CDClife expectancyCOVID-19The CDC reports a rise in U.S. life expectancy to 77.5 years in 2022, marking the first increase in two years after declines due to COVID-19 and drug overdoses.
According to the CDC, U.S. life expectancy increased to 77.5 years for people born in 2022, a reversal from decreases in 2020 and 2021. The years 2020 and 2021 saw a decline in life expectancy, attributed mainly to COVID-19 deaths and drug overdoses. Even though life expectancy increased, it has not yet returned to the pre-pandemic level of 78.8 years. The report also highlights that COVID-19 dropped from the top three leading causes of death in 2022, and there were changes in the rates of drug overdose deaths.