U.S. Life Expectancy Hits Record 79.0 Years in 2024 as Overdose and Covid Deaths Fall

Editor’s Note: If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental-health issues, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 to reach a trained counselor or visit the 988 Lifeline website.

Life expectancy in the United States reached a new high in 2024 as overall death rates returned closer to pre-pandemic levels, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reported. Final, age-adjusted data show a continued recovery from the sharp decline in 2019–2021, with an additional 4% drop in the overall death rate between 2023 and 2024.

Major Findings

Life expectancy at birth rose by more than half a year in 2024 to 79.0 years, the highest level on record. The nation recorded 722 deaths per 100,000 people in 2024—nearly 3.1 million total deaths—according to the NCHS final figures.

The 10 leading causes of death still accounted for more than 70% of all fatalities, led by heart disease and cancer, each causing over 600,000 deaths in 2024. Importantly, death rates declined across each of these top 10 causes during the year.

Drug Overdoses and Unintentional Injuries

One of the most pronounced improvements was in unintentional injuries, a category dominated by drug overdoses. Overdose deaths, which surged during the Covid-19 pandemic, fell sharply in 2024—by more than 26% year over year—with declines across every age group and racial/ethnic group. More than 79,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2024.

Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids remain involved in most overdose deaths, but their share decreased substantially: about 6 in 10 overdose deaths in 2024 involved a synthetic opioid, down from more than 9 in 10 in 2023. Deaths involving psychostimulants such as methamphetamine and cocaine also fell in 2024. Provisional CDC data indicate overdose mortality continued to decline into 2025.

Covid-19, Suicide and Mental Health

Covid-19, which rose to the third-leading cause of death early in the pandemic, dropped out of the top 10 causes of death in 2024 and was replaced by suicide in the rankings. The U.S. still records tens of thousands of Covid-19 deaths each year, but its relative share declined markedly.

Suicide mortality peaked in 2022 and has eased only slightly since. Survey data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) indicate that in 2024, more than 14 million adults had serious thoughts of suicide, about 4.6 million made a suicide plan, and roughly 2.2 million attempted suicide. Millions have contacted the 988 Lifeline since mid-2022.

Disparities and Age Patterns

Life expectancy rose for both sexes in 2024—by 0.3 years for women to 81.4, and by 0.7 years for men to 76.5—narrowing the gap slightly. Death rates declined across most racial and ethnic groups, but stark disparities remain: American Indian men and Black men continued to experience the highest age-adjusted death rates in 2024, at about 1,200 and 1,000 deaths per 100,000 people, respectively.

Age-group improvements were broad: death rates fell for nearly every bracket except children aged 5–14, where the rate held roughly steady between 2023 and 2024.

Infant Mortality

Infant mortality, which had been improving for decades before a 2022 spike, showed only gradual recovery. In 2024 more than 20,000 infants died before their first birthday—about 5.5 deaths per 1,000 live births. The rise prompted state-level public-health responses, including a declaration of emergency in Mississippi.

Overall, the 2024 data reflect significant progress in reversing pandemic-era mortality increases—especially in overdose and Covid-19 deaths—while highlighting persistent challenges in suicide, infant mortality, and racial disparities that require continued public-health focus.