Earlier this year, the annual World Happiness Report revealed that, for the first time ever, the U.S. didnโt make it into the top 20 happiest countries.
Now, a new report highlights another concerning trend: the U.S. is lagging behind other high-income nations when it comes to health and well-being.
A recent report from the Bloomberg American Health Initiative at Johns Hopkins University reveals that the United States is experiencing a widening life expectancy gap compared to the United Kingdom.
In 1984, both countries had similar life expectancies, but as of 2023, the U.S. lags behind England and Wales by 2.7 years.
Life Expectancy Gap Between the U.S. and the U.K
Metric
United States
England and Wales
Difference
Average Life Expectancy (2023)
78.6 years
81.3 years
2.7 years (overall gap)
Life Expectancy Gap for Men
3.4 years
Life Expectancy Gap for Women
1.9 years
Life Expectancy (1984)
75 years
75 years
No gap
Life Expectancy (2019)
Approx. 78 years
Approx. 80.5 years
2.5 years
Change in Life Expectancy (2019-2023)
Decreased slightly
Increased slightly
Gap widened
The average life expectancy in the United States currently stands at 78.6 years, compared to 81.3 years in England and Wales, marking an overall gap of 2.7 years.
This disparity is more pronounced among men, with a difference of 3.4 years, while for women, the gap is 1.9 years.
In 1984, life expectancy was the same in both regions, averaging 75 years. Both countries shared several characteristics typical of high-income nations, including aging populations, economic stability, diverse immigrant communities, and declining smoking rates.
The United States is trailing other high-income countries in many measures of public health and well-being. But why is the U.S. falling behind?
โA Tale of Two Countries: The Life Expectancy Gap Between the United States and the United Kingdom,โ a newly released report by theโฆ pic.twitter.com/oaD6csmC5B
โ Bloomberg Philanthropies (@BloombergDotOrg) December 3, 2024
However, by 2019, the U.K. had pulled ahead with an average life expectancy roughly 2.5 years higher than the U.S.
The most recent data from 2023 shows the gap has widened further, as life expectancy in the U.S. declined slightly while it continued to increase in the U.K. according to AOL.
Researchers attribute this growing disparity to preventable causes, such as cardiovascular disease, drug overdoses, firearm-related homicides and suicides, and car accidents, which have led to higher mortality rates among younger Americans. Additionally, deaths from COVID-19 and cancer have further contributed to the decline in U.S. life expectancy.
Addressing the Issue
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Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, director of BAHI and vice dean at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, highlighted in a Fortune interview the alarming disparities between the U.S. and U.K. among people under 25.
He noted that firearm-related homicide and suicide rates are 485.9 times higher in the U.S., and drug overdose rates are 4.5 times higher for this demographic.
Sharfstein emphasized that the life expectancy gap stems primarily from preventable causes, such as overdoses, firearm-related deaths, and suicides. He called for scaling evidence-based public health strategies to reverse this trend, particularly through community-driven interventions.
โThere is no good reason why Americans should expect to die nearly three years earlier than people in the U.K.,โ Sharfstein stated. โImplementing effective programmatic policies can close the life expectancy gap, improve population health, and protect young Americans.โ
Cause
Policy Solution
Cardiovascular Disease
Increase access to treatment for hypertension, promote nutritious diets, reduce sodium, and encourage physical activity.
Overdose Deaths
Expand access to opioid-use disorder treatments (e.g., methadone) via community pharmacies and prisons.
Gun Homicides and Suicides
Enforce Firearm Purchaser Licensing and Extreme Risk Protection Orders to limit gun access and reduce violence.
Teen Suicides
Build a national mental health infrastructure with targeted investment in underserved and rural areas.
Motor Vehicle Crashes
Use intelligent speed technology, enforce impaired driving penalties, and mandate hazard perception tests for drivers.
Sharfsteinโs recommendations focus on leveraging data and evidence-based practices to implement scalable solutions. He underlined the need for community collaboration to address the root causes of these preventable deaths, calling it the โessence of public health.โ
With targeted interventions in these five key areas, the U.S. can work to bridge the life expectancy gap and foster a healthier, safer future for its population.
References
- World Happiness Report 2024: Finland is the happiest country.ย Fortune.
- Life Expectancy Gap Between the U.S. and U.K.: Analysis and Findings.ย American Health Initiative.
- Americans Arenโt Living as Long as Their Counterparts in the U.K. AOL.
- Faculty Profile: Joshua M. Sharfstein, MD. Retrieved from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
- Firearm-related and Drug Overdose Trends in the U.S. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg.
