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Complete Health Indicator Report of Life Expectancy at Birth

Definition

Life expectancy is an estimate of the expected average number of years of life (or a person's age at death) for individuals who were born into a particular population. The method developed by C.L. Chiang was used to compute life expectancy.

Numerator

n/a

Denominator

n/a

Data Interpretation Issues

Life expectancy at birth is strongly influenced by infant and child mortality; life expectancy later in life reflects death rates at or above a given age and is independent of mortality at younger ages.

Why Is This Important?

Life expectancy is a measure that is often used to gauge the overall health of a community. Life expectancy at birth measures health status across all age groups. Shifts in life expectancy are often used to describe trends in mortality. Being able to predict how populations will age has enormous implications for the planning and provision of services and support. Small increases in life expectancy translate into large increases in the population. As the life expectancy of a population lengthens, the number of people living with chronic illnesses tends to increase because chronic illnesses are more common among older persons.

Other Objectives

One of Utah's 42 Community Health Status Indicators One of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) Chronic Disease Indicators: "Life Expectancy at Birth"

How Are We Doing?

Prevention and control of infectious diseases have had a profound impact on life expectancy during the 20th century. In the United States, life expectancy at birth from 1900 to 2021 increased from 46.3 to 73.2 years for men, and from 48.3 to 79.1 years for women. In contrast to life expectancy at birth which increased sharply early in the century, life expectancy at age 65 improved primarily after 1950. Among men, life expectancy at age 65 rose from 12.0 to 16.9 years and among women from 15.0 to 19.6 years between 1950 and 2021. Improvements in nutrition, hygiene, and medical care contributed to decreases in death rates throughout the lifespan.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

Women typically outlive men. Females born in Utah today can expect to live 80.8 years, and males born in Utah can expect to live 76.4 years. This becomes evident in later years as individuals survive from their early sixties into their eighties and older. The population of Utahns aged 65+ was 54% female and 46% male according to the 2021 population estimate IBIS version 2020.

What Is Being Done?

Now that people are living longer, it is important to look at ways that those added years can be lived in good health. Exercise, healthy diet and weight, not smoking, moderate use of alcohol, and injury prevention habits such as wearing seat belts all contribute to a healthy life span. Improvements in life expectancy increase the proportion of older individuals living in society. Policy-makers must be aware of this trend in order to provide viable and attractive options for elderly persons who require assistance with activities of daily living.


Related Indicators

Related Relevant Population Characteristics Indicators:


Health Care System Factors

With increased life expectancy, the health system will need to respond to increasing numbers of older adults who are more likely to be living with chronic diseases.

Related Health Care System Factors Indicators:


Risk Factors

Life expectancy at birth is strongly influenced by infant and child mortality.

Related Risk Factors Indicators:


Health Status Outcomes

As life expectancy increases, the number of people living with chronic disease and their effects also increases.

Related Health Status Outcomes Indicators:




Graphical Data Views

Life Expectancy at Birth by Sex, Utah and U.S., 1980-2021

::chart - missing::

