New mortality data from the federal government suggests that life expectancy probably hit another record high in 2025, as death rates have continued to fall since the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Record-Low Death Rate

There were about 689 deaths for every 100,000 people in the US in 2025, according to a new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — the lowest rate recorded in more than a century of tracking.

The age-adjusted rate has fallen 22% since 2021, landing about 4% lower than it was just before the pandemic in 2019. Life expectancy is essentially a population-level snapshot of death rates in a given year.

Causes of Death

The top causes of death in the US in 2025 followed longstanding patterns: Heart disease led with nearly 695,000 deaths, followed by cancer with nearly 623,000 deaths. Unintentional injuries, which includes drug overdoses, were the third leading cause of death.

Overdose deaths are still high — about 70,000 people died from an overdose in 2025, preliminary CDC data shows — but experts say that sharp declines probably played a large role in bringing the age-adjusted death rate down in the US.

Longevity and Health

Research shows that some of the best ways to help yourself live a long, healthy life involve more basic habits that help prevent some of the leading causes of death. Staying active, sleeping seven to nine hours a night, eating a plant-based diet, and having tools for managing stress on a daily basis can all contribute to improved longevity outcomes.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.