A Tale of Two Countries: The Life Expectancy Gap Between the United States and the United Kingdom
A new report from researchers at the Bloomberg American Health Initiative finds that the United States is behind other high-income countries in many measures of health and well-being, including life expectancy. In the immediate aftermath of the 2024 election, a longstanding question has become timely again: Why has the U.S. fallen behind in health? This report offers a point of comparison: the United Kingdom.
Forty years ago, babies born in the U.S. and the U.K. could expect to live to the same age. Today, however, life expectancy is 2.7-years shorter on our side of the Atlantic Ocean.
Four Preventable Causes of Death Separate the U.S. from England and Wales
In a new analysis of 2023 data from the U.S. and England and Wales, this report finds that differences in four preventable causes of death can explain the entire 2.7-year gap in life expectancy: cardiovascular disease, overdose, motor vehicle crashes, and gun violence. Each of these kills Americans at a substantially higher rate—particularly younger Americans. This report also addresses what to do. Informed by evidence and inspired by successes in the United Kingdom and at home, Johns Hopkins faculty put forward a series of ideas to help close the life expectancy gap. These measures would build on existing momentum in some areas and bring about long-overdue progress in others.
Meet the Experts
Joshua M. Sharfstein, MD
Director of the Bloomberg American Health Initiative, Vice Dean for Public Health Practice and Community Engagement, and Professor of the Practice in Health Policy and Management.
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Brendan Saloner, PhD
Brendan Saloner, PhD, is a Bloomberg Associate Professor of American Health in the Department of Health Policy and Management, with a joint appointment in Mental Health.
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