Researchers: U.S. life expectancy hits lowest point in decades
Life expectancy in the United States has hit the lowest
point in decades.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers found life expectancy dropped by nearly a
year between 2020 and 2021 and by more than two and a half years overall since
the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Life expectancy now stands at 76.1 years.
The number is the lowest it has been in the U.S. since
1996, and the biggest two year decline in a century.
The CDC
says COVID-19 was the driving factor with deaths from the virus contributing to
half of the decline from 2020 to 2021.