STACKER—Life expectancy in the United States has generally been on the rise. Between 1960 and 2019, the life expectancy of Americans rose by roughly a decade to the age of 79. Greater longevity can be attributed to improved health care such as diagnostic and medical advancements, as well as healthier lifestyle choices relating to diet, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Since 2020, however, life expectancy has started to decline.

The opioid epidemic, COVID-19, and unintentional injuries—largely driven by drug overdoses—were the leading causes of a three-year decrease in life expectancy over the last two years. Stark disparities among certain segments of the population have also been observed. American Indians/Alaska Natives saw a life expectancy decrease of more than six years; Hispanic and Black Americans, a drop of four years; and white and Asian Americans, a decrease of about two years. While no one single factor determines the overall health of an entire community, certain socioeconomic and environmental factors such as access to health care, substance abuse treatments, clean air, clean water, and affordable housing contribute significantly to the general health and well-being of the entire population.

Using 2022 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, Stacker identified counties with the shortest life expectancy in Texas. Life expectancy measures the average number of years from birth a person can expect to live and is calculated based on the number of deaths in a given time period and the average number of people at risk of dying during that period.

Counties with unreliable or insufficient data were excluded from the analysis. Mortality data came from the National Vital Statistics System.
Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

49. Limestone County

• Average life expectancy: 74.6 years (3.8 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #228
  — Length of life rank: #210
  — Quality of life rank: #231
  Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons

48. Shelby County

• Average life expectancy: 74.6 years (3.8 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #204
  — Length of life rank: #193
  — Quality of life rank: #203
  Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

47. Henderson County

• Average life expectancy: 74.6 years (3.8 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #185
  — Length of life rank: #209
  — Quality of life rank: #148
  Eaglegrafix // Wikimedia Commons

46. Gregg County

• Average life expectancy: 74.6 years (3.8 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #177
  — Length of life rank: #176
  — Quality of life rank: #175
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45. Hale County

• Average life expectancy: 74.6 years (3.8 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #138
  — Length of life rank: #148
  — Quality of life rank: #139
  Renelibrary // Wikimedia Commons

44. Marion County

• Average life expectancy: 74.5 years (3.9 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #231
  — Length of life rank: #232
  — Quality of life rank: #207
  Mark Oxner // Wikimedia Commons

43. Bowie County

• Average life expectancy: 74.5 years (3.9 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #205
  — Length of life rank: #183
  — Quality of life rank: #210
  Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons

42. Hockley County

• Average life expectancy: 74.5 years (3.9 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #194
  — Length of life rank: #190
  — Quality of life rank: #182
  Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons

41. Wheeler County

• Average life expectancy: 74.5 years (3.9 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #155
  — Length of life rank: #178
  — Quality of life rank: #96
  Renelibrary // Wikimedia Commons

40. Brown County

• Average life expectancy: 74.5 years (3.9 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #153
  — Length of life rank: #170
  — Quality of life rank: #114
  Jpo tx113 // Wikimedia Commons

39. Trinity County

• Average life expectancy: 74.3 years (4.1 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #209
  — Length of life rank: #208
  — Quality of life rank: #190
  25or6to4 // Wikimedia Commons

39. Kleberg County

• Average life expectancy: 74.3 years (4.1 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #160
  — Length of life rank: #169
  — Quality of life rank: #131
  Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

38. Jim Hogg County

• Average life expectancy: 74.2 years (4.2 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #212
  — Length of life rank: #202
  — Quality of life rank: #197
  Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

37. Floyd County

• Average life expectancy: 74.2 years (4.2 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #199
  — Length of life rank: #206
  — Quality of life rank: #179
  Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

36. Liberty County

• Average life expectancy: 74.2 years (4.2 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #193
  — Length of life rank: #181
  — Quality of life rank: #189
  Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

35. Jim Wells County

• Average life expectancy: 74.1 years (4.3 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #232
  — Length of life rank: #225
  — Quality of life rank: #224
  Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

34. Morris County

• Average life expectancy: 74.1 years (4.3 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #223
  — Length of life rank: #217
  — Quality of life rank: #209
  Wrbalusek // Wikimedia Commons

33. Jasper County

• Average life expectancy: 74.1 years (4.3 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #222
  — Length of life rank: #223
  — Quality of life rank: #193
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32. Panola County

• Average life expectancy: 74.1 years (4.3 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #206
  — Length of life rank: #199
  — Quality of life rank: #200
  Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons

31. Lynn County

• Average life expectancy: 74 years (4.4 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #225
  — Length of life rank: #212
  — Quality of life rank: #220
  Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

30. Wilbarger County

• Average life expectancy: 74 years (4.4 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #221
  — Length of life rank: #195
  — Quality of life rank: #222
  Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons

