A new report on longevity reveals that New Jersey residents are among the healthiest in the nation, with a life expectancy of 79 years, ranking fifth in the United States. According to the National Vital Statistics Report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the state’s life expectancy has rebounded after a period of decline.
The report, which analyzed data from 2021, shows that New Jersey experienced one of the greatest increases in life expectancy from 2020 to 2021, alongside 10 other states. This surge comes after a decline in life expectancy in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
New Jersey’s high life expectancy is attributed to the overall health of its residents, which has been steadily improving. The state’s life expectancy had been increasing until 2015, followed by small declines, and then a slight increase in 2019 before the pandemic.
The CDC report highlights that states with the highest life expectancy are predominantly located in the western and northeastern regions, with Hawaii ranking first at 79.9 years and Mississippi ranking last at 70.9 years.