People who were born in New York City in 2021 had an average life expectancy of 80.7 years, which was higher than the previous year, 2020, during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it still remained below the levels seen before the pandemic, as indicated in the most recent annual Vital Statistics Report released by the city.
In 2020, the impact of COVID-19 was profound, with a death toll of 21,241 across the five boroughs, leading to a decrease in life expectancy to 78 years, the lowest since 2009. Despite the recovery in life expectancy in the following year, the process was hindered by various intersecting factors such as poverty, racial disparities, and a rise in drug-related fatalities, as highlighted in the report.
Dr. Ashwin Vasan, the city’s health commissioner, expressed satisfaction that New Yorkers’ life spans have started to rebound from the significant decline in 2020. However, he emphasized the ongoing need to address health issues like diabetes, heart disease, overdoses, and suicides that continue to impact the quality and length of life for residents.
City officials believe that by addressing the root causes of premature death outlined in the Vital Statistics Report, they can enhance the life expectancy of New Yorkers. Their goal is to raise the average life expectancy to 83 years by the year 2030, a target announced in the previous autumn.
While Suffolk and Nassau County health departments did not provide directly comparable data, estimates from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps report projected a life expectancy of 81.9 years for Nassau and 80.1 years for Suffolk in 2023.
The impact of COVID-19 on Long Island was evident in the state Department of Health data, with the virus emerging as the second leading cause of death in both counties in 2020, following closely behind heart disease.
In 2021, cancer and heart disease remained the primary causes of death in New York City, with fatal overdoses emerging as the fourth leading cause, trailing behind COVID-19. The rate of drug-related deaths in the city continued to rise, significantly surpassing other accidental causes like falls and motor vehicle accidents.
The pandemic exacerbated existing disparities, with non-Hispanic Black New Yorkers experiencing the lowest life expectancy at 76.1 years, while non-Hispanic white New Yorkers had the highest at 81.8 years. These disparities, rooted in historical and contemporary racism, have persisted over the years, reflecting systemic inequalities in health outcomes.
The impact of poverty on health outcomes was stark, with neighborhoods characterized by high poverty rates exhibiting significantly higher rates of premature death and drug-related fatalities compared to low poverty areas.
While Long Island did not experience the same drop in life expectancy as the city in 2020, there was an increase in 2021. Sean Clouston, an epidemiologist at Stony Brook University, noted that such a significant decline in life expectancy is rare and may have last occurred during historical events like World War II or the Great Depression.
The unique characteristics of Long Island, including lower population density and more outdoor activities, may have influenced its susceptibility to the pandemic. However, the region’s lower COVID-19 vaccination rates could pose long-term health risks, particularly considering the commuting patterns of many Long Islanders who work in the city.