910s | 53.5 years | 53.5 years | 53.5 years | 1 |
| 1920s | 58.5 years | 58.5 years | 58.5 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 61.64 years | 60.9 years | 62.39 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 68.81 years | 68.06 years | 69.56 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 70.03 years | 69.82 years | 70.25 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 71.64 years | 70.74 years | 72.54 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 74.2 years | 73.74 years | 74.66 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 75.61 years | 75.37 years | 75.85 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 77.18 years | 76.81 years | 77.56 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 78.82 years | 78.77 years | 78.87 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 77.41 years | 77.41 years | 77.41 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More health data for United States of America
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,069 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,015 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 60-64, female, annual growth rate -0.7632 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per capita 0.0312 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate -0.6788 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per capita 0.0308 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life expectancy in United States of America?
- Life expectancy in United States of America was 77.41 years in 2020, according to Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest life expectancy recorded in United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 78.87 years in 2015.
- What is the lowest life expectancy recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 39.42 years in 1880.
- How does United States of America rank for life expectancy?
- United States of America ranks 43rd out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is life expectancy rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States of America data come from?
- The figures come from Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Life expectancy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average number of years a newborn would live if age-specific mortality rates in the current year were to stay the same throughout its life.