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United States: Life expectancy at birth, total (years)

In , United States's Life expectancy at birth, total (years) was 78.89.

That's up 0.6% from 2023, the highest value on record.

The global average for this indicator in 2024 was 74.02 . United States ranks #61 globally out of 217 reporting countries. Within North America, it ranks #3 of 3.

Source: World Bank Open Data (SP.DYN.LE00.IN) • Data as of 2024

Trend (2005–2024)

United States Life expectancy at birth, total (years) trend 2020: COVID-19 pandemic
  • 2020 · COVID-19 pandemic

Highlights

Peak
78.89
Trough
76.33
1-year change
+0.6%
5-year change
+0.1%
+0.0% / yr
10-year change
+0.1%
+0.0% / yr

Historical Data — Last 10 Years

Year Life expectancy at birth, total (years)
78.8902
78.3854
77.4341
76.3293
76.9805
78.7878
78.6390
78.5390
78.5390
78.6902

About Life expectancy at birth, total (years)

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.

Indicator code: SP.DYN.LE00.INCategory: Health & Population

Frequently asked questions

What was United States's Life expectancy at birth, total (years) in 2024?
In 2024, United States's Life expectancy at birth, total (years) was 78.89, according to World Bank Open Data.
Is United States's Life expectancy at birth, total (years) rising or falling?
United States's Life expectancy at birth, total (years) rose 0.6% from 2023 to 2024.
How does United States rank globally on Life expectancy at birth, total (years)?
In 2024, United States ranked #61 out of 217 countries reporting Life expectancy at birth, total (years).
How does United States's Life expectancy at birth, total (years) compare to the world average?
The global average for Life expectancy at birth, total (years) in 2024 was 74.02, so United States is above the world average. Within North America, it ranks #3 of 3.
What is Life expectancy at birth, total (years) and how is it measured?
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.
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Source: World Bank Open Data (SP.DYN.LE00.IN), CC BY 4.0.