In the largest annual decline since World War II, life expectancy in the U.S. fell by a full one and one-half years in 2020, the CDC reported today, as reported on CNBC. U.S. life expectancy is now an average of 77.3 years, down from 78.8 years in 2019. Hispanics saw the biggest drop in life expectancy last year, followed by Black Americans. [https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/VSRR015-508.pdf]
“The decline in life expectancy between 2019 and 2020 can primarily be attributed to deaths from the pandemic,” the report reads. COVID deaths accounted for nearly 75% of the decline. More than 609,000 Americans have died in the pandemic, including about 375,000 last year, according to the CDC.
Drug overdose deaths, which spiked 30% during the pandemic, made up about one-third of unintentional injuries last year, which in total made up 11% of the decline in life expectancy.
Life expectancy for American males declined 1.8 years, women by 1.2 years. Hispanics, who have a higher life expectancy than non-Hispanics, white or black, declined by three years from 81.8 years to 78.8 years in 2020, with COVID-19 responsible for 90% of the decline. The CDC report notes that this decline “is a stark indicator of worsening health and mortality outcomes for a population that paradoxically has been, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, able to defy expectations consistent with its disadvantaged socioeconomic profile.”
Black Americans’ life expectancy dropped by almost three years from 74.7 years to 71.8 years, the lowest since 2000, according to the report. COVID was responsible for 59% of that drop.
White Americans’ life expectancy fell by 1.2 years, from 78.8 years in 2020 to 77.6 years, the lowest since 2002. COVID-19 was responsible for 68% of that drop.
CNBC notes that homicides accounted for 3% of the decline.
