The 5 states with the longest life expectancies, and the 5 with the shortest
October 9, 20240
New Jersey has the fifth-longest life expectancy in the US.
Leonid Andronov/Shutterstock
Life expectancy: 79.0 years
The “Garden State” has the fifth-longest life expectancy in the US, per the CDC data.
According to the Census’ 2023 ACS one-year estimates, 92.8% of residents have health insurance compared to 92.1% of Americans nationally. The CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2022 also said that adults in New Jersey reported the second-lowest rates of depressive disorders.
The state was named the third-best state to live in by personal-finance company WalletHub, which compared the US states across affordability, economy, education and health, quality of life, and safety. It was also named the third happiest state in the country.
4. New York
Connecticut has the third-longest life expectancy.
f11photo/Shutterstock
Life expectancy: 79.2 years
The “Constitution State,” which was ranked the seventh happiest in the country, has the third-longest life expectancy in the US at 79.2 years. According to the Census, 94.3% of residents have health insurance.
2. Massachusetts
Hawaii has the longest life expectancy in the US.
James Kirkikis/Shutterstock
Life expectancy: 79.9 years
Hawaii has the longest life expectancy in the country. WalletHub named it the happiest state in the US thanks, in part, to its No. 1 ranking for its residents’ emotional and physical well-being.
In the state, 96.8% of residents have health insurance.
LOWEST: 5. Kentucky
Louisiana has the fourth-shortest life expectancy in the US.
Sean Pavone/Shutterstock
Life expectancy: 72.2 years
The “Pelican State” has the fourth-shortest life expectancy in the country, at 72.2 years. According to WalletHub, residents in the state report one of the lowest adequate sleep rates and some of the longest work hours. The American Lung Association also reported that 16.7% of adults in the state smoked cigarettes in 2022.
3. Alabama
West Virginia has the second-shortest life expectancy in the US.
Firepphotography1/Shutterstock
Life expectancy: 71.0 years
West Virginia has the second-shortest life expectancy. Twenty-one percent of adults reported smoking cigarettes in 2022, the highest percentage in the country. The “Mountain State” also has one of the highest rates of adults with depressive disorders, at 26.9%.
1. Mississippi
Mississippi has the shortest life expectancy in the US.
Chad Robertson Media/Shutterstock
Life expectancy: 70.9 years
Mississippi has the shortest life expectancy in the US, at 70.9 years.
WalletHub, which ranked Mississippi the sixth-worst state to live in, reported nearly one in five of the state’s residents lives in poverty. Mississippi also has high infant mortality rates, with Black infants disproportionately affected. Additionally, it has the lowest sports participation rate in the country and high rates of obesity. Employees also often work longer hours than the national average.
Among its residents, 10.3% are without health insurance, while 20.5% of adults reported being diagnosed with depressive disorders, and 17.4% reported smoking cigarettes.
