A New Record: 79 Years

February 3, 2026 —​ Americans are living longer, according to a recent report, which states that life expectancy in the U.S. rose to 79 years in 2024 — the highest mark in U.S. history.

Preliminary 2025 data suggest continued improvement.

With the dissipation of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as shrinking death rates from heart disease, cancer and drug overdoses, the trend of longer living suggests the upward trend will continue.

U.S. life expectancy is an estimate of the average years a baby born in a given year might expect to live in relation to the death rates at the time.

For years, U.S. life expectancy had risen a little year over year, reaching a peak in 2014 of nearly 79 years.

It plunged thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, which killed more than 1.2 million Americans, shrinking the life expectancy in 2021 to just under 76 ½ years. It’s been on the rebound since.

Researchers say the positive steps in reversing the drug overdose epidemic have also been key in seeing the length of Americans’ lives go up.

Experts added that the bad news is that the U.S. still comes in below dozens of other countries with higher life expectancies.