racial life expectancy gap

A study of life expectancy trends in the U.S. released Thursday has found that the gap between Black and white lifespans has nearly doubled over the last two decades, exacerbated by geographic and racial health disparities — and reversing decades of a slow but gradual narrowing of the gap.

Life expectancy for Americans, including for Black Americans, is on the rise, due to the decline in the prevalence and severity of COVID-19. Nevertheless, a racial gap exists in life expectancy. As of 2022, Black life expectancy was 72.8 years, compared with 77.5 years for white Americans.