The life expectancy of women at birth in the United States saw no significant changes in 2023 in comparison to the previous year 2022 and remained at around 81.1 years. However, 2023 marked the second consecutive increase of the life expectancy. Life expectancy at birth refers to the number of years that the average newborn can expect to live, providing that mortality patterns at the time of their birth do not change thereafter.Find more statistics on other topics about the United States with key insights such as infant mortality rate, total life expectancy at birth, and total fertility rate.
In 2021, a woman in the United States aged 65 years could expect to live another 19.7 years on average. This number decreased in the years 2020 and 2021, after reaching a high of 20.8 years in 2019. Nevertheless, the life expectancy of a woman aged 65 years in the United States is still higher than that of a man of that age. In 2021, a man aged 65 years could be expected to live another 17 years on average.
Why has the life expectancy in the U.S. declined? Overall, life expectancy in the United States has declined in recent years. In 2019, the life expectancy for U.S. women was 81.4 years, but by 2021 it had decreased to 79.3 years. Likewise, the life expectancy for men decreased from 76.3 years to 73.5 years in the same period. The biggest contributors to this decline in life expectancy are the COVID-19 pandemic and the opioid epidemic. Although deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic have decreased significantly since 2022, deaths from opioid overdose continue to increase, reaching all-time highs in 2021.
The leading causes of death among U.S. women The leading causes of death among women in the United States in 2020 were heart disease, cancer, and COVID-19. That year heart disease and cancer accounted for a combined 37 percent of all deaths among women, while around 10 percent of deaths were due to COVID-19. The overall leading causes of death in the United States generally reflect the leading causes among women with some slight variations. For example, Alzheimer’s disease is the fourth leading cause of death among women, but the seventh leading cause of death overall in the United States.
This statistic shows the average life expectancy in North America for those born in 2022, by gender and region. In Canada, the average life expectancy was 80 years for males and 84 years for females.
Life expectancy in North America
Of those considered in this statistic, the life expectancy of female Canadian infants born in 2021 was the longest, at 84 years. Female infants born in America that year had a similarly high life expectancy of 81 years. Male infants, meanwhile, had lower life expectancies of 80 years (Canada) and 76 years (USA).
Compare this to the worldwide life expectancy for babies born in 2021: 75 years for women and 71 years for men. Of continents worldwide, North America ranks equal first in terms of life expectancy of (77 years for men and 81 years for women). Life expectancy is lowest in Africa at just 63 years and 66 years for males and females respectively. Japan is the country with the highest life expectancy worldwide for babies born in 2020.
Life expectancy is calculated according to current mortality rates of the population in question. Global variations in life expectancy are caused by differences in medical care, public health and diet, and reflect global inequalities in economic circumstances. Africa’s low life expectancy, for example, can be attributed in part to the AIDS epidemic. In 2019, around 72,000 people died of AIDS in South Africa, the largest amount worldwide. Nigeria, Tanzania and India were also high on the list of countries ranked by AIDS deaths that year. Likewise, Africa has by far the highest rate of mortality by communicable disease (i.e. AIDS, neglected tropics diseases, malaria and tuberculosis).
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>
<li>U.S. life expectancy for 2024 was <strong>79.25</strong>, a <strong>1.11% increase</strong> from 2023.</li>
<li>U.S. life expectancy for 2023 was <strong>78.39</strong>, a <strong>1.23% increase</strong> from 2022.</li>
<li>U.S. life expectancy for 2022 was <strong>77.43</strong>, a <strong>1.45% increase</strong> from 2021.</li>
</ul>Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
Life expectancy at birth, female (years) in United States was reported at 81.1 years in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - Life expectancy at birth, female (years) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on May of 2025.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
The average for 2022 based on 24 countries was 77.36 years. The highest value was in Bermuda: 84.51 years and the lowest value was in Haiti: 66.7 years. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2022. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.
This statistic depicts the average life expectancy at birth worldwide in 1990 and 2019, by gender. In 2019, women had an average life expectancy of 75.9 years at birth, while men were expected to live 70.8 years.
The graph shows the life expectancy of women in China from 1960 to 2022 with forecasts until 2050. In 2022, the average life expectancy of women at birth in China was about 81.3 years.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
Mexico: Life expectancy, in years, female: The latest value from 2022 is 78.16 years, an increase from 74.86 years in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 74.94 years, based on data from 192 countries. Historically, the average for Mexico from 1960 to 2022 is 71.23 years. The minimum value, 56.97 years, was reached in 1960 while the maximum of 78.16 years was recorded in 2022.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
In 2024 life expectancy in France is a question of region, department and city
In France, life expectancy at birth is 85.3 years for women and 79.4 years for men. This means that on average, a French woman born in 2024 will live to the age of 85.3 years, and a man to the age of 79.4.
However, life expectancy varies considerably depending on the region, department and city where you live.
In region
Life expectancy is highest in Île-de-France, with 86.6 years for women and 81.9 years for men. Then come Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (86.5 years for women, 81.7 years for men), Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (86.4 years for women, 81.5 years for men) and Brittany (86.2 years for women, 81.3 years for men).
Conversely, life expectancy is lowest in Hauts-de-France, with 83.9 years for women and 78.9 years for men. Then come Normandy (84.1 years for women, 79.1 years for men), Centre-Val de Loire (84.2 years for women, 79.3 years for men) and Burgundy-Franche-Comté (84.3 years for women, 79.4 years for men).
Department
At the departmental level, the departments where we live the longest are Hauts-de-Seine (86.7 years for women, 81.9 years for men), Yvelines (86.4 years for women, 81.6 years for men), Val-de-Marne (86.3 years for women, 81.3 years for men), Paris (86.2 years for women, 81.1 years for men) and Haute-Garonne (86.2 years for women, 81.1 years for men).
