HONOLULU (KHON2) — Hawaiʻi is the place in the United States where people live the longest. In 2020, the islands reported the highest life expectancy in the country.
Even during the pandemic, when many states saw sharp declines, Hawaiʻi held on to its standing at the top.
A report from the Centers for Disease Control has found that Hawaii continues to defy national expectations on death and longevity.
Here’s what we found in the report.
1. Overall life expectancy
The average life expectancy in Hawaiʻi in 2020 was 80.7 years. That was nearly four years longer than the national average of 77 years. The state’s numbers did fall slightly from 81.6 years in 2019, but the drop was smaller than what most states experienced.
2. Life expectancy at birth
When a child is born in Hawaiʻi, their expected lifespan is longer than in any other state. In 2019, the average was 82.3 years. In 2020, the number dropped slightly to 80.7 years; yet Hawaiʻi still ranked first. By comparison, Mississippi had the lowest at 71.9 years in 2020.
3. Men and women
Women in Hawaiʻi lived on average 83.8 years in 2020. Men lived 77.6 years. That gap between men and women was similar to the rest of the nation. Nationally, women lived 79.9 years and men lived 74.2 years.
4. Kūpuna
At age 65, residents of Hawaiʻi could expect to live another 21.0 years in 2020. That meant many people would live well into their 80s. Across the United States, the average at age 65 was 18.5 more years.
5. A national comparison
Hawaiʻi topped the charts while Mississippi had the lowest life expectancy in 2020 at 71.9 years. The difference of nearly nine years between the two states shows how place can shape health and longevity.
6. A closer look at the decline
The 2020 decline did not erase Hawaiʻi’s advantage. The gap between Hawaiʻi and the national average grew slightly. In 2019, Hawaiʻi was 2.9 years higher than the nation. In 2020, the lead was 3.7 years. That difference is the widest of any state.
7. The why behind the longevity
When comparing the leading causes of death compared with other states, Hawaiʻi generally reported lower mortality rates for heart disease, cancer, and chronic lower respiratory diseases. These are amongst the top drivers of life expectancy differences.
According to the CDC report, Hawaiʻi’s longer life expectancy is primarily explained by lower overall death rates, lower mortality from major diseases and consistently higher survival into older ages.
But as Hawaiʻi residents moves into a realm of needing to work multiple jobs simply to obtain an average life, will this longevity bubble pop? Or will Hawaiʻi residents figure out a way around the intrusion?
8. Why it matters
Life expectancy is one of the most important measures of public health. It reflects how well communities support long, healthy lives. Hawaiʻi’s lead highlights patterns that may set it apart. The state’s numbers show resilience even in a year when most of the country faced historic drops.
You can click here to the full CDC report.
The numbers show that people in Hawaiʻi live longer than those in any other state even as life expectancy fell in 2020, Hawaiʻi stayed at the top as Hawaiʻi residents live more years on average than people elsewhere.