Counties with the shortest life expectancy in Missouri
Counties with the shortest life expectancy in Missouri
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 Missouri. 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.
#50. Lafayette County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #55
--- Length of life rank: #74
--- Quality of life rank: #39

#47. Marion County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #71
--- Length of life rank: #62
--- Quality of life rank: #68
#47. Buchanan County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #62
--- Length of life rank: #54
--- Quality of life rank: #63
#47. Ray County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #39
--- Length of life rank: #55
--- Quality of life rank: #23
#45. Caldwell County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #84
--- Length of life rank: #82
--- Quality of life rank: #87
#45. DeKalb County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #63
--- Length of life rank: #83
--- Quality of life rank: #25
#41. Phelps County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #65
--- Length of life rank: #76
--- Quality of life rank: #47
#41. Henry County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #61
--- Length of life rank: #46
--- Quality of life rank: #75

#41. Jefferson County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #47
--- Length of life rank: #75
--- Quality of life rank: #21
#41. Pulaski County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #27
--- Length of life rank: #42
--- Quality of life rank: #18
#39. Randolph County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #59
--- Length of life rank: #38
--- Quality of life rank: #79

#39. Jasper County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #51
--- Length of life rank: #67
--- Quality of life rank: #37
#38. Douglas County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #83
--- Length of life rank: #84
--- Quality of life rank: #84
#35. Oregon County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #98
--- Length of life rank: #78
--- Quality of life rank: #106
#35. Texas County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #91
--- Length of life rank: #87
--- Quality of life rank: #92
#35. Stoddard County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #85
--- Length of life rank: #71
--- Quality of life rank: #98

#31. Benton County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #81
--- Length of life rank: #86
--- Quality of life rank: #55
#31. Audrain County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #80
--- Length of life rank: #53
--- Quality of life rank: #89
#31. Cedar County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #78
--- Length of life rank: #79
--- Quality of life rank: #56
#31. Linn County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #52
--- Length of life rank: #72
--- Quality of life rank: #34
#30. Lawrence County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #72
--- Length of life rank: #57
--- Quality of life rank: #71
#29. Sullivan County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #89
--- Length of life rank: #95
--- Quality of life rank: #82
#28. Gasconade County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #68
--- Length of life rank: #90
--- Quality of life rank: #24
#27. Montgomery County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #75
--- Length of life rank: #77
--- Quality of life rank: #54
#24. Morgan County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #93
--- Length of life rank: #89
--- Quality of life rank: #93
#24. Gentry County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #77
--- Length of life rank: #94
--- Quality of life rank: #27
#24. Madison County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #76
--- Length of life rank: #73
--- Quality of life rank: #73
#22. Wayne County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #104
--- Length of life rank: #98
--- Quality of life rank: #108
#22. Scott County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #99
--- Length of life rank: #91
--- Quality of life rank: #102
#20. Reynolds County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #100
--- Length of life rank: #101
--- Quality of life rank: #95
#20. Howell County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #87
--- Length of life rank: #88
--- Quality of life rank: #88
#18. Shannon County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #106
--- Length of life rank: #104
--- Quality of life rank: #104
#18. Dent County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #102
--- Length of life rank: #106
--- Quality of life rank: #97
#17. Wright County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #101
--- Length of life rank: #100
--- Quality of life rank: #101
#16. McDonald County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #94
--- Length of life rank: #85
--- Quality of life rank: #100
#14. Crawford County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #97
--- Length of life rank: #96
--- Quality of life rank: #94
#14. Dallas County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #95
--- Length of life rank: #99
--- Quality of life rank: #90
#13. St. Francois County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #88
--- Length of life rank: #93
--- Quality of life rank: #83

#12. Laclede County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #86
--- Length of life rank: #97
--- Quality of life rank: #72
#11. Iron County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #105
--- Length of life rank: #103
--- Quality of life rank: #105
#10. Ripley County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #109
--- Length of life rank: #109
--- Quality of life rank: #112
#8. St. Louis
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #111
--- Length of life rank: #112
--- Quality of life rank: #103
#8. Washington County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #107
--- Length of life rank: #107
--- Quality of life rank: #107
#7. Butler County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #108
--- Length of life rank: #108
--- Quality of life rank: #109
#6. Dade County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #110
--- Length of life rank: #114
--- Quality of life rank: #96
#5. Carter County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #96
--- Length of life rank: #110
--- Quality of life rank: #57
#4. Mississippi County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #112
--- Length of life rank: #105
--- Quality of life rank: #114

#3. New Madrid County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #113
--- Length of life rank: #111
--- Quality of life rank: #110
#2. Dunklin County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #114
--- Length of life rank: #113
--- Quality of life rank: #115
#1. Pemiscot County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #115
--- Length of life rank: #115
--- Quality of life rank: #113