US Life Expectancy Shows Slow Rebound from Pandemic, Still Below Pre-Covid Levels

U.S. life expectancy increased by over a year in 2022, mainly due to the decline in COVID-19 deaths, but it remains below pre-pandemic levels at 77 years, 6 months. The rise is a positive development, but the U.S. has lost two decades of gains in life expectancy. Drug overdose deaths and suicides continue to be significant issues, with the number of U.S. suicides reaching an all-time high last year and drug overdose deaths increasing slightly. U.S. life expectancy also lags behind that of many other countries and has not rebounded as quickly as in other nations. Changes in life expectancy varied by race and ethnicity, with Hispanic Americans and Native Americans experiencing significant declines initially but seeing larger increases in 2022.