Life Expectancy Gap Has Nearly Doubled Since 2000

Life expectancy dropped for all in the first year of the covid pandemic, but not equally, and improvements were uneven.

Life expectancy at birth in years, 2000-2021:

*Excluding low-income, southeastern U.S. counties
**In 14 western states, excluding California, Oregon, and Washington
Note: These groups are a simplified set of 10 complex categories of Americans analyzed by researchers and detailed in their report. The white group, for example, is mainly white but includes some Asians, Pacific Islanders, Alaska Natives, and American Indians not included in other categories.
Source: Dwyer-Lindgren L., et al. The Lancet
Credit: Amy Maxmen and Lydia Zuraw/KFF Health NewsEmbed Download image