Experts Discuss Doubling of American Lifespan Since 1776

WHO:

Fox News - Dr. Omer Awan, physician and professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Fox News - Mia Kazanjian, MD, a Stanford-trained body and breast radiologist based in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Fox News - Nneoma Oparaji, MD, a triple board-certified media physician specializing in obesity, lifestyle, and internal medicine.

WHAT:

Fox News - The average lifespan in America has increased from around 35 to 40 years in 1776 to about 79 years today, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Fox News - By 1900, the average life expectancy was about 49 years old, according to the National Vitals Statistics Report.

Fox News - By 1950, the US life expectancy was about 68 years old.

Fox News - The COVID-19 pandemic reduced U.S. life expectancy by more than two years between 2019 and 2021.

WHERE:

Fox News - The first sewer system network was built in Brooklyn in 1857.

WHEN:

Fox News - The Federal Quarantine Act was enacted in 1878.

Fox News - The Pure Food and Drug Act and Federal Meat Inspection Act were passed in 1906.

Fox News - Vaccines for rabies and anthrax were developed in the 1880s.

WHY:

Fox News - The increase in lifespan is attributed to reduced deaths in infancy and from infectious diseases, improved sanitation, clean water, nutrition, vaccination, and medical care.

Fox News - Maternal mortality has fallen dramatically due to advances in antibiotics, blood transfusions, and safer obstetric care.

HOW:

Fox News - Advances in treatments for chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, cancer, and diabetes have significantly prolonged life.

Fox News - Public health campaigns promoting smoking cessation have helped reduce deaths from lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke.

Fox News - Development of pharmaceuticals for cardiovascular disease and cancer has contributed to longer lives.

(UPDATED June 29, 2026 19:34 UTC)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average lifespan in America has increased significantly from around 35 to 40 years in 1776 to about 79 years today, with notable milestones along the way, such as an average life expectancy of about 49 years in 1900 and 68 years in 1950. This increase in lifespan is largely attributed to advancements in medical care, improved sanitation, and public health initiatives, which have reduced deaths from infectious diseases and improved maternal health. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a decline in life expectancy by more than two years between 2019 and 2021, highlighting the ongoing challenges in public health.