Staying Fit
This new analysis from AARP identified the U.S. counties where geographic and racial/ethnic disparities in midlife life expectancy grew from 2000-2019.
This is the first country-wide, time-series analysis of midlife life expectancy at the county level that includes estimates for Native Americans, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
At AARP, we have always fought to build a more equitable America and improve people's lives. But we recognize that systemic inequities, including discrimination based on age and race, continue to block economic opportunities for some Americans and leave others in poor health – even shortening their lives. Those hardest hit are older Americans, people of color, women and those living in isolated rural areas.
This report reinforces the fact that where you are born and where you reside at midlife (age 50) matter now more than ever for predicting your chances of living a long, healthy life. It provides county-level data to assist policymakers in designing interventions that address the needs of communities and counties at highest risk.
Recommendations for Achieving Healthy Longevity at the County Level
- A call to action: Create strategies and action plans for health longevity
Public, private, and nonprofit sectors must create cross-sector plans of action to enable the possibility for everyone to live longer and healthier lives. Examples of plans include the recommendations of the National Academies Global Roadmap for Healthy Longevity.
- Conduct research at the state and county levels and disaggregate data collection
Additional research and data collection at the State and local levels are needed to determine the root causes of the observed disparities in midlife life expectancy, and how we can achieve equity.
- Focused investments: Increase interventions in counties that have experienced disparities in midlife life expectancy
State, city, and county governments, along with philanthropy and the private sector, must focus on communities within the counties with the worst life expectancy outcomes to improve healthy longevity for all residents. State-level fact sheets with county-level data from this analysis can assist policymakers in identifying the communities and counties at highest risk.
Midlife Life Expectancy State Fact Sheets and Appendices
All States: National Report
Alabama: Fact Sheet Appendix
Alaska: Fact Sheet Appendix
Arizona: Fact Sheet Appendix
Arkansas: Fact Sheet Appendix
California: Fact Sheet Appendix
Colorado: Fact Sheet Appendix
Connecticut: Fact Sheet Appendix
Delaware: Fact Sheet Appendix
District of Columbia: Fact Sheet Appendix
Florida: Fact Sheet Appendix
Georgia: Fact Sheet Appendix
Hawaii: Fact Sheet Appendix
Idaho: Fact Sheet Appendix
Illinois: Fact Sheet Appendix
Indiana: Fact Sheet Appendix
Iowa: Fact Sheet Appendix
Kansas: Fact Sheet Appendix
Kentucky: Fact Sheet Appendix
Louisiana: Fact Sheet Appendix
Maine: Fact Sheet Appendix
Maryland: Fact Sheet Appendix
Massachusetts: Fact Sheet Appendix
Michigan: Fact Sheet Appendix
Minnesota: Fact Sheet Appendix
Mississippi: Fact Sheet Appendix
Missouri: Fact Sheet Appendix
Montana: Fact Sheet Appendix
Nebraska: Fact Sheet Appendix
Nevada: Fact Sheet Appendix
New Hampshire: Fact Sheet Appendix
New Jersey: Fact Sheet Appendix
New Mexico: Fact Sheet Appendix
New York: Fact Sheet Appendix
North Carolina: Fact Sheet Appendix
North Dakota: Fact Sheet Appendix
Ohio: Fact Sheet Appendix
Oklahoma: Fact Sheet Appendix
Oregon: Fact Sheet Appendix
Pennsylvania: Fact Sheet Appendix
Rhode Island: Fact Sheet Appendix
South Carolina: Fact Sheet Appendix
South Dakota: Fact Sheet Appendix
Tennessee: Fact Sheet Appendix
Texas: Fact Sheet Appendix
Utah: Fact Sheet Appendix
Vermont: Fact Sheet Appendix
Virginia: Fact Sheet Appendix
Washington: Fact Sheet Appendix
West Virginia: Fact Sheet Appendix
Wisconsin: Fact Sheet Appendix
Wyoming: Fact Sheet Appendix
For more information on AARP’s longevity work, contact AARP Thought Leadership at thoughtleadership@aarp.org. For media inquiries, contact media@aarp.org.