Counties with the shortest life expectancy in Virginia

Written by:
December 21, 2022
Sleddog116 // Wikimedia Commons

Counties with the shortest life expectancy in Virginia

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 Virginia. 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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AgnosticPreachersKid // Wikimedia Commons

#50. Warren County

- Average life expectancy: 76 years (3.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #57
--- Length of life rank: #80
--- Quality of life rank: #43
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Mojo Hand // Wikimedia Commons

#49. Essex County

- Average life expectancy: 75.9 years (3.2 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #119
--- Length of life rank: #101
--- Quality of life rank: #129
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Petra holden // Wikimedia Commons

#48. Newport News

- Average life expectancy: 75.7 years (3.4 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #84
--- Length of life rank: #84
--- Quality of life rank: #81
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Idawriter // Wikimedia Commons

#47. Pittsylvania County

- Average life expectancy: 75.6 years (3.5 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #98
--- Length of life rank: #107
--- Quality of life rank: #85
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Doug Kerr // Wikimedia Commons

#44. Russell County

- Average life expectancy: 75.5 years (3.6 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #101
--- Length of life rank: #96
--- Quality of life rank: #109
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Jarek Tuszyński // Wikimedia Commons

#44. Alleghany County

- Average life expectancy: 75.5 years (3.6 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #90
--- Length of life rank: #93
--- Quality of life rank: #86
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Lvklock // Wikimedia Commons

#44. Waynesboro

- Average life expectancy: 75.5 years (3.6 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #81
--- Length of life rank: #86
--- Quality of life rank: #78
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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#43. Staunton

- Average life expectancy: 75.4 years (3.7 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #56
--- Length of life rank: #60
--- Quality of life rank: #52
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Acroterion // Wikimedia Commons

#39. Accomack County

- Average life expectancy: 75.3 years (3.8 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #103
--- Length of life rank: #100
--- Quality of life rank: #108
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Skye Marthaler // Wikimedia Commons

#39. Scott County

- Average life expectancy: 75.3 years (3.8 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #89
--- Length of life rank: #98
--- Quality of life rank: #79
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Skye Marthaler // Wikimedia Commons

#39. Pulaski County

- Average life expectancy: 75.3 years (3.8 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #74
--- Length of life rank: #91
--- Quality of life rank: #71
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Acroterion // Wikimedia Commons

#39. Lynchburg

- Average life expectancy: 75.3 years (3.8 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #73
--- Length of life rank: #90
--- Quality of life rank: #69
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Jquesen2003 // Wikimedia Commons

#37. Patrick County

- Average life expectancy: 75.2 years (3.9 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #95
--- Length of life rank: #102
--- Quality of life rank: #83
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Ewelch1 // Wikimedia Commons

#37. Norfolk

- Average life expectancy: 75.2 years (3.9 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #93
--- Length of life rank: #92
--- Quality of life rank: #96
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Rhyssdavies // Wikimedia Commons

#36. Lunenburg County

- Average life expectancy: 75.1 years (4.0 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #122
--- Length of life rank: #104
--- Quality of life rank: #130
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Alexiskferia // Wikimedia Commons

#34. Northampton County

- Average life expectancy: 75 years (4.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #105
--- Length of life rank: #112
--- Quality of life rank: #90
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Mojo Hand // Wikimedia Commons

#34. Salem

- Average life expectancy: 75 years (4.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #48
--- Length of life rank: #66
--- Quality of life rank: #38
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David Broad // Wikimedia Commons

#31. Lancaster County

- Average life expectancy: 74.9 years (4.2 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #107
--- Length of life rank: #113
--- Quality of life rank: #91
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Carol M. Highsmith // Wikimedia Commons

#31. Buena Vista

- Average life expectancy: 74.9 years (4.2 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #99
--- Length of life rank: #76
--- Quality of life rank: #114
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Zeete // Wikimedia Commons

#31. Lexington

- Average life expectancy: 74.9 years (4.2 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #61
--- Length of life rank: #82
--- Quality of life rank: #48
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vastateparksstaff // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Halifax County

- Average life expectancy: 74.8 years (4.3 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #111
--- Length of life rank: #108
--- Quality of life rank: #110
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Cnjnva // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Mecklenburg County

- Average life expectancy: 74.8 years (4.3 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #108
--- Length of life rank: #106
--- Quality of life rank: #99
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Taber Andrew Bain from Richmond, VA, USA // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Amelia County

