Counties with the shortest life expectancy in Colorado

Written by:
December 21, 2022
Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons

Counties with the shortest life expectancy in Colorado

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 Colorado. 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.

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Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons

#33. Yuma County

- Average life expectancy: 79.7 years (0.3 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #22
--- Length of life rank: #19
--- Quality of life rank: #27
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Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons

#32. Rio Blanco County

- Average life expectancy: 79.5 years (0.5 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #25
--- Length of life rank: #21
--- Quality of life rank: #32
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Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons

#31. Lincoln County

- Average life expectancy: 79.2 years (0.8 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #24
--- Length of life rank: #17
--- Quality of life rank: #33
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Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Custer County

- Average life expectancy: 79 years (1.0 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #41
--- Length of life rank: #29
--- Quality of life rank: #51
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Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Cheyenne County

- Average life expectancy: 79 years (1.0 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #35
--- Length of life rank: #29
--- Quality of life rank: #37
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f11photo // Shutterstock

#28. Denver

- Average life expectancy: 78.9 years (1.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #23
--- Length of life rank: #27
--- Quality of life rank: #17
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Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Saguache County

- Average life expectancy: 78.8 years (1.2 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #57
--- Length of life rank: #56
--- Quality of life rank: #56
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Bdearthco // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Adams County

- Average life expectancy: 78.6 years (1.4 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #27
--- Length of life rank: #25
--- Quality of life rank: #26
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Eleaf // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Mesa County

- Average life expectancy: 78.3 years (1.7 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #32
--- Length of life rank: #39
--- Quality of life rank: #29
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Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Kit Carson County

- Average life expectancy: 78.1 years (1.9 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #36
--- Length of life rank: #43
--- Quality of life rank: #30
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Robert Corby // Wikimedia Commons

#23. El Paso County

- Average life expectancy: 78.1 years (1.9 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #33
--- Length of life rank: #41
--- Quality of life rank: #21
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Acutemi // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Logan County

- Average life expectancy: 77.7 years (2.3 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #38
--- Length of life rank: #42
--- Quality of life rank: #36
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Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Phillips County

- Average life expectancy: 77.5 years (2.5 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #29
--- Length of life rank: #29
--- Quality of life rank: #24
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Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Costilla County

- Average life expectancy: 77.2 years (2.8 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #56
--- Length of life rank: #29
--- Quality of life rank: #59
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Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Crowley County

- Average life expectancy: 77.2 years (2.8 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #47
--- Length of life rank: #40
--- Quality of life rank: #54
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Originalgum // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Delta County

- Average life expectancy: 77.1 years (2.9 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #48
--- Length of life rank: #47
--- Quality of life rank: #47
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Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Montezuma County

- Average life expectancy: 77 years (3.0 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #51
--- Length of life rank: #53
--- Quality of life rank: #43
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Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Morgan County

- Average life expectancy: 77 years (3.0 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #40
--- Length of life rank: #44
--- Quality of life rank: #39
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RandieCraft // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Moffat County

- Average life expectancy: 76.9 years (3.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #43
--- Length of life rank: #45
--- Quality of life rank: #42
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Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Fremont County

- Average life expectancy: 76.9 years (3.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #42
--- Length of life rank: #46
--- Quality of life rank: #40
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Calvin Beale // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Sedgwick County

- Average life expectancy: 76.8 years (3.2 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #37
--- Length of life rank: #29
--- Quality of life rank: #45
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Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Washington County

- Average life expectancy: 76.7 years (3.3 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #45
--- Length of life rank: #50
--- Quality of life rank: #31
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Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Baca County

- Average life expectancy: 76.4 years (3.6 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #39
--- Length of life rank: #29
--- Quality of life rank: #46
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Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Prowers County

- Average life expectancy: 76.2 years (3.8 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #46
--- Length of life rank: #48
--- Quality of life rank: #41
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Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Las Animas County

- Average life expectancy: 76 years (4.0 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #55
--- Length of life rank: #57
--- Quality of life rank: #48
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Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Rio Grande County

- Average life expectancy: 76 years (4.0 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #50
--- Length of life rank: #49
--- Quality of life rank: #49
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Acroterion // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Dolores County

- Average life expectancy: 75.7 years (4.3 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #49
--- Length of life rank: #29
--- Quality of life rank: #57
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Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Huerfano County

- Average life expectancy: 75.7 years (4.3 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #44
--- Length of life rank: #51
--- Quality of life rank: #28
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Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Conejos County

- Average life expectancy: 75.4 years (4.6 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #54
--- Length of life rank: #55
--- Quality of life rank: #53
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Milan Suvajac // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Alamosa County

- Average life expectancy: 75.1 years (4.9 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #53
--- Length of life rank: #52
--- Quality of life rank: #55
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John Wark // Wikicommons

#3. Pueblo County

- Average life expectancy: 75.1 years (4.9 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #52
--- Length of life rank: #54
--- Quality of life rank: #44
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Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Bent County

- Average life expectancy: 74 years (6.0 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #58
--- Length of life rank: #58
--- Quality of life rank: #58
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Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Otero County

- Average life expectancy: 72.1 years (7.9 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #59
--- Length of life rank: #59
--- Quality of life rank: #52

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