Counties with the shortest life expectancy in Mississippi
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 Mississippi. 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. Benton County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #32
--- Length of life rank: #32
--- Quality of life rank: #33
#48. Tippah County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #24
--- Length of life rank: #18
--- Quality of life rank: #42
#48. Perry County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #23
--- Length of life rank: #29
--- Quality of life rank: #19
#44. Scott County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #58
--- Length of life rank: #47
--- Quality of life rank: #66
#44. Winston County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #45
--- Length of life rank: #35
--- Quality of life rank: #54
#44. Panola County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #36
--- Length of life rank: #28
--- Quality of life rank: #44
#44. Lowndes County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #20
--- Length of life rank: #36
--- Quality of life rank: #14
#41. Jasper County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #57
--- Length of life rank: #62
--- Quality of life rank: #46
#41. Warren County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #44
--- Length of life rank: #56
--- Quality of life rank: #35
#41. Lincoln County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #21
--- Length of life rank: #25
--- Quality of life rank: #20
#37. Calhoun County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #53
--- Length of life rank: #59
--- Quality of life rank: #49
#37. Lauderdale County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #39
--- Length of life rank: #42
--- Quality of life rank: #36
#37. Clarke County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #38
--- Length of life rank: #41
--- Quality of life rank: #38
#37. Tate County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #19
--- Length of life rank: #37
--- Quality of life rank: #12
#32. Chickasaw County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #59
--- Length of life rank: #58
--- Quality of life rank: #62
#32. Walthall County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #54
--- Length of life rank: #55
--- Quality of life rank: #55
#32. Prentiss County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #51
--- Length of life rank: #44
--- Quality of life rank: #58
#32. Yazoo County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #49
--- Length of life rank: #30
--- Quality of life rank: #61
#32. Pearl River County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #18
--- Length of life rank: #38
--- Quality of life rank: #10
#31. Forrest County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #31
--- Length of life rank: #43
--- Quality of life rank: #23
#30. Jefferson County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #69
--- Length of life rank: #66
--- Quality of life rank: #75
#28. Noxubee County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #61
--- Length of life rank: #53
--- Quality of life rank: #65
#28. Marion County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #46
--- Length of life rank: #46
--- Quality of life rank: #51
#26. Tallahatchie County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #64
--- Length of life rank: #57
--- Quality of life rank: #70
#26. Newton County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #48
--- Length of life rank: #52
--- Quality of life rank: #48
#24. Adams County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #52
--- Length of life rank: #54
--- Quality of life rank: #53
#24. George County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #16
--- Length of life rank: #24
--- Quality of life rank: #11
#23. Webster County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #30
--- Length of life rank: #40
--- Quality of life rank: #26
#20. Marshall County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #55
--- Length of life rank: #64
--- Quality of life rank: #31
#20. Tishomingo County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #41
--- Length of life rank: #48
--- Quality of life rank: #39
#20. Lawrence County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #37
--- Length of life rank: #51
--- Quality of life rank: #27
#19. Pike County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #60
--- Length of life rank: #61
--- Quality of life rank: #60
#18. Jefferson Davis County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #76
--- Length of life rank: #75
--- Quality of life rank: #71
#17. Claiborne County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #73
--- Length of life rank: #65
--- Quality of life rank: #77
#16. Sharkey County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #72
--- Length of life rank: #70
--- Quality of life rank: #74
#15. Covington County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #63
--- Length of life rank: #63
--- Quality of life rank: #50
#14. Yalobusha County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #62
--- Length of life rank: #67
--- Quality of life rank: #29
#13. Humphreys County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #80
--- Length of life rank: #71
--- Quality of life rank: #81
#11. Wilkinson County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #75
--- Length of life rank: #73
--- Quality of life rank: #72
#11. Montgomery County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #66
--- Length of life rank: #72
--- Quality of life rank: #57
#10. Bolivar County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #67
--- Length of life rank: #68
--- Quality of life rank: #67
#9. Quitman County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #79
--- Length of life rank: #69
--- Quality of life rank: #80
#8. Grenada County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #65
--- Length of life rank: #74
--- Quality of life rank: #32
#7. Holmes County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #82
--- Length of life rank: #79
--- Quality of life rank: #79
#6. Washington County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #77
--- Length of life rank: #77
--- Quality of life rank: #69
#5. Coahoma County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #81
--- Length of life rank: #80
--- Quality of life rank: #78
#4. Sunflower County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #74
--- Length of life rank: #76
--- Quality of life rank: #68
#3. Neshoba County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #68
--- Length of life rank: #81
--- Quality of life rank: #45
#2. Leflore County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #78
--- Length of life rank: #78
--- Quality of life rank: #76
#1. Tunica County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #70
--- Length of life rank: #82
--- Quality of life rank: #56