Life expectancy in West Virginia drops nearly 2.5% in last five years
By Matthew Young, RealWV
Residents of South Carolina received some unfortunate news this week. Anna Claire Miller of the Hilton Head Island Packet newspaper reported on a study conducted by digital healthcare platform, Nursa, which shows that the Palmetto State’s 73.5 years ranks an abysmal 42nd in life expectancy.
“Your state’s environment, access to healthcare, walkability, and even grocery store options all play a role in how long you live,” Miller’s report states.
The same study ranks West Virginia’s 71-year life expectancy 50th in the nation, placing the Mountain State second from the bottom.
With Washington D.C. in the mix of state rankings, Mississippi’s 70.9 years – a mere 30-days behind West Virginia – puts it in last place. For point of reference, at just one month shy of 80-years, Hawaii comes in at number one. Four other states – Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York – all have life expectancies of above 79-years.
While the news in West Virginia is even more unfortunate than what was reported in South Carolina, it seems to only be getting worse by the year.
According to a CDC (Centers for Disease Control) report from 2020, while still second from the bottom, West Virginians had a life expectancy of 72.8 years. (Men 69.8, and women 76.1). COVID was a significant factor during this time, however the pandemic has been well mitigated for four years of that five-year period.
So why does the average West Virginian die so young, and why do the residents of states like Hawaii and New York live nearly a full decade longer?
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation – the largest health-focused philanthropic organization in the United States – lists the eight primary factors in life expectancy as economic status, education, housing, employment, nutritious food, healthcare, crime, and pollution. West Virginia also ranks at or near the bottom nationally in each of these eight categories. Conversely, Hawaii and New York both rank near the top.
There is perhaps no better measure of a state’s overall success than the life expectancy of its residents. And by that metric, West Virginia would seem to have a very long way to go to be successful.
