DataPoint: Life Expectancy Trends

In 2014, New York State ranked sixth nationally in life expectancy at birth. Neighboring states Connecticut (fourth), Massachusetts (fifth), and Vermont (seventh) carried a similar national ranking. The average New York State resident is expected to live 80.4 years. Life expectancy at birth for New Yorkers was 73.2 years in 1980 and 77.7 years in 2000. The national average life expectancy in 2014 was 79.1 years. New York’s life expectancy increase of 9.8 percent since 1980 was the second largest increase in the nation, trailing only the District of Columbia. Counties surrounding New York City tended to have the highest life expectancies in the state. Rockland (82.5 years), Westchester (82.3 years), and Nassau (82.2 years) were the only counties in the state whose life expectancies exceeded 82 years. Counties with the shortest life expectancies were Sullivan (78.0 years), Oswego (78.3 years), and Cattaraugus (78.3 years). The largest decreases in mortality rates in New York State occurred for deaths from cardiovascular disease and cancer.

For more New York State life expectancy charts and statistics from the New York State Health Foundation, click here.

Contact: Ken Allison, kallison@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8820