Counties with the shortest life expectancy in Illinois
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 Illinois. 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.
#49. Marshall County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #49
--- Length of life rank: #57
--- Quality of life rank: #40
#49. Grundy County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #27
--- Length of life rank: #44
--- Quality of life rank: #13
#48. Moultrie County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #24
--- Length of life rank: #19
--- Quality of life rank: #30
#46. Randolph County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #69
--- Length of life rank: #64
--- Quality of life rank: #74
#46. Johnson County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #61
--- Length of life rank: #78
--- Quality of life rank: #33
#44. Peoria County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #81
--- Length of life rank: #79
--- Quality of life rank: #75
#44. Logan County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #46
--- Length of life rank: #42
--- Quality of life rank: #53
#40. Morgan County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #80
--- Length of life rank: #63
--- Quality of life rank: #89
#40. Macoupin County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #78
--- Length of life rank: #60
--- Quality of life rank: #87
#40. Greene County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #59
--- Length of life rank: #50
--- Quality of life rank: #68
#40. Richland County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #55
--- Length of life rank: #65
--- Quality of life rank: #52
#38. Kankakee County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #74
--- Length of life rank: #74
--- Quality of life rank: #72
#38. Warren County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #40
--- Length of life rank: #51
--- Quality of life rank: #26
#33. Wayne County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #77
--- Length of life rank: #75
--- Quality of life rank: #73
#33. Clay County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #70
--- Length of life rank: #59
--- Quality of life rank: #78
#33. Christian County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #68
--- Length of life rank: #56
--- Quality of life rank: #82
#33. Pike County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #63
--- Length of life rank: #61
--- Quality of life rank: #65
#33. LaSalle County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #54
--- Length of life rank: #68
--- Quality of life rank: #48
#31. Cass County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #82
--- Length of life rank: #72
--- Quality of life rank: #90
#31. Schuyler County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #71
--- Length of life rank: #76
--- Quality of life rank: #58
#26. Macon County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #90
--- Length of life rank: #86
--- Quality of life rank: #93
#26. Edwards County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #85
--- Length of life rank: #94
--- Quality of life rank: #55
#26. Knox County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #67
--- Length of life rank: #58
--- Quality of life rank: #77
#26. Madison County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #60
--- Length of life rank: #73
--- Quality of life rank: #45
#26. Ford County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #34
--- Length of life rank: #33
--- Quality of life rank: #31
#25. Winnebago County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #88
--- Length of life rank: #89
--- Quality of life rank: #81
#20. Montgomery County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #89
--- Length of life rank: #88
--- Quality of life rank: #86
#20. Livingston County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #79
--- Length of life rank: #80
--- Quality of life rank: #70
#20. Clark County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #58
--- Length of life rank: #70
--- Quality of life rank: #49
#20. Jersey County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #56
--- Length of life rank: #71
--- Quality of life rank: #43
#20. Stark County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #52
--- Length of life rank: #67
--- Quality of life rank: #47
#18. Iroquois County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #76
--- Length of life rank: #83
--- Quality of life rank: #62
#18. Fulton County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #64
--- Length of life rank: #66
--- Quality of life rank: #61
#17. Edgar County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #73
--- Length of life rank: #82
--- Quality of life rank: #56
#16. St. Clair County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #92
--- Length of life rank: #93
--- Quality of life rank: #83
#15. Jefferson County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #91
--- Length of life rank: #87
--- Quality of life rank: #95
#14. Union County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #75
--- Length of life rank: #84
--- Quality of life rank: #57
#12. Lawrence County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #93
--- Length of life rank: #85
--- Quality of life rank: #97
#12. Mason County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #83
--- Length of life rank: #91
--- Quality of life rank: #69
#10. Franklin County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #94
--- Length of life rank: #92
--- Quality of life rank: #92
#10. DeWitt County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #65
--- Length of life rank: #90
--- Quality of life rank: #21
#8. Massac County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #95
--- Length of life rank: #95
--- Quality of life rank: #88
#8. White County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #86
--- Length of life rank: #81
--- Quality of life rank: #84
#7. Vermilion County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #100
--- Length of life rank: #96
--- Quality of life rank: #100
#6. Pulaski County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #101
--- Length of life rank: #97
--- Quality of life rank: #102
#5. Hardin County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #96
--- Length of life rank: #101
--- Quality of life rank: #85
#4. Marion County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #97
--- Length of life rank: #99
--- Quality of life rank: #94
#2. Saline County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #99
--- Length of life rank: #98
--- Quality of life rank: #98
#2. Gallatin County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #98
--- Length of life rank: #100
--- Quality of life rank: #96
#1. Alexander County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #102
--- Length of life rank: #102
--- Quality of life rank: #101