Why are people in the United States dying younger?
Get the facts on startling health trends and learn ways to reduce your risk.
Jan, 2026
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Slide 1
Life expectancy in the United States is just over 78 years. While that number has rebounded since 2021, when it dropped to 76.4 years during the COVID-19 pandemic, it lags behind that of many other nations. In places like Australia, South Korea, and Italy, life expectancy ranges from 83 to 84 years old.
Why do people in the U.S. have shorter lives? Here are several potential reasons, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Written byRose Hayes, MA, RN.
Medically reviewed byAmy Gonzales, MD.
Sources: Wrigley-Field E + 31
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- Mathieu S, Treloar A, et al. The Role of Unemployment, Financial Hardship, and Economic Recession on Suicidal Behaviors and Interventions to Mitigate Their Impact: A Review. Front Public Health. 2022 Jul 6;10:907052.
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- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Risk Factors, Protective Factors, and Warning Signs. Accessed October 1, 2025.
- National Institute of Mental Health. Depression. December 2024.
- Mathieu S, Treloar A, et al. The Role of Unemployment, Financial Hardship, and Economic Recession on Suicidal Behaviors and Interventions to Mitigate Their Impact: A Review. Front Public Health. 2022 Jul 6;10:907052.
- Cancer Research Institute. Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month: Colorectal Cancer Rates Are Skyrocketing in Young Adults—Is Your Lifestyle Putting You at Risk? March 5, 2025.
- American Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer Facts and Figures 2023. January 2023.
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Colorectal Cancer: Screening. May 18, 2021.
- Council on Criminal Justice. Homicide Trends Report. December, 2023.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Vital Statistics Reports. Deaths: Final Data for 2021. April 8, 2024.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Deaths: Leading Causes for 2022. December 9, 2024.
- Pew Research Center. What the Data Says About Gun Deaths in the U.S. March 5, 2025.
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Gun Violence in the United States. Accessed October 1, 2025.
- Bureau of Justice Statistics. Homicide Victims in the United States, 2023. May 2025.
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