From the mid-19th century until today, life expectancy at birth in the United States has roughly doubled, from 39.4 years in 1850 to 79.6 years in 2025. It is estimated that life expectancy in the U.S. began its upward trajectory in the 1880s, largely driven by the decline in infant and child mortality through factors such as vaccination programs, antibiotics, and other healthcare advancements. Improved food security and access to clean water, as well as general increases in living standards (such as better housing, education, and increased safety) also contributed to a rise in life expectancy across all age brackets. There were notable dips in life expectancy; with an eight year drop during the American Civil War in the 1860s, a seven year drop during the Spanish Flu empidemic in 1918, and a 2.5 year drop during the Covid-19 pandemic. There were also notable plateaus (and minor decreases) not due to major historical events, such as that of the 2010s, which has been attributed to a combination of factors such as unhealthy lifestyles, poor access to healthcare, poverty, and increased suicide rates, among others. However, despite the rate of progress slowing since the 1950s, most decades do see a general increase in the long term, and current UN projections predict that life expectancy at birth in the U.S. will increase by another nine years before the end of the century.

The total life expectancy at birth in the United States stood at 78.39 years in 2023. Between 1960 and 2023, the life expectancy at birth rose by 8.62 years, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

The life expectancy for men aged 65 years in the U.S. has gradually increased since the 1960s. Now men in the United States aged 65 can expect to live 18.2 more years on average. Women aged 65 years can expect to live around 20.7 more years on average. Life expectancy in the U.S. As of 2023, the average life expectancy at birth in the United States was 78.39 years. Life expectancy in the U.S. had steadily increased for many years but has recently dropped slightly. Women consistently have a higher life expectancy than men but have also seen a slight decrease. As of 2023, a woman in the U.S. could be expected to live up to 81.1 years. Leading causes of death The leading causes of death in the United States include heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, and cerebrovascular diseases. However, heart disease and cancer account for around 42 percent of all deaths. Although heart disease and cancer are the leading causes of death for both men and women, there are slight variations in the leading causes of death. For example, unintentional injury and suicide account for a larger portion of deaths among men than they do among women.

IntroductionSepsis-related mortality in middle-aged and older pancreatic cancer patients constitutes a significant public health issue. This study seeks to analyze trends in the age-adjusted mortality rate (AAMR) for sepsis-related fatalities among these patients in the United States from 1999 to 2023, employing data from the most recent CDC WONDER database. The temporal patterns revealed from this analysis are anticipated to guide subsequent research and public health initiatives.MethodsThe CDC WONDER database was used to look at how many middle-aged and older pancreatic cancer patients in the U.S. died from sepsis between 1999 and 2023. The study utilized AAMR to evaluate temporal mortality patterns among adults aged 45 and older, categorized by race, census region, urban/rural residency, and state, using the Joinpoint regression tool. We calculated the annual percent change (APC) and the average annual percent change (AAPC), and we supplied 95% confidence intervals.ResultsDuring the study period, the sepsis-related death rate among middle-aged and elderly pancreatic cancer patients exhibited a notable increase, with an AAPC of 2.89. Male patients consistently demonstrated a greater AAMR compared to females, with a notable increase recorded [AAPC = 2.73 (95% CI 1.61 to 3.87)]. Black or African American patients had the greatest AAMR, which also went up a lot [AAPC = 2.62 (95% CI 1.76 to 3.48)]. The mortality burden increased significantly with age, reaching its highest point in the 75–84 age range. A regional study found that the Midwest had the highest rise in AAMR [AAPC = 3.74 (95% CI 2.50 to 5.00)]. Urban people consistently exhibited a higher AAMR compared to rural communities, despite the most significant increase in AAMR occurring among rural populations [AAPC = 3.51 (95% CI 2.09 to 4.94)].ConclusionThis study’s findings reveal substantial inequalities among gender, ethnicity, age, and geographic regions. These differences show how important it is to quickly implement targeted measures to lower mortality, especially among individuals at high risk.