The Average Life Expectancy In West Virginia Is Lower Than The National Average

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Despite being nestled in the sprawling Appalachian Mountains and its beautiful geography, life expectancy in West Virginia is lower than the national average. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 2020 and 2021, the life expectancy of people in West Virginia dropped by two years. This means that people who were born in 2021 will have an average life expectancy of only 71 years, a sharp contrast to other states like Hawaii and Massachusetts, where life expectancies are 79.9 and 79.6 years, respectively. In fact, the only state that has a lower life expectancy than West Virginia is Mississippi, at 70.9 years of age.

Although the national life expectancy average took a hit, dropping to 76.4 in 2021 from 77 in 2020, certain states, like West Virginia, have seen their life expectancy rate continue to decline. Granted, there was a worldwide pandemic in 2020, which, of course, affected life expectancy rates across the globe, but as of 2021, the top three reasons for deaths in West Virginia weren’t COVID-related. Instead, cancer was at the top of the list, with accidents and drug overdoses not too far behind. 

While there can be many contributing factors that affect how long someone might live, in West Virginia poverty, socioeconomic situations, as well as limited access to healthcare and education regarding physical and mental health, seem to be at play. West Virginia also has the lowest life expectancy for women in the country.

As of 2021, the number one reason for deaths in West Virginia was cancer, with 148.7 deaths per capita — a number that can easily be explained by unhealthy lifestyle choices. 

According to the American Lung Association, West Virginia has the highest rate of smokers at 21%, and tobacco use is the leading cause of cancer. West Virginia is also home to the highest amount of obese people in the U.S., with 41.2% of the state’s population having a BMI of 40% or more. In researching the correlation between obesity and contributing factors, the CDC found that the majority of those who are obese in the U.S. have very minimal education; most didn’t even finish high school. The least educated state in the country and the one with one of the highest unemployment rates? West Virginia, per Newsweek. 

Per the World Health Organization, one-third of cancer-related deaths can be attributed to smoking, high BMI, lack of physical activity, and not eating enough fruits and vegetables. It is possible that many in West Virginia are not getting the necessary information about what they should be doing to take care of their bodies and what they should be avoiding. However, with West Virginia’s poverty rate (the third lowest in the country), their lifestyle choices might be more based on staying fed and less about what that food is. 

As if cancer, obesity, and poverty rates in West Virginia weren’t enough, 134.7 deaths per capita are due to accidents, the second most common cause of death in the state. A lack of proper asphalt and poor lighting make the roads notoriously dangerous. Then, if an accident does occur, because of the rural landscape, getting medical care anywhere in a timely manner can be a feat.

The third reason for West Virginia’s low life expectancy: drug overdoses. When prescription painkillers became easily accessible in the mid-1990s, it set in motion an eventual opioid crisis, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths — and it doesn’t show signs of stopping. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, opioid-related deaths increased from 49,860 in 2019 to over 80,000 in 2022. One of the states hit hardest was West Virginia, which has remained the state with the highest overdose death rate between 2011 and 2021 (per SHADAC).

While it may look like the cards are stacked against West Virginians, not everyone in the state has to become a statistic. If you’re struggling with drug addiction, there are plenty of programs to help you kick the habit; it also helps to have Narcan with you. If you’re a smoker, patches and gums can help you wean yourself off tobacco. If you can’t afford to eat fresh vegetables at every meal, then substitute at least one processed thing with a vegetable or fruit every day. Small changes matter.

If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).