Counties with the Lowest Life Expectancy in Illinois
Life expectancy is influenced by numerous factors. The National Library of Medicine states that approximately 25% of your lifespan is linked to genetics. Healthy lifestyle choices—such as eating a well-balanced diet, not smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy weight, and exercising regularly—can extend your life by over a decade, according to findings from the National Institutes of Health. While these elements are crucial, another vital factor to consider is your surroundings and community.
Even though life expectancy has generally risen in the United States—from roughly 70.8 years in 1970 to 77.5 years in 2022, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—this statistic can differ significantly across states and counties. In certain regions, average life expectancies are decreasing due to various risk factors beyond health itself, including socioeconomic issues such as poverty, joblessness, income levels, and educational attainment.
A study conducted in 2020 by researchers from Penn State, West Virginia, and Michigan State Universities discovered that communities with higher population densities, numerous fast-food options, and a significant presence of jobs in extraction industries tend to have lower life expectancies.
To explore life expectancy variations in Illinois, Stacker analyzed the 2024 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute to pinpoint the counties with the lowest life expectancy rates. This measure reflects the average number of years a person is expected to live from birth, based on mortality rates and the average population at risk. Counties lacking sufficient data were excluded from this assessment, with mortality figures sourced from the National Vital Statistics System.
Continue reading to find out if your county is included.
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#49. Morgan County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 76.4 years
— 1.6 years below the state average
#49. Warren County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 76.4 years
— 1.6 years below the state average
#46. Henderson County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 76.3 years
— 1.7 years below the state average
#46. Marshall County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 76.3 years
— 1.7 years below the state average
#46. Randolph County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 76.3 years
— 1.7 years below the state average
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#45. Scott County
– Life expectancy: 76.2 years
— 1.8 years below the state average
#42. LaSalle County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 76.1 years
— 1.9 years below the state average
#42. Jackson County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 76.1 years
— 1.9 years below the state average
#42. Livingston County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 76.1 years
— 1.9 years below the state average
#41. Schuyler County
– Life expectancy: 76.0 years
— 2.0 years below the state average
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#39. Macoupin County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 75.9 years
— 2.1 years below the state average
#39. Peoria County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 75.9 years
— 2.1 years below the state average
#37. Cass County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 75.8 years
— 2.2 years below the state average
#37. Perry County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 75.8 years
— 2.2 years below the state average
#35. Moultrie County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 75.7 years
— 2.3 years below the state average
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#35. Madison County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 75.7 years
— 2.3 years below the state average
#33. Christian County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 75.6 years
— 2.4 years below the state average
#33. Clark County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 75.6 years
— 2.4 years below the state average
#32. Knox County
– Life expectancy: 75.5 years
— 2.5 years below the state average
#30. Pike County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 75.4 years
— 2.6 years below the state average
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#30. Kankakee County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 75.4 years
— 2.6 years below the state average
#27. Fulton County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 75.3 years
— 2.7 years below the state average
#27. Winnebago County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 75.3 years
— 2.7 years below the state average
#27. Greene County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 75.3 years
— 2.7 years below the state average
#25. Jersey County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 75.2 years
— 2.8 years below the state average
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#25. Macon County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 75.2 years
— 2.8 years below the state average
#22. Edwards County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 75.1 years
— 2.9 years below the state average
#22. Wayne County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 75.1 years
— 2.9 years below the state average
#22. Ford County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 75.1 years
— 2.9 years below the state average
#19. Jefferson County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 75.0 years
— 3.0 years below the state average
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#19. Richland County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 75.0 years
— 3.0 years below the state average
#19. Iroquois County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 75.0 years
— 3.0 years below the state average
#18. Lawrence County
– Life expectancy: 74.9 years
— 3.1 years below the state average
#16. Montgomery County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 74.8 years
— 3.2 years below the state average
#16. Edgar County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 74.8 years
— 3.2 years below the state average
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#15. St. Clair County
– Life expectancy: 74.7 years
— 3.3 years below the state average
#14. DeWitt County
– Life expectancy: 74.6 years
— 3.4 years below the state average
#13. Stark County
– Life expectancy: 74.5 years
— 3.5 years below the state average
#12. Union County
– Life expectancy: 74.1 years
— 3.9 years below the state average
#11. Massac County
– Life expectancy: 74.0 years
— 4.0 years below the state average
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#10. White County
– Life expectancy: 73.9 years
— 4.1 years below the state average
#9. Mason County
– Life expectancy: 73.8 years
— 4.2 years below the state average
#8. Marion County
– Life expectancy: 73.4 years
— 4.6 years below the state average
#7. Franklin County
– Life expectancy: 73.3 years
— 4.7 years below the state average
#6. Vermilion County
– Life expectancy: 73.2 years
— 4.8 years below the state average
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#5. Pulaski County
– Life expectancy: 73.0 years
— 5.0 years below the state average
#2. Gallatin County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 72.5 years
— 5.5 years below the state average
#2. Saline County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 72.5 years
— 5.5 years below the state average
#2. Hardin County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 72.5 years
— 5.5 years below the state average
#1. Alexander County
– Life expectancy: 68.6 years
— 9.4 years below the state average
This article includes data findings by Karim Noorani, written by Kiersten Hickman, and is part of a data automation series covering all 49 states.
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By Stacker
