Life expectancy increased in 2022 but not enough to make up for pandemic loss

Published April 8, 2025 12:01am ET



Life expectancy in the United States has risen slightly but not enough to compensate for significant setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A study published Tuesday by the National Vital Statistics System says that overall life expectancy increased by 1.1 years between 2021 and 2022, rising to 77.5 from 76.4. But that’s not enough to make up for the 2.4-year drop between 2019 and 2021, from 78.8 to 76.4.

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