US life expectancy reached 79 years in 2024, CDC says

U.S. life expectancy rose to 79 years in 2024, the CDC reported as the highest on record. Preliminary counts for 2025 suggest a slight further improvement.

U.S. life expectancy rose to 79 years in 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. The increase follows the waning of the COVID-19 pandemic and declines in death rates from several leading causes, including heart disease, cancer and drug overdoses. Life expectancy had dropped during the pandemic but has been rebounding since 2021. Preliminary mortality counts for 2025 suggest continued, modest improvement. Key facts: - U.S. life expectancy was 79 years in 2024, the highest mark in American history, according to CDC data. - About 3.07 million U.S. residents died in 2024, roughly 18,000 fewer than the year before. - Death rates declined across racial and ethnic groups and for both men and women. - Heart disease remained the leading cause of death, while its death rate fell about 3% for a second consecutive year. - Deaths from unintentional injuries, a category that includes drug overdoses, fell more than 14% in 2024, and COVID-19 dropped out of the top 10 causes of death. - Preliminary data for 2025 show about 3.05 million deaths and may indicate a slight additional improvement, but final counts are still pending. Summary: The rise to 79 years represents a reversal of pandemic-era declines and reflects lower death rates from several major causes. CDC officials report that final mortality statistics for 2025 are not yet complete, and preliminary numbers point to a modest further improvement.