Conversely, the departments where we live the least long are Creuse (76.4 years for women, 72.3 years for men), Pas-de-Calais (76.6 years for women, 72.5 years for men), Aisne (76.7 years for women, 72.6 years for men) and Somme (76.8 years for women, 72.7 years for men).
In town
At the municipal level, the cities where we live the longest are Paris (86.2 years for women, 81.1 years for men), Neuilly-sur-Seine (86.1 years for women, 81.0 years for men), Boulogne-Billancourt (85.9 years for women, 80.8 years for men), Rueil-Malmaison (85.8 years for women, 80.7 years for men) and Issy-les-Moulineaux (85.7 years for women, 80.6 years for men).
Conversely, the cities with the least long lived are The Crown (75.4 years for women, 71.3 years for men), Saint-Quentin (75.5 years for women, 71.4 years for men), Maubeuge (75.6 years for women, 71.5 years for men) and Valenciennes (75.7 years for women, 71.6 years for men).
Factors that influence life expectancy
Many factors influence life expectancy, including:
To view life expectancy for a specific region, department or city, please consult the following document:
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
The average for 2022 based on 47 countries was 77.29 years. The highest value was in Macao: 87.98 years and the lowest value was in Afghanistan: 66.21 years. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2022. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.
On average, women live almost six years more than men in France. In 2023, female life expectancy at birth in France reached 85.7 years compared to 80 years for males. In 2021 life expectancy in France, regardless of gender, was of 82.32 years. Thus, France is one of the countries in the world with the highest life expectancy. Women outlive men According to the source there are differences in life expectancy between men and women in France. In 2004, female life expectancy in France was of 83.9, compared to 76.7 years for males. Since then, life expectancy for both genders has been evolving in a similar way. When life expectancy decreased slightly in 2015, it has affected both men and women. Similarly, when life expectancy increased. But one aspect remained the same: male life expectancy keeps being lower than female life expectancy. This difference has been seen not only in France. In Europe, females are expected to live longer than men in every region. While women in France have longer life expectancy, they are also expected to have a higher number of healthy life years. In 2013, a study from Eurostat showed that French women had a number of expected healthy years of 64.4, compared to 63 years for men. An aging population Like other Western countries, France has an aging population. French citizens aged 65 years and older are now more than French aged from 0 to 14 years old. The median age of the population in the country is increasing since the nineties, while the share of seniors reached almost 18 percent of the population in 2013.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
Greece GR: Life Expectancy at Birth: Female data was reported at 83.700 Year in 2016. This stayed constant from the previous number of 83.700 Year for 2015. Greece GR: Life Expectancy at Birth: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 79.073 Year from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 84.100 Year in 2014 and a record low of 70.541 Year in 1960. Greece GR: Life Expectancy at Birth: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Greece – Table GR.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
Puerto Rico: Life expectancy, in years, female: The latest value from 2022 is 83.9 years, a decline from 84.52 years in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 74.94 years, based on data from 192 countries. Historically, the average for Puerto Rico from 1960 to 2022 is 78.58 years. The minimum value, 71.6 years, was reached in 1960 while the maximum of 84.52 years was recorded in 2021.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
Sweden SE: Life Expectancy at Birth: Female data was reported at 84.100 Year in 2016. This stayed constant from the previous number of 84.100 Year for 2015. Sweden SE: Life Expectancy at Birth: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 80.150 Year from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 84.200 Year in 2014 and a record low of 74.870 Year in 1960. Sweden SE: Life Expectancy at Birth: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sweden – Table SE.World Bank: Health Statistics. Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
Dominica: Life expectancy, in years, female: The latest value from 2022 is 76.45 years, an increase from 76.3 years in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 74.94 years, based on data from 192 countries. Historically, the average for Dominica from 1960 to 2022 is 71.89 years. The minimum value, 59.46 years, was reached in 1963 while the maximum of 77.26 years was recorded in 2020.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
Tuvalu Life Expectancy at Birth: Female data was reported at 70.698 Year in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 70.412 Year for 2022. Tuvalu Life Expectancy at Birth: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 64.496 Year from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 70.698 Year in 2023 and a record low of 50.889 Year in 1960. Tuvalu Life Expectancy at Birth: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Tuvalu – Table TV.World Bank.WDI: Social: Health Statistics. Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.;(1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision; (2) Statistical databases and publications from national statistical offices; (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics.;Weighted average;
CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedicationhttps://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
License information was derived automatically
Average number of years a group of individuals could expect to live at a given age if they are at risk of dying observed at each age in the reference year (or years). The calculation is done over several years in order to have a more stable estimate. Note: The life expectancy of the entity may be influenced by the presence or absence of a rest home in the entity’s territory. Although the calculation includes all the deaths observed over the period, the impact of a few deaths on life expectancy remains greater in a sparsely populated entity. The classification of entities according to their life expectancy should therefore be interpreted with caution.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
Bermuda: Life expectancy, in years, female: The latest value from 2022 is 84.51 years, an increase from 82.71 years in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 74.94 years, based on data from 192 countries. Historically, the average for Bermuda from 1960 to 2022 is 78.59 years. The minimum value, 64.43 years, was reached in 1963 while the maximum of 85.86 years was recorded in 2012.
The life expectancy of women at birth in the United States saw no significant changes in 2023 in comparison to the previous year 2022 and remained at around 81.1 years. However, 2023 marked the second consecutive increase of the life expectancy. Life expectancy at birth refers to the number of years that the average newborn can expect to live, providing that mortality patterns at the time of their birth do not change thereafter.Find more statistics on other topics about the United States with key insights such as infant mortality rate, total life expectancy at birth, and total fertility rate.