Counties with the shortest life expectancy in Missouri
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
Counties with the shortest life expectancy in Missouri
Life expectancy in the United States has generally been on the rise. Between 1960 and 2019, the life expectancy of Americans rose by roughly a decade to the age of 79. Greater longevity can be attributed to improved health care such as diagnostic and medical advancements, as well as healthier lifestyle choices relating to diet, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
Since 2020, however, life expectancy has started to decline. The opioid epidemic, COVID-19, and unintentional injuries—largely driven by drug overdoses—were the leading causes of a three-year decrease in life expectancy over the last two years. Stark disparities among certain segments of the population have also been observed. American Indians/Alaska Natives saw a life expectancy decrease of more than six years; Hispanic and Black Americans, a drop of four years; and white and Asian Americans, a decrease of about two years.
While no one single factor determines the overall health of an entire community, certain socioeconomic and environmental factors such as access to health care, substance abuse treatments, clean air, clean water, and affordable housing contribute significantly to the general health and wellbeing of the entire population.
Using 2022 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, Stacker identified counties with the shortest life expectancy in Missouri. Life expectancy measures the average number of years from birth a person can expect to live, and is calculated based on the number of deaths in a given time period and the average number of people at risk of dying during that period. Counties with unreliable or insufficient data were excluded from the analysis. Mortality data came from the National Vital Statistics System.
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#50. Lafayette County
– Average life expectancy: 75.9 years (0.7 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #55
— Length of life rank: #74
— Quality of life rank: #39
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#47. Marion County
– Average life expectancy: 75.8 years (0.8 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #71
— Length of life rank: #62
— Quality of life rank: #68
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#47. Buchanan County
– Average life expectancy: 75.8 years (0.8 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #62
— Length of life rank: #54
— Quality of life rank: #63
JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons
#47. Ray County
– Average life expectancy: 75.8 years (0.8 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #39
— Length of life rank: #55
— Quality of life rank: #23
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#45. Caldwell County
– Average life expectancy: 75.7 years (0.9 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #84
— Length of life rank: #82
— Quality of life rank: #87
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#45. DeKalb County
– Average life expectancy: 75.7 years (0.9 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #63
— Length of life rank: #83
— Quality of life rank: #25
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#41. Phelps County
– Average life expectancy: 75.6 years (1.0 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #65
— Length of life rank: #76
— Quality of life rank: #47
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#41. Henry County
– Average life expectancy: 75.6 years (1.0 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #61
— Length of life rank: #46
— Quality of life rank: #75
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#41. Jefferson County
– Average life expectancy: 75.6 years (1.0 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #47
— Length of life rank: #75
— Quality of life rank: #21
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#41. Pulaski County
– Average life expectancy: 75.6 years (1.0 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #27
— Length of life rank: #42
— Quality of life rank: #18
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#39. Randolph County
– Average life expectancy: 75.5 years (1.1 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #59
— Length of life rank: #38
— Quality of life rank: #79
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#39. Jasper County
– Average life expectancy: 75.5 years (1.1 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #51
— Length of life rank: #67
— Quality of life rank: #37
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#38. Douglas County
– Average life expectancy: 75.4 years (1.2 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #83
— Length of life rank: #84
— Quality of life rank: #84
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#35. Oregon County
– Average life expectancy: 75.3 years (1.3 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #98
— Length of life rank: #78
— Quality of life rank: #106
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#35. Texas County
– Average life expectancy: 75.3 years (1.3 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #91
— Length of life rank: #87
— Quality of life rank: #92
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#35. Stoddard County
– Average life expectancy: 75.3 years (1.3 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #85
— Length of life rank: #71
— Quality of life rank: #98
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#31. Benton County
– Average life expectancy: 75.2 years (1.4 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #81
— Length of life rank: #86
— Quality of life rank: #55
Charles W. Chapman // Wikimedia Commons
#31. Audrain County
– Average life expectancy: 75.2 years (1.4 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #80
— Length of life rank: #53
— Quality of life rank: #89
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#31. Cedar County
– Average life expectancy: 75.2 years (1.4 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #78
— Length of life rank: #79
— Quality of life rank: #56
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#31. Linn County
– Average life expectancy: 75.2 years (1.4 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #52
— Length of life rank: #72
— Quality of life rank: #34
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#30. Lawrence County
– Average life expectancy: 75.1 years (1.5 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #72
