Counties with the shortest life expectancy in Texas
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.
#46. Limestone County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #228
--- Length of life rank: #210
--- Quality of life rank: #231
#46. Shelby County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #204
--- Length of life rank: #193
--- Quality of life rank: #203
#46. Henderson County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #185
--- Length of life rank: #209
--- Quality of life rank: #148
#46. Gregg County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #177
--- Length of life rank: #176
--- Quality of life rank: #175
#46. Hale County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #138
--- Length of life rank: #148
--- Quality of life rank: #139
#41. Marion County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #231
--- Length of life rank: #232
--- Quality of life rank: #207
#41. Bowie County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #205
--- Length of life rank: #183
--- Quality of life rank: #210
#41. Hockley County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #194
--- Length of life rank: #190
--- Quality of life rank: #182
#41. Wheeler County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #155
--- Length of life rank: #178
--- Quality of life rank: #96
#41. Brown County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #153
--- Length of life rank: #170
--- Quality of life rank: #114
#39. Trinity County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #209
--- Length of life rank: #208
--- Quality of life rank: #190
#39. Kleberg County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #160
--- Length of life rank: #169
--- Quality of life rank: #131
#36. Jim Hogg County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #212
--- Length of life rank: #202
--- Quality of life rank: #197
#36. Floyd County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #199
--- Length of life rank: #206
--- Quality of life rank: #179
#36. Liberty County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #193
--- Length of life rank: #181
--- Quality of life rank: #189
#32. Jim Wells County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #232
--- Length of life rank: #225
--- Quality of life rank: #224
#32. Morris County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #223
--- Length of life rank: #217
--- Quality of life rank: #209
#32. Jasper County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #222
--- Length of life rank: #223
--- Quality of life rank: #193
#32. Panola County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #206
--- Length of life rank: #199
--- Quality of life rank: #200
#26. Lynn County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #225
--- Length of life rank: #212
--- Quality of life rank: #220
#26. Wilbarger County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #221
--- Length of life rank: #195
--- Quality of life rank: #222
#26. Howard County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #197
--- Length of life rank: #186
--- Quality of life rank: #188
#26. Orange County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #191
--- Length of life rank: #196
--- Quality of life rank: #176
#26. Gray County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #165
--- Length of life rank: #182
--- Quality of life rank: #123
#26. Young County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #105
--- Length of life rank: #194
--- Quality of life rank: #23
#23. Zavala County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #239
--- Length of life rank: #214
--- Quality of life rank: #239
#23. Nolan County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #174
--- Length of life rank: #198
--- Quality of life rank: #140
#23. Delta County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #150
--- Length of life rank: #215
--- Quality of life rank: #44
#21. Lamar County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #219
--- Length of life rank: #228
--- Quality of life rank: #180
#21. Ector County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #173
--- Length of life rank: #200
--- Quality of life rank: #130
#19. Lamb County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #214
--- Length of life rank: #203
--- Quality of life rank: #201
#19. Knox County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #168
--- Length of life rank: #205
--- Quality of life rank: #95
#17. Crosby County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #226
--- Length of life rank: #216
--- Quality of life rank: #217
#17. Hutchinson County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #200
--- Length of life rank: #219
--- Quality of life rank: #161
#16. Montague County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #210
--- Length of life rank: #230
--- Quality of life rank: #150
#14. Swisher County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #241
--- Length of life rank: #234
--- Quality of life rank: #225
#14. Baylor County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #207
--- Length of life rank: #226
--- Quality of life rank: #157
#13. Terry County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #234
--- Length of life rank: #221
--- Quality of life rank: #229
#11. Dawson County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #242
--- Length of life rank: #231
--- Quality of life rank: #241
#11. Anderson County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #184
--- Length of life rank: #220
--- Quality of life rank: #115
#10. Coleman County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #233
--- Length of life rank: #238
--- Quality of life rank: #186
#6. Winkler County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #240
--- Length of life rank: #241
--- Quality of life rank: #196

#6. Potter County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #236
--- Length of life rank: #233
--- Quality of life rank: #215
#6. Polk County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #196
--- Length of life rank: #213
--- Quality of life rank: #154
#6. Donley County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #181
--- Length of life rank: #102
--- Quality of life rank: #227
#5. Martin County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #198
--- Length of life rank: #236
--- Quality of life rank: #61
#4. Crockett County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #230
--- Length of life rank: #242
--- Quality of life rank: #121
#3. Brooks County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #244
--- Length of life rank: #243
--- Quality of life rank: #238
#1. Red River County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #243
--- Length of life rank: #244
--- Quality of life rank: #204
#1. Collingsworth County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #136
--- Length of life rank: #102
--- Quality of life rank: #152