Counties with the shortest life expectancy in Texas

Written by:
December 21, 2022
Michael Barera // Wikimedia Commons

Counties with the shortest life expectancy in Texas

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 Texas. 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.

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Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

#46. Limestone County

- Average life expectancy: 74.6 years (3.8 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #228
--- Length of life rank: #210
--- Quality of life rank: #231
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Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons

#46. Shelby County

- Average life expectancy: 74.6 years (3.8 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #204
--- Length of life rank: #193
--- Quality of life rank: #203
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Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

#46. Henderson County

- Average life expectancy: 74.6 years (3.8 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #185
--- Length of life rank: #209
--- Quality of life rank: #148
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Eaglegrafix // Wikimedia Commons

#46. Gregg County

- Average life expectancy: 74.6 years (3.8 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #177
--- Length of life rank: #176
--- Quality of life rank: #175
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#46. Hale County

- Average life expectancy: 74.6 years (3.8 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #138
--- Length of life rank: #148
--- Quality of life rank: #139
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Renelibrary // Wikimedia Commons

#41. Marion County

- Average life expectancy: 74.5 years (3.9 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #231
--- Length of life rank: #232
--- Quality of life rank: #207
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Mark Oxner // Wikimedia Commons

#41. Bowie County

- Average life expectancy: 74.5 years (3.9 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #205
--- Length of life rank: #183
--- Quality of life rank: #210
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Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons

#41. Hockley County

- Average life expectancy: 74.5 years (3.9 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #194
--- Length of life rank: #190
--- Quality of life rank: #182
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Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons

#41. Wheeler County

- Average life expectancy: 74.5 years (3.9 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #155
--- Length of life rank: #178
--- Quality of life rank: #96
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Renelibrary // Wikimedia Commons

#41. Brown County

- Average life expectancy: 74.5 years (3.9 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #153
--- Length of life rank: #170
--- Quality of life rank: #114
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Jpo tx113 // Wikimedia Commons

#39. Trinity County

- Average life expectancy: 74.3 years (4.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #209
--- Length of life rank: #208
--- Quality of life rank: #190
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25or6to4 // Wikimedia Commons

#39. Kleberg County

- Average life expectancy: 74.3 years (4.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #160
--- Length of life rank: #169
--- Quality of life rank: #131
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Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

#36. Jim Hogg County

- Average life expectancy: 74.2 years (4.2 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #212
--- Length of life rank: #202
--- Quality of life rank: #197
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Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

#36. Floyd County

- Average life expectancy: 74.2 years (4.2 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #199
--- Length of life rank: #206
--- Quality of life rank: #179
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Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

#36. Liberty County

- Average life expectancy: 74.2 years (4.2 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #193
--- Length of life rank: #181
--- Quality of life rank: #189
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Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

#32. Jim Wells County

- Average life expectancy: 74.1 years (4.3 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #232
--- Length of life rank: #225
--- Quality of life rank: #224
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Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

#32. Morris County

- Average life expectancy: 74.1 years (4.3 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #223
--- Length of life rank: #217
--- Quality of life rank: #209
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Wrbalusek // Wikimedia Commons

#32. Jasper County

- Average life expectancy: 74.1 years (4.3 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #222
--- Length of life rank: #223
--- Quality of life rank: #193
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#32. Panola County

- Average life expectancy: 74.1 years (4.3 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #206
--- Length of life rank: #199
--- Quality of life rank: #200
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Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Lynn County

- Average life expectancy: 74 years (4.4 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #225
--- Length of life rank: #212
--- Quality of life rank: #220
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Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Wilbarger County

- Average life expectancy: 74 years (4.4 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #221
--- Length of life rank: #195
--- Quality of life rank: #222
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Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Howard County

- Average life expectancy: 74 years (4.4 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #197
--- Length of life rank: #186
--- Quality of life rank: #188
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Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Orange County

- Average life expectancy: 74 years (4.4 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #191
--- Length of life rank: #196
--- Quality of life rank: #176
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Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Gray County

