U.S. life expectancy rises to record high as overdose deaths fall

U.S. life expectancy reached 79 years in 2024, up 0.6 year from 2023, after reported drug-overdose deaths fell by more than 26% between 2023 and 2024.

Life expectancy in the United States reached a record 79 years in 2024, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. The increase of 0.6 year from 2023 followed a large decline in drug-overdose deaths and improvements coming out of the coronavirus pandemic. The agency said the change reflects the most recent final federal mortality data. Provisional figures through August 2025 were reported as showing continued declines in overdose deaths. Key data points: - Overall life expectancy at birth in 2024 was 79.0 years, up 0.6 year from 2023. - Female and male life expectancy in 2024 was reported as 81.4 years and 76.5 years, respectively. - Drug-overdose deaths decreased by more than 26% between 2023 and 2024; the overdose death rate fell from 31.3 to 23.1 per 100,000 people. - Teens and young adults saw notable declines, including a 37% drop in overdose deaths for 15- to 24-year-olds between 2023 and 2024. - Synthetic opioids, largely fentanyl, were involved in 72,776 overdose deaths in 2023 and 47,735 deaths in 2024, according to the report. - Age-adjusted overall mortality fell from 750.5 to 722.1 deaths per 100,000 people; heart disease, cancer and unintentional injuries remained the top three causes of death, and Covid-19 was no longer among the top 10 causes. Summary: The rise to 79 years in 2024 is reported as linked to both post-pandemic improvements and a substantial fall in drug-overdose deaths, and provisional data through August 2025 are reported as showing continued declines. The report notes possible contributions from wider naloxone distribution and expanded clinic access, and it also records recent federal funding decisions affecting substance-abuse and mental-health grants as a factor observers say could influence future trends.