Counties with the shortest life expectancy in Iowa
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 Iowa. 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.
#48. Page County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #66
--- Length of life rank: #48
--- Quality of life rank: #85
#48. Scott County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #53
--- Length of life rank: #47
--- Quality of life rank: #60
#48. Jackson County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #43
--- Length of life rank: #51
--- Quality of life rank: #37
#45. Calhoun County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #75
--- Length of life rank: #55
--- Quality of life rank: #90
#45. Chickasaw County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #34
--- Length of life rank: #46
--- Quality of life rank: #23
#45. Iowa County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #14
--- Length of life rank: #23
--- Quality of life rank: #11
#43. Franklin County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #61
--- Length of life rank: #62
--- Quality of life rank: #48
#43. Polk County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #45
--- Length of life rank: #52
--- Quality of life rank: #34
#42. Louisa County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #84
--- Length of life rank: #82
--- Quality of life rank: #78
#38. Taylor County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #74
--- Length of life rank: #74
--- Quality of life rank: #74
#38. Mahaska County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #56
--- Length of life rank: #45
--- Quality of life rank: #73
#38. Cherokee County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #55
--- Length of life rank: #58
--- Quality of life rank: #43
#38. Adair County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #52
--- Length of life rank: #65
--- Quality of life rank: #36
#36. Davis County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #77
--- Length of life rank: #72
--- Quality of life rank: #79
#36. Butler County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #54
--- Length of life rank: #60
--- Quality of life rank: #41
#35. Decatur County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #95
--- Length of life rank: #92
--- Quality of life rank: #95
#34. Fayette County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #71
--- Length of life rank: #73
--- Quality of life rank: #66
#32. Audubon County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #76
--- Length of life rank: #89
--- Quality of life rank: #39
#32. Muscatine County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #68
--- Length of life rank: #54
--- Quality of life rank: #80
#26. Des Moines County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #88
--- Length of life rank: #76
--- Quality of life rank: #91
#26. Fremont County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #86
--- Length of life rank: #90
--- Quality of life rank: #63
#26. Cerro Gordo County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #80
--- Length of life rank: #85
--- Quality of life rank: #59
#26. Black Hawk County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #78
--- Length of life rank: #68
--- Quality of life rank: #84
#26. Hamilton County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #60
--- Length of life rank: #79
--- Quality of life rank: #28
#26. Allamakee County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #48
--- Length of life rank: #53
--- Quality of life rank: #42
#25. Wayne County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #81
--- Length of life rank: #57
--- Quality of life rank: #93
#22. Clinton County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #89
--- Length of life rank: #80
--- Quality of life rank: #97
#22. Lucas County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #73
--- Length of life rank: #78
--- Quality of life rank: #69
#22. Pocahontas County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #64
--- Length of life rank: #69
--- Quality of life rank: #51
#20. Palo Alto County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #72
--- Length of life rank: #87
--- Quality of life rank: #32
#20. Ringgold County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #58
--- Length of life rank: #56
--- Quality of life rank: #55
#16. Appanoose County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #93
--- Length of life rank: #75
--- Quality of life rank: #99
#16. Pottawattamie County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #90
--- Length of life rank: #88
--- Quality of life rank: #86
#16. Monroe County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #62
--- Length of life rank: #63
--- Quality of life rank: #57
#16. O'Brien County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #50
--- Length of life rank: #66
--- Quality of life rank: #31
#15. Van Buren County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #51
--- Length of life rank: #64
--- Quality of life rank: #33
#14. Emmet County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #87
--- Length of life rank: #94
--- Quality of life rank: #61
#12. Tama County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #85
--- Length of life rank: #83
--- Quality of life rank: #81
#12. Marshall County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #79
--- Length of life rank: #77
--- Quality of life rank: #77
#11. Webster County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #82
--- Length of life rank: #81
--- Quality of life rank: #75
#10. Woodbury County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #83
--- Length of life rank: #84
--- Quality of life rank: #72
#9. Ida County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #63
--- Length of life rank: #70
--- Quality of life rank: #44
#8. Union County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #91
--- Length of life rank: #99
--- Quality of life rank: #58
#7. Clarke County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #96
--- Length of life rank: #93
--- Quality of life rank: #94
#6. Lee County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #98
--- Length of life rank: #95
--- Quality of life rank: #98
#5. Harrison County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #67
--- Length of life rank: #67
--- Quality of life rank: #65
#4. Cass County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #92
--- Length of life rank: #96
--- Quality of life rank: #87
#3. Wapello County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #94
--- Length of life rank: #91
--- Quality of life rank: #92
#2. Monona County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #97
--- Length of life rank: #98
--- Quality of life rank: #89
#1. Montgomery County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #99
--- Length of life rank: #97
--- Quality of life rank: #96