People in MS live the shortest lives in the US, new study says. Here’s how short & why

Eating healthy and staying active are always great lifestyle choices. However, they are even more important when it comes to life expectancy because they can determine how long or short you live.

And where you live does in fact matter.

A new study by Nursa found which states have the highest and lowest life expectancy rates, by compiling data from state parks, gyms, walking routes, pools and food choices in stores. The study also looked at pollution data, smoking rates, hospital readmission rates from the CDC, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and more.

The CDC reported that the average life expectancy for U.S. citizens is 78.4 years, but unfortunately for Mississippi residents, that is not the case.

Nursa ranked Mississippi as the state with the lowest life expectancy, living only to 70.9 years — but why? Let’s take a look:

Why do MS residents live the shortest?

“Mississippi has the shortest life expectancy at just 70.9 years from birth,” according to the Nursa study. But why is that the case? Well, Mississippi’s life expectancy is primarily determined by its smoking rate, which is the ninth-highest in the country.

Smoking reduces your life expectancy by 10 years, as stated by Nursa.

Additionally, Mississippi has the second-lowest access to gyms, as well as the second-fewest walking, hiking and running routes.

“Regular physical activity could boost life expectancy by 0.4 to 4.2 years,” said experts at Nursa.

Let’s see how other states stack up:

What other states have low life expectancy rates?

The states with the lowest life expectancy are:

• West Virginia (71 years)
• Alabama (72 years)
• Louisiana (72.2 years)
• Kentucky (72.3 years)

Which states have residents that live the longest?

States with residents that live the longest are:

• Hawaii (79.9)
• Massachusetts (79.6)
• Connecticut (79.2)
• New Jersey (79)
• New York (79)

Are you surprised by this study? Let me know in the comments or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com

This story was originally published August 5, 2025 at 5:00 AM.

Chelsea Madden

The Telegraph

Chelsea is a service journalism reporter who began working for McClatchy in 2022. She was born and raised in Middle Georgia and lives in Forsyth. She attended Wesleyan College for undergrad and a few years after that, went to SCAD for an MFA in writing. Outside of work, Chelsea likes to watch Netflix, read books in the thriller genre and chase her toddler around.