Life expectancy in the United States is diverging sharply along racial and economic lines, with Native Americans in the western states now living shorter lives than people in Haiti or the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Meanwhile, Asian Americans enjoy life spans comparable to those in Japan and Switzerland — around 84 years.
A study published in The Lancet reveals that disparities in life expectancy among racial and ethnic groups have nearly doubled since 2000. “This is like comparing very different countries,” said Tom Bollyky of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Native Americans in the West face some of the harshest conditions, living in counties with average incomes below \$20,000. Many lack access to clean water, grocery stores, and health insurance. The Indian Health Service, meant to provide coverage, suffers from chronic underfunding. “The combination of limited access to health care and higher health risks has been devastating,” Bollyky said.
Black Americans saw improvements in life expectancy from 2000 to 2012, thanks to better treatments and rising education levels. But progress stalled by 2016, and income disparities widened. By 2021, all three Black groups in the study lived in counties with per capita incomes below $30,000.
Historical injustices and policy decisions continue to shape these outcomes. One study estimates that reparations could reduce premature deaths among Black Americans by 29%. Sociologist Kathleen Harris warns that without bold policy changes, “the country’s overall life expectancy may grow worse.”
See: “The Growing Inequality in Life Expectancy Among Americans” (January 22, 2025)
