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Counties with the shortest life expectancy in Kentucky

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 Kentucky. 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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#49. Clinton County

– Average life expectancy: 74.1 years (1.0 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #87
— Length of life rank: #52
— Quality of life rank: #100

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#49. Clark County

– Average life expectancy: 74.1 years (1.0 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #70
— Length of life rank: #91
— Quality of life rank: #42

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#47. Pulaski County

– Average life expectancy: 73.9 years (1.2 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #79
— Length of life rank: #78
— Quality of life rank: #73

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#47. Metcalfe County

– Average life expectancy: 73.9 years (1.2 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #71
— Length of life rank: #42
— Quality of life rank: #90

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#44. Boyd County

– Average life expectancy: 73.8 years (1.3 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #73
— Length of life rank: #79
— Quality of life rank: #63

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#44. Christian County

– Average life expectancy: 73.8 years (1.3 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #66
— Length of life rank: #77
— Quality of life rank: #49

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#44. Greenup County

– Average life expectancy: 73.8 years (1.3 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #48
— Length of life rank: #81
— Quality of life rank: #25

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#40. Rockcastle County

– Average life expectancy: 73.7 years (1.4 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #91
— Length of life rank: #85
— Quality of life rank: #95

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#40. Bracken County

– Average life expectancy: 73.7 years (1.4 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #81
— Length of life rank: #83
— Quality of life rank: #71

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#40. Grayson County

– Average life expectancy: 73.7 years (1.4 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #72
— Length of life rank: #67
— Quality of life rank: #79

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#40. Robertson County

– Average life expectancy: 73.7 years (1.4 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #69
— Length of life rank: #74
— Quality of life rank: #60

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#39. Grant County

– Average life expectancy: 73.6 years (1.5 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #75
— Length of life rank: #88
— Quality of life rank: #55

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#36. Nicholas County

– Average life expectancy: 73.5 years (1.6 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #92
— Length of life rank: #84
— Quality of life rank: #99

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#36. Carter County

– Average life expectancy: 73.5 years (1.6 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #88
— Length of life rank: #93
— Quality of life rank: #78

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#36. Simpson County

– Average life expectancy: 73.5 years (1.6 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #57
— Length of life rank: #70
— Quality of life rank: #47

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#35. Mason County

– Average life expectancy: 73.4 years (1.7 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #52
— Length of life rank: #71
— Quality of life rank: #38

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#33. Russell County

– Average life expectancy: 73.2 years (1.9 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #86
— Length of life rank: #95
— Quality of life rank: #66

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#33. Crittenden County

– Average life expectancy: 73.2 years (1.9 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #63
— Length of life rank: #87
— Quality of life rank: #34

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#31. Lincoln County

– Average life expectancy: 73.1 years (2.0 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #90
— Length of life rank: #92
— Quality of life rank: #85

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#31. Monroe County

– Average life expectancy: 73.1 years (2.0 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #84
— Length of life rank: #82
— Quality of life rank: #86

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#30. Butler County

– Average life expectancy: 73 years (2.1 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #56
— Length of life rank: #86
— Quality of life rank: #24

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#28. Martin County

– Average life expectancy: 72.8 years (2.3 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #98
— Length of life rank: #90
— Quality of life rank: #103

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#28. Gallatin County

– Average life expectancy: 72.8 years (2.3 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #77
— Length of life rank: #80
— Quality of life rank: #67

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#27. Pendleton County

– Average life expectancy: 72.3 years (2.8 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #74
— Length of life rank: #99
— Quality of life rank: #29

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#25. Lawrence County

– Average life expectancy: 72.2 years (2.9 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #99
— Length of life rank: #89
— Quality of life rank: #106

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#25. Estill County

– Average life expectancy: 72.2 years (2.9 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #97
— Length of life rank: #101
— Quality of life rank: #84

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#24. Knox County

– Average life expectancy: 72.1 years (3.0 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #106
— Length of life rank: #98
— Quality of life rank: #117

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#22. Pike County

– Average life expectancy: 72 years (3.1 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #103
— Length of life rank: #100
— Quality of life rank: #105

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#22. Bath County

– Average life expectancy: 72 years (3.1 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #93
— Length of life rank: #102
— Quality of life rank: #69

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#19. McCreary County

– Average life expectancy: 71.9 years (3.2 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #104
— Length of life rank: #94
— Quality of life rank: #114

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#19. Jackson County

– Average life expectancy: 71.9 years (3.2 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #101
— Length of life rank: #96
— Quality of life rank: #104

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#19. Johnson County

– Average life expectancy: 71.9 years (3.2 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #96
— Length of life rank: #97
— Quality of life rank: #91

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#17. Lewis County

– Average life expectancy: 71.3 years (3.8 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #102
— Length of life rank: #107
— Quality of life rank: #93

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#17. Carroll County

– Average life expectancy: 71.3 years (3.8 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #94
— Length of life rank: #105
— Quality of life rank: #72

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#15. Magoffin County

– Average life expectancy: 71.2 years (3.9 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #113
— Length of life rank: #110
— Quality of life rank: #119

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#15. Knott County

– Average life expectancy: 71.2 years (3.9 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #111
— Length of life rank: #114
— Quality of life rank: #107

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#14. Whitley County

– Average life expectancy: 70.9 years (4.2 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #100
— Length of life rank: #103
— Quality of life rank: #96

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#13. Clay County

– Average life expectancy: 70.7 years (4.4 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #115
— Length of life rank: #106
— Quality of life rank: #120

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#12. Bell County

– Average life expectancy: 70.6 years (4.5 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #112
— Length of life rank: #111
— Quality of life rank: #118

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#11. Letcher County

– Average life expectancy: 70.4 years (4.7 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #107
— Length of life rank: #108
— Quality of life rank: #110

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#9. Floyd County

– Average life expectancy: 70.3 years (4.8 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #109
— Length of life rank: #109
— Quality of life rank: #109

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#9. Leslie County

– Average life expectancy: 70.3 years (4.8 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #108
— Length of life rank: #104
— Quality of life rank: #116

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#8. Powell County

– Average life expectancy: 69.4 years (5.7 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #105
— Length of life rank: #115
— Quality of life rank: #75

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#7. Lee County

– Average life expectancy: 69.2 years (5.9 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #110
— Length of life rank: #112
— Quality of life rank: #102

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#5. Fulton County

– Average life expectancy: 69.1 years (6.0 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #116
— Length of life rank: #116
— Quality of life rank: #108

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#5. Harlan County

– Average life expectancy: 69.1 years (6.0 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #114
— Length of life rank: #113
— Quality of life rank: #115

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#4. Breathitt County

– Average life expectancy: 68.4 years (6.7 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #119
— Length of life rank: #117
— Quality of life rank: #112

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#3. Wolfe County

– Average life expectancy: 68 years (7.1 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #120
— Length of life rank: #118
— Quality of life rank: #111

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#2. Owsley County

– Average life expectancy: 67.4 years (7.7 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #117
— Length of life rank: #118
— Quality of life rank: #98

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#1. Perry County

– Average life expectancy: 67 years (8.1 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #118
— Length of life rank: #120
— Quality of life rank: #94