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US life expectancy, 1960 to 2024

US life expectancy at birth reached 78.9 years in 2024, up from 69.8 in 1960 but 5.1 years behind Japan at 84.0 and below the UK's 81.4.

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What the data shows

  • United States: 69.8 in 1960, 78.9 in 2024.
  • Japan: 67.7 in 1960, 84.0 in 2024. It peaked at 84.6 in 2020.
  • United Kingdom: 71.1 in 1960, 81.4 in 2024. It peaked at 81.4 in 2019.
  • China: 33.4 in 1960, 78.0 in 2024 (2.3× higher). It peaked at 78.2 in 2022.

About this chart

Life expectancy at birth in the United States rose from 69.8 years in 1960 to 78.9 in 2024, a gain of 9.1 years. Progress was steady through 2010, when it reached 78.5, but it then slipped to 77.0 in 2020 before recovering to 78.9. The US started 2.1 years ahead of Japan in 1960 (67.7), yet by 1970 Japan (71.9) had passed it (70.8), and Japan's lead is now 5.1 years.

The measure is the average number of years a newborn would live if current death rates stayed the same through life, from the World Bank. The United Kingdom was ahead of the US in every charted year, from 71.1 against 69.8 in 1960 to 81.4 against 78.9 in 2024. China started far lower at 33.4 in 1960 and reached 78.0 in 2020, 1.0 year above the US's 77.0, and held at 78.0 in 2024. The US dip in 2020 is the only decline for the US in the years charted.

The data

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (SP.DYN.LE00.IN), life expectancy at birth, years. Retrieved November 4, 2026.

US life expectancy, Years at birth, 1960–2024
Date🇺🇸 United States🇯🇵 Japan🇬🇧 United Kingdom🇨🇳 China
196069.867.771.133.4
196170.368.470.940.2
196270.168.670.951.0
196369.969.770.851.7
196470.270.271.652.3
196570.270.371.653.0
196670.270.971.653.7
196770.671.572.154.4
196870.071.671.755.2
196970.571.971.756.0
197070.871.972.056.8
197171.172.872.357.7
197271.273.272.158.6
197371.473.372.359.5
197472.073.772.560.2
197572.674.272.761.0
197672.974.772.861.2
197773.375.373.262.5
197873.475.673.263.1
197973.876.173.363.7
198073.676.073.764.2
198174.076.474.064.8
198274.476.974.265.2
198374.576.974.465.7
198474.677.374.866.1
198574.677.674.666.5
198674.678.074.966.9
198774.878.475.367.3
198874.878.375.467.6
198975.078.875.667.9
199075.278.875.968.2
199175.479.076.168.6
199275.679.176.469.1
199375.479.376.469.5
199475.679.776.969.8
199575.679.576.870.4
199676.080.277.170.8
199776.480.477.271.2
199876.680.577.271.6
199976.680.577.472.0
200076.681.177.772.3
200176.881.478.072.7
200276.981.778.173.0
200377.081.878.473.4
200477.582.078.773.7
200577.582.079.074.1
200677.782.379.274.4
200778.082.579.474.8
200878.082.679.674.8
200978.482.980.175.3
201078.582.880.475.7
201178.682.681.075.9
201278.783.180.976.2
201378.783.381.076.5
201478.883.681.376.7
201578.783.881.077.0
201678.584.081.277.2
201778.584.181.377.2
201878.684.281.377.7
201978.884.481.477.9
202077.084.680.378.0
202176.384.480.678.1
202277.484.081.078.2
202378.484.081.278.0
202478.984.081.478.0

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Frequently asked questions

What is the life expectancy in the US?

Life expectancy at birth in the United States was 78.9 years in 2024, according to the World Bank. That is up from 77.0 in 2020 and 69.8 in 1960.

How does US life expectancy compare with Japan and the UK?

The US figure of 78.9 in 2024 is below Japan's 84.0 and the United Kingdom's 81.4. In 1960 the US was ahead of Japan (69.8 against 67.7) and behind the UK (71.1).

Did US life expectancy fall in 2020?

Yes. In the years charted it dropped from 78.5 in 2010 to 77.0 in 2020, the only decline for the US, before rising to 78.9 in 2024. The UK and Japan did not show a similar drop of this size between 2010 and 2020.

Where does this data come from?

World Bank, World Development Indicators (SP.DYN.LE00.IN), life expectancy at birth, years. Retrieved November 4, 2026. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

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