Arkansas Sees Decline in Life Expectancy, Ranks 45th Nationally

Arkansas ranks near the bottom of all states in the nation when it comes to life expectancy. According to a new National Vital Statistics System report, average life expectancy in Arkansas in 2021 was 72.5 years, placing the state at 45^th in a ranking of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The national average was 76.4 years.

From 2020 to 2021, life expectancy declined in 39 states, increased in 11, and remained unchanged in the District of Columbia. The national average decreased by 0.6 years, a decline that the report attributes mainly to the COVID-19 pandemic and a rise in unintentional injuries — mostly drug overdoses. Arkansas saw a decline of 1.3 years during this period, one of the largest declines in the nation.

County Health Rankings data indicate that life expectancy varied widely across Arkansas counties during the period of 2019-2021. Phillips County had the lowest life expectancy in the state at 67.7 years, while Benton County had the highest at 78.5 years, with a 10.8-year gap between the two counties.

Variations also exist within Arkansas cities. In 2015, life expectancy by census tract in Little Rock ranged from 67 to 87 years, according to the City Health Dashboard. In Bentonville, life expectancy ranged from 74 to 83 years.