U.S. life expectancy hit a record 79 years in 2024, driven by falling deaths from drugs and COVID-19.

U.S. life expectancy reached a record 79 years in 2024, the highest since 1900, driven by declining deaths from drug overdoses and COVID-19, which fell to 15th and outside the top 10 causes of death, respectively. The increase marks a rebound from pandemic lows and reflects improvements across age groups, though disparities persist by race, gender, and region. Despite progress, the U.S. continues to trail other wealthy nations, with challenges like suicide, infant mortality, and maternal deaths.