Covid-19 and drug overdoses led to a second straight year of worsening life expectancy in the US – its lowest in 25 years, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control.
As per the 2021 data, Americans are expected to live 76.4 years, down from a peak of 78.8 years in 2019.
It also shows the US continues to rank lowest among countries with large economies.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death, followed by cancer and Covid.
The data is outlined in two reports released by the CDC on Thursday: one on 2021 mortality in the US, and the second on drug deaths in the US from 2001 to 2021.
The finalised numbers confirm preliminary ones released by the CDC in August, in which the health agency predicted the worst two-year decline of life expectancy on record in the US since 1923.
