Counties with the shortest life expectancy in Indiana
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 Indiana. 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.
#47. Martin County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #56
--- Length of life rank: #59
--- Quality of life rank: #44
#47. Pike County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #52
--- Length of life rank: #35
--- Quality of life rank: #70
#47. Daviess County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #36
--- Length of life rank: #21
--- Quality of life rank: #52
#47. DeKalb County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #33
--- Length of life rank: #39
--- Quality of life rank: #24
#46. St. Joseph County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #51
--- Length of life rank: #44
--- Quality of life rank: #57
#45. Lawrence County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #53
--- Length of life rank: #45
--- Quality of life rank: #60
#42. Sullivan County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #59
--- Length of life rank: #57
--- Quality of life rank: #55
#42. Shelby County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #49
--- Length of life rank: #56
--- Quality of life rank: #37
#42. Morgan County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #41
--- Length of life rank: #38
--- Quality of life rank: #46
#41. Union County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #45
--- Length of life rank: #60
--- Quality of life rank: #29
#40. Newton County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #47
--- Length of life rank: #52
--- Quality of life rank: #38
#34. Switzerland County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #88
--- Length of life rank: #87
--- Quality of life rank: #91
#34. Cass County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #67
--- Length of life rank: #62
--- Quality of life rank: #71
#34. Wabash County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #57
--- Length of life rank: #48
--- Quality of life rank: #59
#34. Clinton County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #55
--- Length of life rank: #53
--- Quality of life rank: #48
#34. White County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #43
--- Length of life rank: #61
--- Quality of life rank: #25
#34. Decatur County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #35
--- Length of life rank: #42
--- Quality of life rank: #27
#32. Lake County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #64
--- Length of life rank: #68
--- Quality of life rank: #62
#32. Greene County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #62
--- Length of life rank: #54
--- Quality of life rank: #72
#31. Clay County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #60
--- Length of life rank: #55
--- Quality of life rank: #61
#29. Jay County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #81
--- Length of life rank: #77
--- Quality of life rank: #85
#29. Vanderburgh County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #71
--- Length of life rank: #65
--- Quality of life rank: #80
#26. LaPorte County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #72
--- Length of life rank: #69
--- Quality of life rank: #76
#26. Vigo County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #69
--- Length of life rank: #58
--- Quality of life rank: #78
#26. Jefferson County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #58
--- Length of life rank: #51
--- Quality of life rank: #54
#25. Floyd County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #50
--- Length of life rank: #63
--- Quality of life rank: #31
#23. Henry County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #68
--- Length of life rank: #67
--- Quality of life rank: #64
#23. Jackson County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #54
--- Length of life rank: #64
--- Quality of life rank: #36
#20. Randolph County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #78
--- Length of life rank: #78
--- Quality of life rank: #77
#20. Madison County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #75
--- Length of life rank: #71
--- Quality of life rank: #82
#20. Washington County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #70
--- Length of life rank: #75
--- Quality of life rank: #56
#15. Blackford County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #83
--- Length of life rank: #76
--- Quality of life rank: #88
#15. Marion County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #82
--- Length of life rank: #81
--- Quality of life rank: #79
#15. Orange County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #74
--- Length of life rank: #74
--- Quality of life rank: #75
#15. Owen County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #73
--- Length of life rank: #72
--- Quality of life rank: #74
#15. Vermillion County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #66
--- Length of life rank: #66
--- Quality of life rank: #66
#14. Clark County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #65
--- Length of life rank: #73
--- Quality of life rank: #53
#13. Fountain County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #61
--- Length of life rank: #70
--- Quality of life rank: #42
#12. Fulton County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #77
--- Length of life rank: #80
--- Quality of life rank: #69
#11. Knox County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #80
--- Length of life rank: #79
--- Quality of life rank: #81
#8. Crawford County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #92
--- Length of life rank: #88
--- Quality of life rank: #92
#8. Delaware County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #86
--- Length of life rank: #82
--- Quality of life rank: #86
#8. Pulaski County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #84
--- Length of life rank: #86
--- Quality of life rank: #67
#7. Howard County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #79
--- Length of life rank: #83
--- Quality of life rank: #63
#6. Starke County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #85
--- Length of life rank: #84
--- Quality of life rank: #73
#5. Jennings County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #76
--- Length of life rank: #85
--- Quality of life rank: #47
#4. Grant County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #89
--- Length of life rank: #89
--- Quality of life rank: #90
#3. Wayne County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #87
--- Length of life rank: #90
--- Quality of life rank: #83
#2. Fayette County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #91
--- Length of life rank: #92
--- Quality of life rank: #87
#1. Scott County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #90
--- Length of life rank: #91
--- Quality of life rank: #89