- Average life expectancy: 74.8 years (4.3 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #87
--- Length of life rank: #105
--- Quality of life rank: #56
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Skye Marthaler // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Wythe County

- Average life expectancy: 74.8 years (4.3 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #86
--- Length of life rank: #94
--- Quality of life rank: #77
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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Nottoway County

- Average life expectancy: 74.6 years (4.5 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #102
--- Length of life rank: #78
--- Quality of life rank: #117
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Puddin Tain // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Sussex County

- Average life expectancy: 74.5 years (4.6 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #114
--- Length of life rank: #103
--- Quality of life rank: #118
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Ser Amantio di Nicolao // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Charlotte County

- Average life expectancy: 74.4 years (4.7 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #118
--- Length of life rank: #111
--- Quality of life rank: #123
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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Henry County

- Average life expectancy: 74.4 years (4.7 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #112
--- Length of life rank: #117
--- Quality of life rank: #107
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Aplomado~commonswiki // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Bristol

- Average life expectancy: 74.2 years (4.9 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #104
--- Length of life rank: #110
--- Quality of life rank: #92
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pfly // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Lee County

- Average life expectancy: 74 years (5.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #120
--- Length of life rank: #114
--- Quality of life rank: #124
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Taber Andrew Bain // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Greensville County

- Average life expectancy: 74 years (5.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #109
--- Length of life rank: #85
--- Quality of life rank: #119
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Ser Amantio di Nicolao // Wikimedia Commons

#19. King and Queen County

- Average life expectancy: 74 years (5.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #106
--- Length of life rank: #118
--- Quality of life rank: #84
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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Colonial Heights

- Average life expectancy: 73.7 years (5.4 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #97
--- Length of life rank: #119
--- Quality of life rank: #64
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Skye Marthaler // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Giles County

- Average life expectancy: 73.7 years (5.4 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #91
--- Length of life rank: #109
--- Quality of life rank: #70
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Tburgess68 // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Buchanan County

- Average life expectancy: 73.5 years (5.6 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #123
--- Length of life rank: #116
--- Quality of life rank: #127
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U.S. Navy photo // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Portsmouth

- Average life expectancy: 73.4 years (5.7 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #113
--- Length of life rank: #115
--- Quality of life rank: #113
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JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Smyth County

- Average life expectancy: 73 years (6.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #115
--- Length of life rank: #121
--- Quality of life rank: #105
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Nolanwebb // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Roanoke

- Average life expectancy: 72.8 years (6.3 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #116
--- Length of life rank: #122
--- Quality of life rank: #103
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Skye Marthaler // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Wise County

- Average life expectancy: 72.7 years (6.4 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #121
--- Length of life rank: #120
--- Quality of life rank: #120
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Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Tazewell County

- Average life expectancy: 72.7 years (6.4 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #117
--- Length of life rank: #123
--- Quality of life rank: #102
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Nathan Yates // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Dickenson County

- Average life expectancy: 72.6 years (6.5 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #125
--- Length of life rank: #124
--- Quality of life rank: #115
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Acroterion // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Danville

- Average life expectancy: 71.4 years (7.7 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #127
--- Length of life rank: #125
--- Quality of life rank: #132
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Betcantrell // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Norton

- Average life expectancy: 71.3 years (7.8 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #124
--- Length of life rank: #126
--- Quality of life rank: #112
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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Hopewell

- Average life expectancy: 70.2 years (8.9 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #131
--- Length of life rank: #128
--- Quality of life rank: #133
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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Franklin

- Average life expectancy: 69.9 years (9.2 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #128
--- Length of life rank: #127
--- Quality of life rank: #126
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Smash the Iron Cage // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Covington

- Average life expectancy: 69.6 years (9.5 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #126
--- Length of life rank: #129
--- Quality of life rank: #106
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DanTD // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Emporia

- Average life expectancy: 68.1 years (11.0 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #132
--- Length of life rank: #132
--- Quality of life rank: #131
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Cyoung9 // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Galax

- Average life expectancy: 67.3 years (11.8 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #130
--- Length of life rank: #130
--- Quality of life rank: #128
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Sleddog116 // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Martinsville

- Average life expectancy: 67.2 years (11.9 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #129
--- Length of life rank: #131
--- Quality of life rank: #121
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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Petersburg

- Average life expectancy: 66.2 years (12.9 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #133
--- Length of life rank: #133
--- Quality of life rank: #125

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