Parishes with the shortest life expectancy in Louisiana
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 parishes with the shortest life expectancy in Louisiana. 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. Parishes with unreliable or insufficient data were excluded from the analysis. Mortality data came from the National Vital Statistics System.
#44. St. Martin Parish
- Average life expectancy: 75.2 years (same as statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #19
--- Length of life rank: #18
--- Quality of life rank: #24
#44. Beauregard Parish
- Average life expectancy: 75.2 years (same as statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #14
--- Length of life rank: #15
--- Quality of life rank: #11
#40. Terrebonne Parish
- Average life expectancy: 75.1 years (0.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #23
--- Length of life rank: #21
--- Quality of life rank: #29
#40. East Baton Rouge Parish
- Average life expectancy: 75.1 years (0.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #20
--- Length of life rank: #34
--- Quality of life rank: #10
#40. LaSalle Parish
- Average life expectancy: 75.1 years (0.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #17
--- Length of life rank: #16
--- Quality of life rank: #22
#40. Grant Parish
- Average life expectancy: 75.1 years (0.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #16
--- Length of life rank: #8
--- Quality of life rank: #19
#39. Claiborne Parish
- Average life expectancy: 74.9 years (0.3 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #51
--- Length of life rank: #24
--- Quality of life rank: #62
#38. St. Bernard Parish
- Average life expectancy: 74.8 years (0.4 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #40
--- Length of life rank: #47
--- Quality of life rank: #34
#36. Jackson Parish
- Average life expectancy: 74.7 years (0.5 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #41
--- Length of life rank: #40
--- Quality of life rank: #40
#36. Sabine Parish
- Average life expectancy: 74.7 years (0.5 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #31
--- Length of life rank: #45
--- Quality of life rank: #18
#33. Iberville Parish
- Average life expectancy: 74.6 years (0.6 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #39
--- Length of life rank: #33
--- Quality of life rank: #45
#33. Tangipahoa Parish
- Average life expectancy: 74.6 years (0.6 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #28
--- Length of life rank: #30
--- Quality of life rank: #25
#33. Catahoula Parish
- Average life expectancy: 74.6 years (0.6 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #26
--- Length of life rank: #19
--- Quality of life rank: #44
#32. Union Parish
- Average life expectancy: 74.5 years (0.7 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #24
--- Length of life rank: #26
--- Quality of life rank: #23
#29. Natchitoches Parish
- Average life expectancy: 74.4 years (0.8 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #47
--- Length of life rank: #36
--- Quality of life rank: #50
#29. West Carroll Parish
- Average life expectancy: 74.4 years (0.8 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #30
--- Length of life rank: #29
--- Quality of life rank: #37
#29. Calcasieu Parish
- Average life expectancy: 74.4 years (0.8 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #21
--- Length of life rank: #28
--- Quality of life rank: #17
#28. Vernon Parish
- Average life expectancy: 74.2 years (1.0 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #11
--- Length of life rank: #17
--- Quality of life rank: #7
#27. St. Mary Parish
- Average life expectancy: 74 years (1.2 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #37
--- Length of life rank: #41
--- Quality of life rank: #36
#23. Richland Parish
- Average life expectancy: 73.8 years (1.4 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #55
--- Length of life rank: #46
--- Quality of life rank: #60
#23. Winn Parish
- Average life expectancy: 73.8 years (1.4 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #35
--- Length of life rank: #31
--- Quality of life rank: #39
#23. St. John the Baptist Parish
- Average life expectancy: 73.8 years (1.4 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #34
--- Length of life rank: #38
--- Quality of life rank: #28
#23. Allen Parish
- Average life expectancy: 73.8 years (1.4 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #22
--- Length of life rank: #32
--- Quality of life rank: #13
#22. St. Helena Parish
- Average life expectancy: 73.7 years (1.5 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #49
--- Length of life rank: #57
--- Quality of life rank: #38
#18. Caddo Parish
- Average life expectancy: 73.6 years (1.6 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #48
--- Length of life rank: #50
--- Quality of life rank: #48
#18. Ouachita Parish
- Average life expectancy: 73.6 years (1.6 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #44
--- Length of life rank: #44
--- Quality of life rank: #41
#18. Iberia Parish
- Average life expectancy: 73.6 years (1.6 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #43
--- Length of life rank: #43
--- Quality of life rank: #42
#18. Acadia Parish
- Average life expectancy: 73.6 years (1.6 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #33
--- Length of life rank: #37
--- Quality of life rank: #30
#17. Caldwell Parish
- Average life expectancy: 73.3 years (1.9 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #42
--- Length of life rank: #39
--- Quality of life rank: #43
#16. Rapides Parish
- Average life expectancy: 73.2 years (2.0 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #46
--- Length of life rank: #51
--- Quality of life rank: #31
#13. Tensas Parish
- Average life expectancy: 73.1 years (2.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #59
--- Length of life rank: #61
--- Quality of life rank: #57
#13. Franklin Parish
- Average life expectancy: 73.1 years (2.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #52
--- Length of life rank: #42
--- Quality of life rank: #59
#13. Jefferson Davis Parish
- Average life expectancy: 73.1 years (2.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #36
--- Length of life rank: #48
--- Quality of life rank: #21
#11. Webster Parish
- Average life expectancy: 72.9 years (2.3 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #56
--- Length of life rank: #54
--- Quality of life rank: #55
#11. Avoyelles Parish
- Average life expectancy: 72.9 years (2.3 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #50
--- Length of life rank: #52
--- Quality of life rank: #52
#10. Red River Parish
- Average life expectancy: 72.7 years (2.5 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #54
--- Length of life rank: #56
--- Quality of life rank: #51
#9. East Feliciana Parish
- Average life expectancy: 72.4 years (2.8 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #45
--- Length of life rank: #49
--- Quality of life rank: #33
#8. Evangeline Parish
- Average life expectancy: 72.3 years (2.9 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #53
--- Length of life rank: #53
--- Quality of life rank: #54
#7. Madison Parish
- Average life expectancy: 72 years (3.2 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #62
--- Length of life rank: #58
--- Quality of life rank: #63
#6. Concordia Parish
- Average life expectancy: 71.9 years (3.3 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #58
--- Length of life rank: #60
--- Quality of life rank: #56
#5. St. Landry Parish
- Average life expectancy: 71.6 years (3.6 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #57
--- Length of life rank: #59
--- Quality of life rank: #49
#4. East Carroll Parish
- Average life expectancy: 71.3 years (3.9 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #63
--- Length of life rank: #55
--- Quality of life rank: #64
#3. Washington Parish
- Average life expectancy: 71 years (4.2 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #60
--- Length of life rank: #64
--- Quality of life rank: #53
#2. Bienville Parish
- Average life expectancy: 70.9 years (4.3 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #64
--- Length of life rank: #63
--- Quality of life rank: #58
#1. Morehouse Parish
- Average life expectancy: 70.5 years (4.7 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #61
--- Length of life rank: #62
--- Quality of life rank: #61
