In 2021, California experienced a significant decline in life expectancy, dropping more than 8 months from the previous year. This drop was revealed in a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which analyzed all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The report showed that babies born in California in 2021 could expect to live 78.3 years, down from 79 years in 2020. This decline pushed California down to 10th place in the nation, a stark contrast to its previous ranking of fourth.
Impact of COVID-19 on Life Expectancy in California
The decrease in life expectancy in California in 2021 was a result of various factors, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the availability of vaccines and other public health measures, the state saw a significant drop in life expectancy. The promise of COVID-19 vaccines was not enjoyed uniformly across the nation, as California and 38 other states experienced a decline in life expectancy.
Before the pandemic reached U.S. shores in 2019, California’s overall life expectancy at birth was 80.9 years. However, the first year of the pandemic saw a decrease of 1.9 years in life expectancy, with only 15 states experiencing larger declines. The impact of COVID-19 continued in 2021, with an additional 0.7-year decrease in expected life spans. While this decline was not as significant as in other states, it still contributed to the overall drop in California’s ranking.
Comparison with Other States
California’s decline in life expectancy in 2021 was part of a larger trend seen across the country. The CDC report revealed that the life expectancy of Americans as a whole fell by 0.6 years to 76.4 years, primarily due to high numbers of COVID-19 deaths and fatalities from accidental drug overdoses. States like Hawaii, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey ranked among the top five overall in life expectancy in 2021.
On the other end of the spectrum, states with the lowest life expectancy at birth were mostly located in the South, including Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama, Louisiana, and Kentucky. The gender gap in life expectancy also varied across states, with women expected to outlive men in every state in 2021. California, for example, had a gender gap of 6.1 years, with baby girls expected to live 81.4 years and baby boys 75.3 years.
Remaining Lifespan for 65-Year-Olds
In addition to life expectancy at birth, the CDC report also calculated the remaining lifespan for Americans who were 65 years old in 2021. The nationwide average for 65-year-olds was 18.4 years, with men expected to live 17.0 years and women 19.7 years. Hawaii had the highest remaining life expectancy for 65-year-olds at 20.6 years, while states like Mississippi and West Virginia ranked at the bottom with 16.1 years.
California surpassed the nationwide averages for 65-year-olds, with a remaining overall life expectancy of 19.3 years. This included 17.8 additional years for 65-year-old men and 20.7 years for 65-year-old women. The state’s performance in this category reflected its overall standing in terms of life expectancy compared to other states.
Conclusion
The impact of COVID-19 on life expectancy in California and across the United States was significant in 2021. Despite the availability of vaccines and other public health measures, the pandemic’s toll on life expectancy was evident. California’s drop in ranking and decrease in life expectancy highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by the state in managing the health and well-being of its residents. As the nation continues to grapple with the effects of the pandemic, efforts to improve public health and address disparities in life expectancy remain crucial.
