Counties with the shortest life expectancy in Arkansas
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 wellbeing 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 Arkansas. 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.
#45. Cleburne County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #29
--- Length of life rank: #45
--- Quality of life rank: #12
#45. Yell County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #25
--- Length of life rank: #15
--- Quality of life rank: #46
#45. Newton County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #23
--- Length of life rank: #46
--- Quality of life rank: #5
#45. White County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #20
--- Length of life rank: #22
--- Quality of life rank: #18
#45. Pike County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #12
--- Length of life rank: #12
--- Quality of life rank: #20
#45. Lonoke County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #5
--- Length of life rank: #18
--- Quality of life rank: #6
#42. Montgomery County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #33
--- Length of life rank: #33
--- Quality of life rank: #30
#42. Cleveland County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #26
--- Length of life rank: #23
--- Quality of life rank: #32
#42. Greene County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #14
--- Length of life rank: #16
--- Quality of life rank: #22
#41. Searcy County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #45
--- Length of life rank: #43
--- Quality of life rank: #39
#40. Nevada County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #40
--- Length of life rank: #28
--- Quality of life rank: #56
#39. Marion County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #30
--- Length of life rank: #38
--- Quality of life rank: #24
#37. Polk County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #38
--- Length of life rank: #36
--- Quality of life rank: #42
#37. Izard County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #37
--- Length of life rank: #54
--- Quality of life rank: #21
#34. St. Francis County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #63
--- Length of life rank: #47
--- Quality of life rank: #70
#34. Prairie County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #51
--- Length of life rank: #56
--- Quality of life rank: #43
#34. Garland County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #35
--- Length of life rank: #53
--- Quality of life rank: #19
#33. Lafayette County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #55
--- Length of life rank: #34
--- Quality of life rank: #64
#29. Franklin County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #52
--- Length of life rank: #50
--- Quality of life rank: #54
#29. Randolph County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #46
--- Length of life rank: #42
--- Quality of life rank: #48
#29. Drew County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #42
--- Length of life rank: #48
--- Quality of life rank: #29
#29. Hot Spring County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #31
--- Length of life rank: #35
--- Quality of life rank: #28
#26. Columbia County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #56
--- Length of life rank: #40
--- Quality of life rank: #63
#26. Logan County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #47
--- Length of life rank: #39
--- Quality of life rank: #53
#26. Lincoln County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #36
--- Length of life rank: #37
--- Quality of life rank: #37
#24. Dallas County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #60
--- Length of life rank: #59
--- Quality of life rank: #59
#24. Ashley County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #57
--- Length of life rank: #49
--- Quality of life rank: #60
#23. Miller County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #48
--- Length of life rank: #51
--- Quality of life rank: #41
#22. Howard County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #41
--- Length of life rank: #41
--- Quality of life rank: #38
#21. Scott County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #64
--- Length of life rank: #63
--- Quality of life rank: #61
#20. Little River County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #39
--- Length of life rank: #44
--- Quality of life rank: #33
#18. Lawrence County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #50
--- Length of life rank: #57
--- Quality of life rank: #35
#18. Clay County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #49
--- Length of life rank: #52
--- Quality of life rank: #44
#16. Arkansas County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #54
--- Length of life rank: #55
--- Quality of life rank: #47
#16. Calhoun County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #53
--- Length of life rank: #61
--- Quality of life rank: #31
#15. Ouachita County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #62
--- Length of life rank: #60
--- Quality of life rank: #62
#13. Jackson County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #65
--- Length of life rank: #58
--- Quality of life rank: #68
#13. Woodruff County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #58
--- Length of life rank: #62
--- Quality of life rank: #52
#12. Jefferson County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #68
--- Length of life rank: #67
--- Quality of life rank: #65
#8. Desha County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #72
--- Length of life rank: #65
--- Quality of life rank: #75
#8. Chicot County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #70
--- Length of life rank: #68
--- Quality of life rank: #73
#8. Crittenden County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #69
--- Length of life rank: #66
--- Quality of life rank: #71
#8. Bradley County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #66
--- Length of life rank: #70
--- Quality of life rank: #57
#7. Cross County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #59
--- Length of life rank: #64
--- Quality of life rank: #50
#6. Union County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #61
--- Length of life rank: #69
--- Quality of life rank: #36
#5. Lee County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #71
--- Length of life rank: #72
--- Quality of life rank: #72
#4. Poinsett County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #67
--- Length of life rank: #71
--- Quality of life rank: #58
#2. Monroe County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #74
--- Length of life rank: #74
--- Quality of life rank: #69
#2. Mississippi County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #73
--- Length of life rank: #73
--- Quality of life rank: #66
#1. Phillips County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #75
--- Length of life rank: #74
--- Quality of life rank: #74