Counties with the shortest life expectancy in Wisconsin

Written by:
December 21, 2022
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Counties with the shortest life expectancy in Wisconsin

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 Wisconsin. 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.

#35. Burnett County

- Average life expectancy: 78.9 years (same as statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #58
--- Length of life rank: #64
--- Quality of life rank: #23

#35. Price County

- Average life expectancy: 78.9 years (same as statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #47
--- Length of life rank: #26
--- Quality of life rank: #61

#35. Grant County

- Average life expectancy: 78.9 years (same as statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #35
--- Length of life rank: #27
--- Quality of life rank: #45

#31. Langlade County

- Average life expectancy: 78.8 years (0.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #59
--- Length of life rank: #41
--- Quality of life rank: #66

#31. Polk County

- Average life expectancy: 78.8 years (0.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #39
--- Length of life rank: #47
--- Quality of life rank: #28

#31. Washburn County

- Average life expectancy: 78.8 years (0.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #31
--- Length of life rank: #30
--- Quality of life rank: #35

#31. Columbia County

- Average life expectancy: 78.8 years (0.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #12
--- Length of life rank: #21
--- Quality of life rank: #9

#29. Walworth County

- Average life expectancy: 78.7 years (0.2 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #26
--- Length of life rank: #38
--- Quality of life rank: #15

#29. Oneida County

- Average life expectancy: 78.7 years (0.2 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #25
--- Length of life rank: #37
--- Quality of life rank: #17

#28. Manitowoc County

- Average life expectancy: 78.6 years (0.3 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #54
--- Length of life rank: #52
--- Quality of life rank: #55

#27. Barron County

- Average life expectancy: 78.5 years (0.4 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #42
--- Length of life rank: #42
--- Quality of life rank: #40

#26. Monroe County

- Average life expectancy: 78.4 years (0.5 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #45
--- Length of life rank: #51
--- Quality of life rank: #47

#25. Clark County

- Average life expectancy: 78.3 years (0.6 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #53
--- Length of life rank: #53
--- Quality of life rank: #51

#23. Green Lake County

- Average life expectancy: 78.2 years (0.7 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #56
--- Length of life rank: #50
--- Quality of life rank: #62

#23. Wood County

- Average life expectancy: 78.2 years (0.7 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #51
--- Length of life rank: #56
--- Quality of life rank: #49

#20. Juneau County

- Average life expectancy: 78.1 years (0.8 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #65
--- Length of life rank: #62
--- Quality of life rank: #67

#20. Lincoln County

- Average life expectancy: 78.1 years (0.8 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #50
--- Length of life rank: #48
--- Quality of life rank: #52

#20. Iron County

- Average life expectancy: 78.1 years (0.8 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #28
--- Length of life rank: #45
--- Quality of life rank: #10

#17. Shawano County

- Average life expectancy: 77.8 years (1.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #57
--- Length of life rank: #55
--- Quality of life rank: #59

#17. Kenosha County

- Average life expectancy: 77.8 years (1.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #49
--- Length of life rank: #44
--- Quality of life rank: #53

#17. Douglas County

- Average life expectancy: 77.8 years (1.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #46
--- Length of life rank: #57
--- Quality of life rank: #32

#14. Marquette County

- Average life expectancy: 77.7 years (1.2 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #55
--- Length of life rank: #58
--- Quality of life rank: #50

#14. Rusk County

- Average life expectancy: 77.7 years (1.2 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #52
--- Length of life rank: #63
--- Quality of life rank: #33

#14. Dodge County

- Average life expectancy: 77.7 years (1.2 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #43
--- Length of life rank: #43
--- Quality of life rank: #41

#13. Rock County

- Average life expectancy: 77.6 years (1.3 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #61
--- Length of life rank: #59
--- Quality of life rank: #64

#12. Racine County

- Average life expectancy: 77.5 years (1.4 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #62
--- Length of life rank: #60
--- Quality of life rank: #63

#11. Vilas County

- Average life expectancy: 77.3 years (1.6 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #66
--- Length of life rank: #67
--- Quality of life rank: #54

#8. Jackson County

- Average life expectancy: 77.1 years (1.8 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #64
--- Length of life rank: #66
--- Quality of life rank: #46

#8. Marinette County

- Average life expectancy: 77.1 years (1.8 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #60
--- Length of life rank: #61
--- Quality of life rank: #56

#8. Waupaca County

- Average life expectancy: 77.1 years (1.8 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #40
--- Length of life rank: #49
--- Quality of life rank: #29

#7. Adams County

- Average life expectancy: 76.9 years (2.0 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #69
--- Length of life rank: #70
--- Quality of life rank: #68

#6. Sawyer County

- Average life expectancy: 76.2 years (2.7 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #68
--- Length of life rank: #69
--- Quality of life rank: #58

#5. Milwaukee County

- Average life expectancy: 75.9 years (3.0 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #70
--- Length of life rank: #68
--- Quality of life rank: #72

#3. Ashland County

- Average life expectancy: 75.8 years (3.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #67
--- Length of life rank: #65
--- Quality of life rank: #65

#3. Florence County

- Average life expectancy: 75.8 years (3.1 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #63
--- Length of life rank: #45
--- Quality of life rank: #69

#2. Forest County

- Average life expectancy: 74.4 years (4.5 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #71
--- Length of life rank: #71
--- Quality of life rank: #70

#1. Menominee County

- Average life expectancy: 69.5 years (9.4 less than the statewide average)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #72
--- Length of life rank: #72
--- Quality of life rank: #71

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