America calls itself the land of the free. But that freedom seems to come at a cost — especially when it comes to live expectancy. For decades, the U.S. has prided itself on innovation, wealth, and global influence. Yet despite its status as a world superpower, Americans are dying younger than people in most developed countries.
Falling Life Expectancy in the U.S.
In recent years, life expectancy in the United States has dropped significantly. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average life expectancy for Americans was 77.0 years in 2020. By 2022, that number had fallen even further to 76.4 years. This may not sound like a huge drop — but in public health terms, it is a major concern.
For comparison, life expectancy in other high-income countries like Japan (84.5), Switzerland (83.9), and Australia (83.2) continues to rise. Even countries with fewer resources are catching up. So why is America going backward?
The Pandemic Played a Role — But It’s Not the Whole Story
COVID-19 had a massive impact on life expectancy across the globe. But while many countries saw a rebound after vaccines were introduced, the U.S. did not recover as quickly. In fact, excess deaths from drug overdoses, heart disease, and suicide continued to climb.
Experts say that the pandemic exposed weaknesses in the U.S. healthcare system that already existed. For instance, millions of Americans still don’t have access to regular medical care. And unlike in many countries, healthcare in the U.S. is very expensive — even with insurance.
Explore more about healthcare inequality in the U.S.
The Rise of “Deaths of Despair”
In the early 2010s, researchers began noticing an alarming trend: an increase in deaths caused by suicide, drug overdose, and alcohol-related diseases. These became known as “deaths of despair.”
Between 2000 and 2020, the death rate from drug overdoses in the U.S. more than tripled. The opioid crisis, driven by over-prescription and illegal synthetic drugs like fentanyl, has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.
At the same time, suicide rates among younger Americans and veterans have increased. Many experts believe that economic pressure, loneliness, and lack of mental health support are key causes.
Read more on the link between despair and early death
A Health System Focused on Profit, Not Prevention
One of the biggest problems in the U.S. is that the healthcare system is built around treatment, not prevention. In many other countries, people see doctors regularly for checkups, screenings, and preventive care. But in the U.S., many avoid the doctor because of high costs.
As a result, chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease go untreated until they become life-threatening.
The U.S. spends more per person on healthcare than any other country — over $12,000 annually — yet still has worse outcomes, including shorter life spans and higher infant mortality rates.
Compare U.S. healthcare spending with global data
Inequality Makes It Worse
Life expectancy also depends heavily on where you live, your income, and your race. In wealthier areas with good hospitals, schools, and public services, people tend to live longer. But in poorer communities — often home to people of color — the average life span can be 10 to 15 years shorter.
For example, a child born in a wealthy suburb of Washington D.C. may live to be 85, while a child born in a low-income neighborhood of the same city may only live to 70.
Structural racism, poverty, and unequal access to resources are all contributing factors. Sadly, zip code can matter more than your genetic code when it comes to living a long life.
Check out life expectancy by U.S. zip code
Lifestyle Choices Also to Blame
Of course, personal choices also matter. The U.S. has higher rates of obesity, smoking, and poor diet than many other developed countries. Americans tend to eat more processed food, exercise less, and spend more time on screens.
This leads to preventable diseases like heart disease, which remains the number one cause of death in the country. While public health campaigns have improved awareness, behavior change has been slow.
Discover how lifestyle impacts long-term health
Mental Health: A National Crisis
Mental health is another silent killer in the U.S. Depression and anxiety are at record highs, especially among teenagers and young adults. Social media, economic instability, and lack of affordable therapy options all play a role.
Suicide is now one of the leading causes of death for people aged 10–34. Despite the growing need, mental health support remains underfunded and difficult to access.
Learn more about the youth mental health crisis
What Can Be Done?
The problems are serious — but not impossible to fix. Here are a few steps experts say could help improve U.S. life expectancy:
- Expand access to affordable healthcare, especially preventive services
- Address the opioid and mental health crisis through funding and education
- Invest in healthy communities by improving housing, food access, and safety
- Make mental health care more accessible and affordable
- Educate the public on healthy habits and lifestyle changes
If changes aren’t made soon, the U.S. risks falling even further behind the rest of the world in terms of health and longevity.
The Bottom Line
“Live free and die” should not be the reality of American life. While freedom is an important value, it shouldn’t come at the cost of health, well-being, or a long life. The U.S. must face its uncomfortable truth: that a country this wealthy should not have one of the shortest life expectancies in the developed world.
Solving this crisis will require action — from individuals, communities, and the government. Because in the end, how long we live is more than just a number. It’s a reflection of the society we’ve built.
Also visit for more information
- CDC Life Expectancy Data
Anchor text: U.S. life expectancy statistics - U.S. Healthcare Rankings Compared Globally
Anchor text: Why America ranks last in healthcare - Brookings Report on Deaths of Despair
Anchor text: The rise of deaths of despair - Healthcare Spending vs Life Outcomes
Anchor text: U.S. health spending vs life expectancy - Mental Health in Young Americans
Anchor text: The U.S. youth mental health crisis
Also Read – Study Uncovers Secret to Living 10+ Years Longer in America