29. Howard County

• Average life expectancy: 74 years (4.4 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #197
  — Length of life rank: #186
  — Quality of life rank: #188
  Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

28. Orange County

• Average life expectancy: 74 years (4.4 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #191
  — Length of life rank: #196
  — Quality of life rank: #176
  Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons

27. Gray County

• Average life expectancy: 74 years (4.4 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #165
  — Length of life rank: #182
  — Quality of life rank: #123
  Renelibrary // Wikimedia Commons

26. Young County

• Average life expectancy: 74 years (4.4 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #105
  — Length of life rank: #194
  — Quality of life rank: #23
  Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons

25. Zavala County

• Average life expectancy: 73.9 years (4.5 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #239
  — Length of life rank: #214
  — Quality of life rank: #239
  Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

24. Nolan County

• Average life expectancy: 73.9 years (4.5 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #174
  — Length of life rank: #198
  — Quality of life rank: #140
  Michael Barera // Wikimedia Commons

23. Delta County

• Average life expectancy: 73.9 years (4.5 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #150
  — Length of life rank: #215
  — Quality of life rank: #44
  Adavyd // Wikimedia Commons

22. Lamar County

• Average life expectancy: 73.8 years (4.6 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #219
  — Length of life rank: #228
  — Quality of life rank: #180
  Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons

21. Ector County

• Average life expectancy: 73.8 years (4.6 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #173
  — Length of life rank: #200
  — Quality of life rank: #130
  Canva

20. Lamb County

• Average life expectancy: 73.7 years (4.7 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #214
  — Length of life rank: #203
  — Quality of life rank: #201
  Nicolas Henderson // Wikimedia Commons

19. Knox County

• Average life expectancy: 73.7 years (4.7 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #168
  — Length of life rank: #205
  — Quality of life rank: #95
  Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons

18. Crosby County

• Average life expectancy: 73.6 years (4.8 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #226
  — Length of life rank: #216
  — Quality of life rank: #217
  Wordbuilder // Wikimedia Commons

17. Hutchinson County

• Average life expectancy: 73.6 years (4.8 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #200
  — Length of life rank: #219
  — Quality of life rank: #161
  Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

16. Montague County

• Average life expectancy: 73.5 years (4.9 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #210
  — Length of life rank: #230
  — Quality of life rank: #150
  Renelibrary // Wikimedia Commons

15. Swisher County

• Average life expectancy: 73.4 years (5.0 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #241
  — Length of life rank: #234
  — Quality of life rank: #225
  Canva

14. Baylor County

• Average life expectancy: 73.4 years (5.0 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #207
  — Length of life rank: #226
  — Quality of life rank: #157
  Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons

13. Terry County

• Average life expectancy: 73.3 years (5.1 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #234
  — Length of life rank: #221
  — Quality of life rank: #229
  Library of Congress

12. Dawson County

• Average life expectancy: 73.2 years (5.2 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #242
  — Length of life rank: #231
  — Quality of life rank: #241
  Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

11. Anderson County

• Average life expectancy: 73.2 years (5.2 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #184
  — Length of life rank: #220
  — Quality of life rank: #115
  Renelibrary // Wikimedia Commons

10. Coleman County

• Average life expectancy: 72.8 years (5.6 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #233
  — Length of life rank: #238
  — Quality of life rank: #186
  Carol M. Highsmith // Wikimedia Commons

9. Winkler County

• Average life expectancy: 72.5 years (5.9 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #240
  — Length of life rank: #241
  — Quality of life rank: #196
  Charles Henry // Flickr

8. Potter County

• Average life expectancy: 72.5 years (5.9 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #236
  — Length of life rank: #233
  — Quality of life rank: #215
  Jim Evans // Wikimedia Commons

7. Polk County

• Average life expectancy: 72.5 years (5.9 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #196
  — Length of life rank: #213
  — Quality of life rank: #154
  Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons

6. Donley County

• Average life expectancy: 72.5 years (5.9 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #181
  — Length of life rank: #102
  — Quality of life rank: #227
  Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

5. Martin County

• Average life expectancy: 72.4 years (6.0 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #198
  — Length of life rank: #236
  — Quality of life rank: #61
  Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons

4. Crockett County

• Average life expectancy: 72.2 years (6.2 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #230
  — Length of life rank: #242
  — Quality of life rank: #121
  Canva

3. Brooks County

• Average life expectancy: 72.1 years (6.3 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #244
  — Length of life rank: #243
  — Quality of life rank: #238
  Michael Barera // Wikimedia Commons

2. Red River County

• Average life expectancy: 72 years (6.4 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #243
  — Length of life rank: #244
  — Quality of life rank: #204
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1. Collingsworth County

• Average life expectancy: 72 years (6.4 less than the statewide average)
• Health outcomes statewide rank: #136
  — Length of life rank: #102
  — Quality of life rank: #152