In Utah, life expectancy at birth for males increased from 72.4 years in 1980 to 76.4 years in 2021, and for females from 78.6 to 80.8 years. In comparison, life expectancy at birth in the U.S. rose from 70.0 to 73.2 years for males, and from 77.4 to 79.1 years for females (from 1980 to 2021).
UT M, UT F, US M, US FYearAge in Years
Record Count: 168
Utah Males198072.4
Utah Males198172.7
Utah Males198273.4
Utah Males198373.9
Utah Males198473.3
Utah Males198573.6
Utah Males198674.1
Utah Males198774.4
Utah Males198874.5
Utah Males198974.8
Utah Males199074.9
Utah Males199175.0
Utah Males199275.3
Utah Males199374.9
Utah Males199474.8
Utah Males199575.2
Utah Males199675.5
Utah Males199775.5
Utah Males199875.4
Utah Males199975.6
Utah Males200076.7
Utah Males200176.8
Utah Males200276.7
Utah Males200376.8
Utah Males200476.9
Utah Males200577.5
Utah Males200677.7
Utah Males200777.6
Utah Males200878.2
Utah Males200978.4
Utah Males201078.1
Utah Males201178.4
Utah Males201278.3
Utah Males201378.2
Utah Males201478.3
Utah Males201578.1
Utah Males201677.8
Utah Males201778.0
Utah Males201878.2
Utah Males201978.4
Utah Males202077.0
Utah Males202176.4
Utah Females198078.6
Utah Females198178.8
Utah Females198278.7
Utah Females198379.0
Utah Females198479.2
Utah Females198579.2
Utah Females198679.6
Utah Females198779.2
Utah Females198879.3
Utah Females198979.1
Utah Females199080.1
Utah Females199179.6
Utah Females199280.0
Utah Females199379.5
Utah Females199479.8
Utah Females199579.5
Utah Females199679.9
Utah Females199779.6
Utah Females199879.6
Utah Females199979.8
Utah Females200080.8
Utah Females200180.8
Utah Females200280.7
Utah Females200380.6
Utah Females200481.0
Utah Females200581.3
Utah Females200681.3
Utah Females200781.5
Utah Females200881.9
Utah Females200982.2
Utah Females201082.2
Utah Females201181.8
Utah Females201281.9
Utah Females201381.6
Utah Females201481.5
Utah Females201581.3
Utah Females201681.6
Utah Females201781.7
Utah Females201881.9
Utah Females201981.9
Utah Females202081.0
Utah Females202180.8
U.S. Males198070.0
U.S. Males198170.4
U.S. Males198270.8
U.S. Males198371.0
U.S. Males198471.1
U.S. Males198570.1
U.S. Males198671.2
U.S. Males198771.4
U.S. Males198871.4
U.S. Males198971.7
U.S. Males199071.8
U.S. Males199172.0
U.S. Males199272.3
U.S. Males199372.2
U.S. Males199472.4
U.S. Males199572.5
U.S. Males199673.1
U.S. Males199773.6
U.S. Males199873.8
U.S. Males199973.9
U.S. Males200074.1
U.S. Males200174.3
U.S. Males200274.4
U.S. Males200374.5
U.S. Males200475.0
U.S. Males200575.0
U.S. Males200675.2
U.S. Males200775.5
U.S. Males200875.6
U.S. Males200976.0
U.S. Males201076.2
U.S. Males201176.3
U.S. Males201276.4
U.S. Males201376.4
U.S. Males201476.5
U.S. Males201576.3
U.S. Males201676.2
U.S. Males201776.1
U.S. Males201876.2
U.S. Males201976.3
U.S. Males202074.5
U.S. Males202173.2
U.S. Females198077.4
U.S. Females198177.8
U.S. Females198278.1
U.S. Females198378.1
U.S. Females198478.2
U.S. Females198578.2
U.S. Females198678.2
U.S. Females198778.3
U.S. Females198878.3
U.S. Females198978.5
U.S. Females199078.8
U.S. Females199178.9
U.S. Females199279.1
U.S. Females199378.8
U.S. Females199479.0
U.S. Females199578.9
U.S. Females199679.1
U.S. Females199779.4
U.S. Females199879.5
U.S. Females199979.4
U.S. Females200079.3
U.S. Females200179.5
U.S. Females200279.6
U.S. Females200379.7
U.S. Females200480.1
U.S. Females200580.1
U.S. Females200680.3
U.S. Females200780.6
U.S. Females200880.6
U.S. Females200980.9
U.S. Females201081.0
U.S. Females201181.1
U.S. Females201281.2
U.S. Females201381.2
U.S. Females201481.3
U.S. Females201581.1
U.S. Females201681.1
U.S. Females201781.1
U.S. Females201881.2
U.S. Females201981.4
U.S. Females202080.2
U.S. Females202179.1

Data Notes

The method developed by C.L. Chiang was used to compute life expectancy.   [[br]][[br]] U.S. 2021 estimate from U.S. 2021 data from NVSS Report No. 23 "Provisional Life Expectancy Estimates for 2021", August 2022 https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr023.pdf

Data Sources

  • Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute Utah State and County Annual Population Estimates by Single Year of Age and Sex: 2010-2021
  • Population Estimates: National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) through a collaborative agreement with the U.S. Census Bureau, IBIS Version 2020
  • Utah Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Records and Statistics, Utah Department of Health
  • National Vital Statistics System, National Center for Health Statistics, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Life Expectancy at Birth by Ethnicity, Utah, 2017-2021 and U.S. 2021

::chart - missing::
confidence limits

Life expectancy by ethnicity was calculated using death counts over a span of 5 years (2017-2021).
Hispanic EthnicityAge in YearsLower LimitUpper Limit
Record Count: 4
Hispanic/Latino82.582.282.7
Non-Hispanic/Latino79.679.579.7
All Ethnicities79.579.479.6
U.S.76.1

