The number of years Americans born in 2024 can expect to live has hit a new peak — 79 years —with Florida residents doing even better — a life expectancy just shy of 80, according to new federal data.
The statistic released Jan. 30 is considered a key measure of the nation’s wellness — with the new surge in life expectancy reflecting the nation’s recovery from the COVID-19 epidemic and the decline in drug overdoses.
COVID was no longer among the 10 leading causes of death in 2024, after climbing as high as the third-leading cause of death in 2021. Another set of national statistics show that the rates of drug overdose death rate declined by 26.2% between 2023 and 2024.
Life expectancy climbed in both Florida and the nation by 7.2 months in 2024 compared to the measure taken in 2023.
What factors make life expectancy greater in Florida?
Dr. Larry Bush, a Wellington infectious diseases expert, said it’s likely that Florida currently looks better on paper in life expectancy because of how retiree migration is such a big part of population growth here, as opposed to places like Idaho, which depend on babies being born to populate it.
The mortality rate for children between the ages of 5 and 24 is less than half of those younger than 5, so those deaths would not count to decrease Florida’s life expectancy the way it would in Idaho, statistically speaking.
“It is possible in Florida, you’re selecting out the people who would have died from drug overdoses or from childhood diseases or mortality rates during maternity,” Bush said.
How did Florida’s life expectancy fluctuate during the COVID pandemic?
Florida was ranked as having the 19th-longest life expectancy in 2020 and that dropped to 27th the next year, as the state’s collective life expectancy lost more than a year, sinking to 76.1 years.
Florida was back to having the 19th-longest life expectancy in 2022, after gaining more than a year — life expectancy jumped to 77.9 years.
What are the most common causes of death now, compared to before the pandemic?
Provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control shows that COVID dropped to the 15th-leading cause of death in 2024, the first time it’s dropped out of the top 10 since 2020. Suicide has taken its place as the 10th-leading cause of death.
The authors of the national statistics noted that disparities in health show up when comparing statistics by state and among ethnicities.
How does Florida’s life expectancy rank compared to other developed countries?
Comparable, developed countries have a life expectancy of 82.5 years, compared to the Florida where the life expectancy is still just shy of 80, according to an analysis of CDC data, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and individual country statistics by KFF, a national health policy research organization.
Anne Geggis is statewide reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK FLORIDA, reporting on health and senior issues. If you have news tips, please send them to ageggis@usatodayco.com. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://palmbeachpost.com/newsletters
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Good news for Florida: New numbers show life expectancy hits new high
Reporting by Anne Geggis, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
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