— Length of life rank: #57
— Quality of life rank: #71
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#29. Sullivan County
– Average life expectancy: 75 years (1.6 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #89
— Length of life rank: #95
— Quality of life rank: #82
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#28. Gasconade County
– Average life expectancy: 74.8 years (1.8 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #68
— Length of life rank: #90
— Quality of life rank: #24
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#27. Montgomery County
– Average life expectancy: 74.7 years (1.9 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #75
— Length of life rank: #77
— Quality of life rank: #54
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#24. Morgan County
– Average life expectancy: 74.6 years (2.0 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #93
— Length of life rank: #89
— Quality of life rank: #93
Americasroof // Wikimedia Commons
#24. Gentry County
– Average life expectancy: 74.6 years (2.0 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #77
— Length of life rank: #94
— Quality of life rank: #27
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#24. Madison County
– Average life expectancy: 74.6 years (2.0 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #76
— Length of life rank: #73
— Quality of life rank: #73
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#22. Wayne County
– Average life expectancy: 74.4 years (2.2 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #104
— Length of life rank: #98
— Quality of life rank: #108
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#22. Scott County
– Average life expectancy: 74.4 years (2.2 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #99
— Length of life rank: #91
— Quality of life rank: #102
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#20. Reynolds County
– Average life expectancy: 74.3 years (2.3 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #100
— Length of life rank: #101
— Quality of life rank: #95
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#20. Howell County
– Average life expectancy: 74.3 years (2.3 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #87
— Length of life rank: #88
— Quality of life rank: #88
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#18. Shannon County
– Average life expectancy: 74.2 years (2.4 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #106
— Length of life rank: #104
— Quality of life rank: #104
Steveewatkins // Wikimedia Commons
#18. Dent County
– Average life expectancy: 74.2 years (2.4 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #102
— Length of life rank: #106
— Quality of life rank: #97
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#17. Wright County
– Average life expectancy: 74.1 years (2.5 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #101
— Length of life rank: #100
— Quality of life rank: #101
JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons
#16. McDonald County
– Average life expectancy: 74 years (2.6 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #94
— Length of life rank: #85
— Quality of life rank: #100
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#14. Crawford County
– Average life expectancy: 73.9 years (2.7 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #97
— Length of life rank: #96
— Quality of life rank: #94
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#14. Dallas County
– Average life expectancy: 73.9 years (2.7 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #95
— Length of life rank: #99
— Quality of life rank: #90
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#13. St. Francois County
– Average life expectancy: 73.8 years (2.8 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #88
— Length of life rank: #93
— Quality of life rank: #83
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#12. Laclede County
– Average life expectancy: 73.6 years (3.0 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #86
— Length of life rank: #97
— Quality of life rank: #72
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#11. Iron County
– Average life expectancy: 73.5 years (3.1 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #105
— Length of life rank: #103
— Quality of life rank: #105
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#10. Ripley County
– Average life expectancy: 73.2 years (3.4 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #109
— Length of life rank: #109
— Quality of life rank: #112
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#8. St. Louis
– Average life expectancy: 73.1 years (3.5 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #111
— Length of life rank: #112
— Quality of life rank: #103
Americasroof // Wikimedia Commons
#8. Washington County
– Average life expectancy: 73.1 years (3.5 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #107
— Length of life rank: #107
— Quality of life rank: #107
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#7. Butler County
– Average life expectancy: 72.7 years (3.9 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #108
— Length of life rank: #108
— Quality of life rank: #109
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#6. Dade County
– Average life expectancy: 72.6 years (4.0 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #110
— Length of life rank: #114
— Quality of life rank: #96
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#5. Carter County
– Average life expectancy: 72.5 years (4.1 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #96
— Length of life rank: #110
— Quality of life rank: #57
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#4. Mississippi County
– Average life expectancy: 72.3 years (4.3 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #112
— Length of life rank: #105
— Quality of life rank: #114
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#3. New Madrid County
– Average life expectancy: 71 years (5.6 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #113
— Length of life rank: #111
— Quality of life rank: #110
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#2. Dunklin County
– Average life expectancy: 70.9 years (5.7 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #114
— Length of life rank: #113
— Quality of life rank: #115
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#1. Pemiscot County
– Average life expectancy: 69.1 years (7.5 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #115
— Length of life rank: #115
— Quality of life rank: #113
