US Life Expectancy Fell by One Year in First Half of 2020

Average American life expectancy declined by a full year in the first half of 2020, according to preliminary data from the CDC. “This is a huge decline. You have to go back to World War II, the 1940s, to find a decline like this,” said CDC official Robert Anderson. The decline affected certain groups disproportionately, with males losing 1.2 years, Hispanic Americans losing 1.9 years, and black Americans losing 2.7 years. Average American life expectancy in 2019 was 78.8 years. Coverage followed similar narratives on all sides, with some coverage highlighting Anderson's "WWII" remark. While coverage from across the spectrum discussed racial disparities in life expectancy, coverage in left-rated outlets tended to place greater emphasis on it.