Data Notes

The method developed by C.L. Chiang was used to compute life expectancy.   [[br]][[br]] U.S. 2021 estimate from U.S. 2021 data from NVSS Report No. 23 "Provisional Life Expectancy Estimates for 2021" , August 2022 https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr023.pdf

Data Sources

  • Population Estimates by Age, Sex, Race, and Hispanic Origin for Counties in Utah, U.S. Bureau of the Census, IBIS Version 2021
  • Utah Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Records and Statistics, Utah Department of Health
  • National Center for Health Statistics


Life Expectancy at Birth by Utah Small Area, 2017-2021, and U.S. 2020

::chart - missing::
confidence limits

Life expectancy by Utah Small Area was calculated using death counts over a span of 5 years (2017-2021)
Utah Small AreasAge in YearsLower LimitUpper Limit
Record Count: 104
Brigham City76.976.177.7
Box Elder Co (Other) V279.478.380.4
Tremonton79.978.978.9
Logan V281.480.882.0
North Logan81.480.682.2
Cache (Other)/Rich (All) V280.679.881.4
Hyrum79.878.481.2
Smithfield81.580.482.6
Ben Lomond76.976.477.5
Weber County (East)81.280.581.8
Morgan County81.280.182.2
Ogden (Downtown)75.775.076.3
South Ogden79.578.980.2
Roy/Hooper78.778.179.3
Riverdale78.177.478.9
Clearfield Area/Hooper76.275.776.7
Layton/South Weber79.178.779.5
Kaysville/Fruit Heights82.081.482.6
Syracuse79.179.879.8
Centerville84.383.585.2
Farmington82.181.283.0
North Salt Lake82.181.183.1
Woods Cross/West Bountiful78.677.479.7
Bountiful80.880.281.4
SLC (Rose Park)77.776.978.4
SLC (Avenues)87.586.788.3
SLC (Foothill/East Bench)85.784.986.4
Magna75.374.576.2
SLC (Glendale) V274.873.875.7
West Valley (Center)77.576.978.1
West Valley (West) V276.976.277.7
West Valley (East) V277.476.778.0
SLC (Downtown) V277.576.778.3
SLC (Southeast Liberty)81.580.782.4
South Salt Lake73.873.074.7
SLC (Sugar House)79.478.780.2
Millcreek (South)84.183.384.9
Millcreek (East)82.281.483.0
Holladay V279.979.180.8
Cottonwood82.481.983.0
Kearns V274.273.574.9
Taylorsville (E)/Murray (W)77.576.878.2
Taylorsville (West)78.778.079.3
Murray78.477.779.1
Midvale77.977.278.7
West Jordan (Northeast) V278.177.478.9
West Jordan (Southeast)77.176.477.7
West Jordan (W)/Copperton78.978.179.6
South Jordan V279.779.180.3
Daybreak79.679.080.2
Sandy (West)78.277.578.9
Sandy (Center) V281.280.481.9
Sandy (Northeast)82.081.382.7
Sandy (Southeast)83.182.483.8
Draper79.478.879.9
Riverton/Bluffdale80.279.680.8
Herriman80.379.680.9
Tooele County (Other)78.577.579.5
Tooele Valley77.877.278.4
Eagle Mountain/Cedar Valley80.679.681.5
Lehi79.979.480.5
Saratoga Springs85.784.786.6
American Fork78.978.379.5
Alpine82.181.083.1
Pleasant Grove/Lindon79.579.080.0
Orem (North)77.076.377.7
Orem (West)82.381.683.1
Orem (East)82.581.783.3
Provo/BYU82.681.983.3
Provo (West City Center)78.077.178.9
Provo (East City Center)82.480.984.0
Salem City81.580.282.8
Spanish Fork78.577.879.1
Springville79.178.379.8
Mapleton80.379.281.4
Utah County (South) V277.576.478.6
Payson77.777.078.4
Park City87.586.788.3
Summit County (East)79.178.080.2
Wasatch County81.580.882.2
Daggett and Uintah County75.074.375.8
Duchesne County75.174.176.1
Nephi/Mona78.176.879.4
Delta/Fillmore78.777.480.1
Sanpete Valley78.277.379.1
Central (Other)77.576.778.4
Richfield/Monroe/Salina77.676.678.6
Carbon County74.573.675.5
Emery County74.973.776.2
Grand County78.376.879.7
Blanding/Monticello80.078.581.6
San Juan County (Other)78.576.780.2
St. George80.379.980.8
Washington Co (Other) V279.978.581.2
Washington City81.080.281.8
Hurricane/La Verkin79.678.980.4
Ivins/Santa Clara81.080.182.0
Cedar City78.878.279.4
Southwest LHD (Other)78.277.379.0
State of Utah79.579.479.6
U.S.76.1

