Why Is This Important?

Life expectancy is a summary mortality measure often used to describe the overall health status of a population.

Definition

Average life span or number of years of life that could be expected if current death rates were to remain constant Life expectancy from birth is very sensitive to infant and child mortality. Life expectancy from age 65 is less sensitive to infant and child mortality than life expectancy from birth and is thought to better represent overall adult health status. In NJSHAD, life expectancy is calculated using a method developed by CL Chiang. For more information on calculation of life expectancy in NJSHAD, please visit the [[a href="query/LifeExp.html" life expectancy documentation page]].

Data Sources

• Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health
  (https://www.nj.gov/health/vital/)
• Population Estimates, State Data Center, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
  (https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/demographics/population-household-estimates/)

How the Measure is Calculated

How Are We Doing?

Life expectancy was slowly increasing among all racial and ethnic groups as well as among both males and females until 2015. Small declines in overall life expectancy were experienced the following three years before again increasing slightly in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 caused average life expectancy (ALE) among all New Jersey residents to decline 3 years. The impact on ALE was not the same among different groups. Between 2019 and 2020, ALE declined by 7.7 years among Hispanics, 6.1 years among Asians, 4.7 years among Blacks, and 1.7 years among Whites. ALE among males declined 3.3 years while the decline among females was 2.4 years. As of 2020, the average life expectancy among New Jersey residents was 77.7 years. Life expectancy among females (80.7 years) was six years greater than among males (74.8). Among New Jersey residents, life expectancy is highest among Asians (86.1 years), followed by Hispanics and Whites (both 78.4), and Blacks (72.2). By county, estimates range from 72.3 years in Salem to 82.4 years in Hunterdon.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

Life expectancy among New Jersey residents is slightly greater than the U.S. estimate of 77.0 years. [https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/life-expectancy.htm ^1^]

Available Services

Average life expectancy for your zip code or census tract: [https://www.rwjf.org/en/library/interactives/whereyouliveaffectshowlongyoulive.html Neighborhood Life Expectancy Project] Interactive map of life expectancy estimates by state or census tract: [https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data-visualization/life-expectancy/ NCHS Data Visualization Gallery]

More Resources

[https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/life_tables.htm U.S. Life Tables] - 1890 to present [https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/usaleep/usaleep.html U.S. Small-area Life Expectancy Estimates Project (USALEEP)] - Data and Methodology [https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/overall-health-and-well-being-measures Healthy People 2030] Overall Health and Well-Being Measures

Footnote References

1. [https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/life-expectancy.htm NCHS FastStats] - Life Expectancy