Life Expectancy
Life expectancy tells us the average number of years of life a person who has attained a given age can expect to live.
Life expectancy estimates from the National Center for Health Statistics provide a reliable snapshot of population health and mortality in the United States.
Understanding Life Tables
National life expectancy estimates are calculated using period (current) life tables. Life tables are used to measure mortality, survivorship, and the life expectancy of a population at varying ages.
Period life tables estimate how many more years a group of people who are currently at a particular age – any age from birth to 100 or more – can expect to live if the mortality patterns in a given year remain the same over the rest of their lives. Life tables can also be used to compare how life expectancy has improved or declined over time.
National-level life tables are released annually, as well as every 10 years (decennially) around the U.S. population census.
Did you know that life expectancy varies by neighborhood?
Estimates for Life Expectancy at birth are now available nationwide for virtually every community in America.
Explore our new interactive map to see estimates for your area and compare with others across the country.
- United States Life Tables, 2021 [2,372 KB] (11/7/2023)
- U.S. State Life Tables, 2020 [919 KB] (8/22/2022)
- United States Life Tables, 2020 [PDF – 3 MB] (8/8/2022)
- United States Life Tables, 2019 [PDF – 1 MB] (3/22/2022)
- U.S. State Life Tables, 2019 (2/10/2022)
- U.S. State Life Tables, 2018 (3/11/2021)
- United States Life Tables 2018 (11/17/2020)
- United States Life Tables, 2017 (6/24/2019)
- United States Life Tables, 2016 (5/7/2019)
- United States Life Tables, 2015 (11/13/2018)
- Provisional Life Expectancy Estimates for 2022 [PDF 666 KB] Supplemental Tables [PDF – 1, 382 KB] (11/29/2023)
- Provisional Life Expectancy Estimates for 2021 [PDF – 1 MB] Supplemental Tables [PDF – 1 MB] (8/2022)
- Provisional Life Expectancy Estimates for 2020 [PDF – 508 KB] Supplemental tables [PDF – 308 KB] (7/2021)
- Provisional Life Expectancy Estimates for January through June, 2020 [PDF – 732 KB] Supplemental tables [PDF – 885 KB] (2/2021)
- U.S. Small-area Life Expectancy Estimates Project: Methodology and Results Summary
- The Effect of Changes in Selected Age-specific Causes of Death on Non-Hispanic White Life Expectancy between 2000 and 2014
- Changes in Life Expectancy by Race and Hispanic Origin in the United States, 2013–2014
- How Does Cause of Death Contribute to the Hispanic Mortality Advantage in the United States?
- Leading Causes of Death Contributing to Decrease in Life Expectancy Gap Between Black and White Populations: United States, 1999–2013
- U.S. Decennial Life Tables for 2009–2011, Methodology of the United States Life Tables
- U.S. Decennial Life Tables for 2009–2011, United States Life Table
- United States Life Tables Eliminating Certain Causes of Death, 1999–2001
- U.S. Decennial Life Tables for 1999-2001, United States Life Tables
- U.S. Decennial Life Tables for 1999-2001, Methodology of the United States Life Tables
Researchers looking for downloadable Excel files of Life Tables can use the following links to access our FTP server and locate available tables by year:
Death Rates and Life Expectancy at Birth – This dataset of U.S. mortality trends since 1900 highlights the differences in Age-adjusted death rates and life expectancy at birth by race and sex.
The U.S. Small-area Life Expectancy Project (USALEEP) is a partnership between NCHS, NAPHSIS, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
- USALEEP: NAPHSIS Neighborhood Life Expectancy Project
- USALEEP: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation blog: New Data Provides Deeper Understanding of Life Expectancy Gaps
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey presents detailed population and housing information about our nation.