Data Notes

The method developed by C.L. Chiang was used to compute life expectancy.   [[br]] To get more information on Utah Small Area definitions, please go to [http://ibis.health.utah.gov/pdf/resource/UtahSmallAreaInfo.pdf]. [[br]] U.S. 2021 estimate from U.S. 2021 data from NVSS Report No. 23 "Provisional Life Expectancy Estimates for 2020" , July 2021 https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr023.pdf

Data Sources

  • The population estimates used linear interpolation of U.S. Census Bureau, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, and ESRI ZIP Code data for annual population estimates for ZIP Code areas by sex and age groups, IBIS Version 2021
  • Utah Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Records and Statistics, Utah Department of Health
  • National Center for Health Statistics


Life Expectancy at Birth by Local Health District, Utah, 2017-2021 and U.S. 2021

::chart - missing::
confidence limits

LHD life expectancy was calculated using death counts over a span of 5 years (2017-2021).
Local Health DistrictAge in YearsLower LimitUpper Limit
Record Count: 15
Bear River80.380.080.6
Central78.177.678.5
Davis County79.979.780.1
Salt Lake County79.078.979.1
San Juan75.173.976.4
Southeast76.375.677.0
Southwest81.180.881.4
Summit84.884.285.5
Tooele77.777.278.2
TriCounty75.574.876.1
Utah County80.179.980.3
Wasatch82.381.682.9
Weber-Morgan78.177.978.4
State of Utah79.579.479.6
U.S.76.1

Data Notes

The method developed by C.L. Chiang was used to compute life expectancy.   [[br]][[br]] U.S. 2021 estimate from U.S. 2020 data from NVSS Report No. 23 "Provisional Life Expectancy Estimates for 2021" , August 2022 80.3 https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr023.pdf

Data Sources

  • Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute Utah State and County Annual Population Estimates by Single Year of Age and Sex: 2010-2021
  • Population Estimates: National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) through a collaborative agreement with the U.S. Census Bureau, IBIS Version 2020
  • Utah Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Records and Statistics, Utah Department of Health
  • National Center for Health Statistics


Life Expectancy at Birth by Race, Utah, 2017-2021 and U.S. 2020

::chart - missing::
confidence limits

Life expectancy by race was calculated using death counts over a span of 5 years (2017-2021).
RaceAge in YearsLower LimitUpper Limit
Record Count: 7
American Indian/Alaska Native76.976.177.7
Asian86.686.187.2
Black, African American76.175.277.0
Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander74.273.375.1
White79.879.879.9
All Races79.779.479.6
U.S.76.1

Data Notes

The method developed by C.L. Chiang was used to compute life expectancy.   [[br]][[br]] U.S. 2020 estimate from U.S. 2020 data from NVSS Report No. 23 "Provisional Life Expectancy Estimates for 2021" , August, 2022 https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr023.pdf

Data Sources

  • Population Estimates by Age, Sex, Race, and Hispanic Origin for Counties in Utah, U.S. Bureau of the Census, IBIS Version 2021
  • Utah Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Records and Statistics, Utah Department of Health
  • National Center for Health Statistics

More Resources and Links

Evidence-based community health improvement ideas and interventions may be found at the following sites:
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER Database, a system for disseminating Public Health data and information.
  • United States Census Bureau data dashboard.
  • Utah healthy Places Index Map, evidence-based and peer-reviewed and supports efforts to prioritize equitable community investments, develop critical programs and policies across the state, and much more.
  • County Health Rankings
  • Kaiser Family Foundation's StateHealthFacts.org
  • Medical literature can be queried at PubMedlibrary.



Page Content Updated On 01/24/2023, Published on 07/10/2023
Division of Data, Systems, and Evaluation, Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2101, Telephone: Email: dse@utah.gov
The information provided above is from the Department of Health's Center for Health Data IBIS-PH web site (http://ibis.health.state.gov). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Sat, 30 September 2023 12:47:40 from Department of Health, Center for Health Data, Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health Web site: http://ibis.health.state.gov ".

Content updated: Mon, 10 Jul 2023 15:43:33 MDT