- Average life expectancy: 74 years (4.4 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #165
--- Length of life rank: #182
--- Quality of life rank: #123
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Renelibrary // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Young County

- Average life expectancy: 74 years (4.4 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #105
--- Length of life rank: #194
--- Quality of life rank: #23
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Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Zavala County

- Average life expectancy: 73.9 years (4.5 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #239
--- Length of life rank: #214
--- Quality of life rank: #239
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Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Nolan County

- Average life expectancy: 73.9 years (4.5 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #174
--- Length of life rank: #198
--- Quality of life rank: #140
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Michael Barera // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Delta County

- Average life expectancy: 73.9 years (4.5 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #150
--- Length of life rank: #215
--- Quality of life rank: #44
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Adavyd // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Lamar County

- Average life expectancy: 73.8 years (4.6 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #219
--- Length of life rank: #228
--- Quality of life rank: #180
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Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Ector County

- Average life expectancy: 73.8 years (4.6 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #173
--- Length of life rank: #200
--- Quality of life rank: #130
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#19. Lamb County

- Average life expectancy: 73.7 years (4.7 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #214
--- Length of life rank: #203
--- Quality of life rank: #201
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Nicolas Henderson // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Knox County

- Average life expectancy: 73.7 years (4.7 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #168
--- Length of life rank: #205
--- Quality of life rank: #95
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Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Crosby County

- Average life expectancy: 73.6 years (4.8 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #226
--- Length of life rank: #216
--- Quality of life rank: #217
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Wordbuilder // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Hutchinson County

- Average life expectancy: 73.6 years (4.8 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #200
--- Length of life rank: #219
--- Quality of life rank: #161
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Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Montague County

- Average life expectancy: 73.5 years (4.9 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #210
--- Length of life rank: #230
--- Quality of life rank: #150
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Renelibrary // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Swisher County

- Average life expectancy: 73.4 years (5.0 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #241
--- Length of life rank: #234
--- Quality of life rank: #225
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#14. Baylor County

- Average life expectancy: 73.4 years (5.0 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #207
--- Length of life rank: #226
--- Quality of life rank: #157
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Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Terry County

- Average life expectancy: 73.3 years (5.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #234
--- Length of life rank: #221
--- Quality of life rank: #229
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Library of Congress

#11. Dawson County

- Average life expectancy: 73.2 years (5.2 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #242
--- Length of life rank: #231
--- Quality of life rank: #241
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Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Anderson County

- Average life expectancy: 73.2 years (5.2 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #184
--- Length of life rank: #220
--- Quality of life rank: #115
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Renelibrary // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Coleman County

- Average life expectancy: 72.8 years (5.6 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #233
--- Length of life rank: #238
--- Quality of life rank: #186
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Carol M. Highsmith // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Winkler County

- Average life expectancy: 72.5 years (5.9 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #240
--- Length of life rank: #241
--- Quality of life rank: #196
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Charles Henry // Flickr

#6. Potter County

- Average life expectancy: 72.5 years (5.9 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #236
--- Length of life rank: #233
--- Quality of life rank: #215
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Jim Evans // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Polk County

- Average life expectancy: 72.5 years (5.9 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #196
--- Length of life rank: #213
--- Quality of life rank: #154
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Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Donley County

- Average life expectancy: 72.5 years (5.9 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #181
--- Length of life rank: #102
--- Quality of life rank: #227
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Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Martin County

- Average life expectancy: 72.4 years (6.0 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #198
--- Length of life rank: #236
--- Quality of life rank: #61
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Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Crockett County

- Average life expectancy: 72.2 years (6.2 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #230
--- Length of life rank: #242
--- Quality of life rank: #121
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#3. Brooks County

- Average life expectancy: 72.1 years (6.3 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #244
--- Length of life rank: #243
--- Quality of life rank: #238
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Michael Barera // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Red River County

- Average life expectancy: 72 years (6.4 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #243
--- Length of life rank: #244
--- Quality of life rank: #204
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#1. Collingsworth County

- Average life expectancy: 72 years (6.4 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #136
--- Length of life rank: #102
--- Quality of life rank: #152

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