US life expectancy reaches record 79 years amid pandemic recovery and fewer overdoses

U.S. life expectancy rose to 79 years in 2024, the highest level on record, driven largely by recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and a reported 26% drop in drug overdose deaths.

U.S. life expectancy reached 79 years in 2024, the highest level recorded, federal officials announced. The rise reflects a gradual recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and a substantial fall in drug overdose deaths. Health authorities also reported lower death rates from heart disease, cancer and unintentional injuries. The data were released by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics. Key findings: - Average U.S. life expectancy was reported at 79 years for 2024, the highest on record. - Covid-19 has fallen out of the top ten causes of death, reflecting reduced pandemic mortality in this data set. - Deaths from drug overdose fell by a reported 26 percent, the largest single-year decline recorded. - Mortality declines were observed across sexes and racial and ethnic groups. - Heart disease remained the leading cause of death, followed by cancer and unintentional injuries, though rates for these causes decreased. - Officials noted the U.S. still trails several other developed countries and mentioned uncertainty about trends for 2025 and 2026, including recent changes in childhood vaccine recommendations and rises in measles and whooping cough. Summary: The reported rise in life expectancy marks a reversal from pandemic-era declines and is attributed mainly to fewer Covid-19 deaths and a sharp drop in overdose fatalities. The improvement was broad across demographic groups, but U.S. life expectancy remains below that of several peer nations. Undetermined at this time.