Counties with the shortest life expectancy in Michigan
Life expectancy in the United States has generally been on the rise. Between 1960 and 2019, the life expectancy of Americans rose by roughly a decade to the age of 79. Greater longevity can be attributed to improved health care such as diagnostic and medical advancements, as well as healthier lifestyle choices relating to diet, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
Since 2020, however, life expectancy has started to decline. The opioid epidemic, COVID-19, and unintentional injuries—largely driven by drug overdoses—were the leading causes of a three-year decrease in life expectancy over the last two years. Stark disparities among certain segments of the population have also been observed. American Indians/Alaska Natives saw a life expectancy decrease of more than six years; Hispanic and Black Americans, a drop of four years; and white and Asian Americans, a decrease of about two years.
While no one single factor determines the overall health of an entire community, certain socioeconomic and environmental factors such as access to health care, substance abuse treatments, clean air, clean water, and affordable housing contribute significantly to the general health and wellbeing of the entire population.
Using 2022 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, Stacker identified counties with the shortest life expectancy in Michigan. Life expectancy measures the average number of years from birth a person can expect to live, and is calculated based on the number of deaths in a given time period and the average number of people at risk of dying during that period. Counties with unreliable or insufficient data were excluded from the analysis. Mortality data came from the National Vital Statistics System.
#40. Crawford County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #59
--- Length of life rank: #39
--- Quality of life rank: #71
#40. Berrien County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #45
--- Length of life rank: #48
--- Quality of life rank: #45
#40. Sanilac County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #35
--- Length of life rank: #30
--- Quality of life rank: #52
#40. Van Buren County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #31
--- Length of life rank: #31
--- Quality of life rank: #35
#35. Arenac County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #57
--- Length of life rank: #42
--- Quality of life rank: #69
#35. Cass County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #46
--- Length of life rank: #55
--- Quality of life rank: #31
#35. Monroe County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #37
--- Length of life rank: #51
--- Quality of life rank: #26
#35. Macomb County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #36
--- Length of life rank: #36
--- Quality of life rank: #39
#35. Huron County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #33
--- Length of life rank: #32
--- Quality of life rank: #43
#34. Shiawassee County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #27
--- Length of life rank: #28
--- Quality of life rank: #29
#31. Alcona County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #66
--- Length of life rank: #61
--- Quality of life rank: #68
#31. Ontonagon County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #55
--- Length of life rank: #40
--- Quality of life rank: #65
#31. Otsego County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #44
--- Length of life rank: #60
--- Quality of life rank: #27
#30. Luce County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #72
--- Length of life rank: #63
--- Quality of life rank: #81
#27. Wexford County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #65
--- Length of life rank: #69
--- Quality of life rank: #53
#27. Manistee County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #60
--- Length of life rank: #67
--- Quality of life rank: #34
#27. Montcalm County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #54
--- Length of life rank: #54
--- Quality of life rank: #48
#26. Hillsdale County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #40
--- Length of life rank: #45
--- Quality of life rank: #38
#23. Cheboygan County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #68
--- Length of life rank: #72
--- Quality of life rank: #64
#23. Delta County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #61
--- Length of life rank: #66
--- Quality of life rank: #37
#23. Gratiot County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #30
--- Length of life rank: #27
--- Quality of life rank: #40
#22. Jackson County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #58
--- Length of life rank: #58
--- Quality of life rank: #57
#19. Branch County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #53
--- Length of life rank: #53
--- Quality of life rank: #49
#19. Bay County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #52
--- Length of life rank: #56
--- Quality of life rank: #42
#19. Baraga County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #43
--- Length of life rank: #44
--- Quality of life rank: #47
#18. St. Clair County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #56
--- Length of life rank: #65
--- Quality of life rank: #30
#17. Muskegon County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #70
--- Length of life rank: #64
--- Quality of life rank: #77
#15. Saginaw County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #71
--- Length of life rank: #70
--- Quality of life rank: #76
#15. St. Joseph County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #64
--- Length of life rank: #68
--- Quality of life rank: #50
#14. Tuscola County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #63
--- Length of life rank: #62
--- Quality of life rank: #55
#11. Lake County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #82
--- Length of life rank: #75
--- Quality of life rank: #83
#11. Oscoda County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #75
--- Length of life rank: #71
--- Quality of life rank: #79
#11. Kalkaska County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #62
--- Length of life rank: #57
--- Quality of life rank: #61
#10. Roscommon County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #73
--- Length of life rank: #79
--- Quality of life rank: #56
#9. Gladwin County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #76
--- Length of life rank: #74
--- Quality of life rank: #72
#8. Calhoun County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #69
--- Length of life rank: #73
--- Quality of life rank: #66
#7. Montmorency County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #74
--- Length of life rank: #77
--- Quality of life rank: #63
#6. Ogemaw County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #77
--- Length of life rank: #76
--- Quality of life rank: #73
#4. Genesee County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #80
--- Length of life rank: #78
--- Quality of life rank: #80
#4. Iosco County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #78
--- Length of life rank: #81
--- Quality of life rank: #60
#3. Iron County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #81
--- Length of life rank: #83
--- Quality of life rank: #75
#1. Wayne County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #83
--- Length of life rank: #82
--- Quality of life rank: #82
#1. Clare County
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #79
--- Length of life rank: #80
--- Quality of life rank: #74