Counties with the shortest life expectancy in Idaho
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Counties with the shortest life expectancy in Idaho
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 Idaho. 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.
Ken Lund // Wikimedia Commons
#27. Franklin County
– Average life expectancy: 79.2 years (same as statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #14
— Length of life rank: #12
— Quality of life rank: #22
Antony-22 // Wikimedia Commons
#26. Kootenai County
– Average life expectancy: 79.1 years (0.1 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #7
— Length of life rank: #9
— Quality of life rank: #6
tinosa // Wikimedia Commons
#25. Custer County
– Average life expectancy: 79 years (0.2 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #18
— Length of life rank: #18
— Quality of life rank: #18
Tamanoeconomico // Wikimedia Commons
#23. Canyon County
– Average life expectancy: 78.7 years (0.5 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #15
— Length of life rank: #13
— Quality of life rank: #20
Dschwen // Wikimedia Commons
#23. Caribou County
– Average life expectancy: 78.7 years (0.5 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #11
— Length of life rank: #8
— Quality of life rank: #32
NPS photo // Wikimedia Commons
#22. Gooding County
– Average life expectancy: 78.5 years (0.7 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #28
— Length of life rank: #17
— Quality of life rank: #35
Tricia Simpson // Wikimedia Commons
#21. Oneida County
– Average life expectancy: 78.4 years (0.8 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #23
— Length of life rank: #18
— Quality of life rank: #31
Tricia Simpson // Wikimedia Commons
#20. Bear Lake County
– Average life expectancy: 78.3 years (0.9 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #37
— Length of life rank: #30
— Quality of life rank: #36
Sam Beebe // Wikimedia Commons
#19. Washington County
– Average life expectancy: 78.2 years (1.0 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #16
— Length of life rank: #16
— Quality of life rank: #17
JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons
#17. Power County
– Average life expectancy: 78.1 years (1.1 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #29
— Length of life rank: #28
— Quality of life rank: #24
Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons
#17. Elmore County
– Average life expectancy: 78.1 years (1.1 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #21
— Length of life rank: #14
— Quality of life rank: #33
United States Department of Agriculture // Wikimedia Commons
#16. Owyhee County
– Average life expectancy: 77.7 years (1.5 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #40
— Length of life rank: #35
— Quality of life rank: #41
Ken Lund // Wikimedia Commons
#14. Minidoka County
– Average life expectancy: 77.5 years (1.7 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #31
— Length of life rank: #26
— Quality of life rank: #34
wilson44691 // Wikimedia Commons
#14. Cassia County
– Average life expectancy: 77.5 years (1.7 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #27
— Length of life rank: #25
— Quality of life rank: #28
John Stanton // Wikimedia Commons
#13. Lemhi County
– Average life expectancy: 77.4 years (1.8 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #39
— Length of life rank: #41
— Quality of life rank: #14
Ian Poellet // Wikimedia Commons
#10. Payette County
– Average life expectancy: 77.2 years (2.0 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #35
— Length of life rank: #37
— Quality of life rank: #23
Karthikc123 // Wikimedia Commons
#10. Twin Falls County
– Average life expectancy: 77.2 years (2.0 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #25
— Length of life rank: #27
— Quality of life rank: #21
Jcarr29 // Wikimedia Commons
#10. Bonneville County
– Average life expectancy: 77.2 years (2.0 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #20
— Length of life rank: #32
— Quality of life rank: #13
Squelle // Wikimedia Commons
#8. Butte County
– Average life expectancy: 77.1 years (2.1 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #34
— Length of life rank: #18
— Quality of life rank: #40
Dsdugan // Wikimedia Commons
#8. Nez Perce County
– Average life expectancy: 77.1 years (2.1 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #17
— Length of life rank: #34
— Quality of life rank: #8
John D // Wikimedia Commons
#7. Gem County
– Average life expectancy: 77 years (2.2 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #30
— Length of life rank: #29
— Quality of life rank: #30
Michlaovic // Wikimedia
#6. Bannock County
– Average life expectancy: 76.9 years (2.3 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #33
— Length of life rank: #33
— Quality of life rank: #27
KRRK // Wikimedia Commons
#5. Bingham County
– Average life expectancy: 76.7 years (2.5 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #38
— Length of life rank: #38
— Quality of life rank: #25
rustejunk // Wikimedia Commons
#4. Lewis County
– Average life expectancy: 76.3 years (2.9 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #36
— Length of life rank: #18
— Quality of life rank: #42
Tom Young // Wikimedia Commons
#3. Lincoln County
– Average life expectancy: 76.2 years (3.0 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #41
— Length of life rank: #42
— Quality of life rank: #29
jfergusonphotos // Shutterstock
#2. Shoshone County
– Average life expectancy: 75.9 years (3.3 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #42
— Length of life rank: #40
— Quality of life rank: #43
Ian Poellet // Wikimedia Commons
#1. Benewah County
– Average life expectancy: 74.8 years (4.4 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #43
— Length of life rank: #43
— Quality of life rank: #38
