2024 Report: Michigan County with the Shortest Life Expectancy Unveiled

Life expectancy, or how long we can expect to live, is influenced by many factors. Genetics play a part—about 25% of your lifespan is determined by your genes, according to the National Library of Medicine. However, your lifestyle choices also make a big difference. Eating a balanced diet, avoiding smoking, drinking little to no alcohol, staying at a healthy weight, and being active can add over ten years to your life.

But there’s more to it than just genetics and personal habits. Your environment and community play a huge role, too. For instance, while life expectancy in the U.S. has generally increased over time—rising from around 70.8 years in 1970 to 77.5 years in 2022—this isn’t the same everywhere. In some areas, life expectancy is actually going down. Factors like poverty, unemployment, income, and education levels contribute to these differences.

According to a study done by Stacker, in Michigan, Clare County has the shortest life expectancy of all counties in the state, averaging just 73.3 years. This is 3.3 years below the state average. A study from 2020 by researchers from Penn State, West Virginia, and Michigan State Universities found that places with dense populations, lots of fast-food restaurants, and many jobs in industries like mining or drilling tend to have shorter life expectancies.

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These are Michigan's counties with the shortest lifespan in 2024:

• Clare County (73.3 years)
• Wayne County (73.4 years)
• Iosco County & Oscoda County (73.8 years)
• Genesse County (73.9 years)
• Montmorency County & Roscommon County (74.0 years)