Counties with the shortest life expectancy in Ohio

OHIO (STACKER) — 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 well-being 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 Ohio. 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.

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#44. Cuyahoga County

– Average life expectancy: 76.5 years (same as statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #65
— Length of life rank: #59
— Quality of life rank: #71

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Alycat // Wikimedia Commons

#44. Stark County

– Average life expectancy: 76.5 years (same as statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #46
— Length of life rank: #39
— Quality of life rank: #51

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Derek Jensen // Wikimedia Commons

#44. Shelby County

– Average life expectancy: 76.5 years (same as statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #29
— Length of life rank: #46
— Quality of life rank: #15

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#41. Hamilton County

– Average life expectancy: 76.4 years (0.1 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #54
— Length of life rank: #56
— Quality of life rank: #48

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User:OHWiki // Wikimedia Commons

#41. Sandusky County

– Average life expectancy: 76.4 years (0.1 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #40
— Length of life rank: #49
— Quality of life rank: #32

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Greg Hume // Wikimedia Commons

#41. Butler County

– Average life expectancy: 76.4 years (0.1 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #39
— Length of life rank: #54
— Quality of life rank: #25

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Derek Jensen // Wikimedia Commons

#38. Allen County

– Average life expectancy: 76.3 years (0.2 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #59
— Length of life rank: #42
— Quality of life rank: #69

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Photo shot by Derek Jensen (Tysto) // Wikimedia Commons

#38. Logan County

– Average life expectancy: 76.3 years (0.2 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #36
— Length of life rank: #44
— Quality of life rank: #30

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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#38. Darke County

– Average life expectancy: 76.3 years (0.2 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #28
— Length of life rank: #43
— Quality of life rank: #14

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Rona Proudfoot // Wikimedia Commons

#37. Erie County

– Average life expectancy: 76.2 years (0.3 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #49
— Length of life rank: #58
— Quality of life rank: #39

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Tim Kiser // Wikimedia Commons

#36. Morgan County

– Average life expectancy: 76.1 years (0.4 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #62
— Length of life rank: #61
— Quality of life rank: #65

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Bwsmith84 // Wikimedia Commons

#35. Belmont County

– Average life expectancy: 75.9 years (0.6 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #56
— Length of life rank: #50
— Quality of life rank: #56

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636Buster // Wikimedia Commons

#34. Columbiana County

– Average life expectancy: 75.8 years (0.7 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #57
— Length of life rank: #57
— Quality of life rank: #53

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Christopher L. Riley // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Perry County

– Average life expectancy: 75.7 years (0.8 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #60
— Length of life rank: #51
— Quality of life rank: #63

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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Preble County

– Average life expectancy: 75.7 years (0.8 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #53
— Length of life rank: #55
— Quality of life rank: #49

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Christopher L. Riley // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Hardin County

– Average life expectancy: 75.7 years (0.8 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #50
— Length of life rank: #48
— Quality of life rank: #52

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Kevin Marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Huron County

– Average life expectancy: 75.7 years (0.8 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #48
— Length of life rank: #53
— Quality of life rank: #44

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John Siegenthaler // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Richland County

– Average life expectancy: 75.6 years (0.9 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #61
— Length of life rank: #67
— Quality of life rank: #55

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Bwsmith84 // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Harrison County

– Average life expectancy: 75.6 years (0.9 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #47
— Length of life rank: #52
— Quality of life rank: #40

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Aesopposea // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Highland County

– Average life expectancy: 75.5 years (1.0 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #69
— Length of life rank: #64
— Quality of life rank: #73

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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Coshocton County

– Average life expectancy: 75.4 years (1.1 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #64
— Length of life rank: #66
— Quality of life rank: #59

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User:OHWiki // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Crawford County

– Average life expectancy: 75.3 years (1.2 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #63
— Length of life rank: #60
— Quality of life rank: #67

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dankeck // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Hocking County

– Average life expectancy: 75.3 years (1.2 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #58
— Length of life rank: #62
— Quality of life rank: #50

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Jack Pearce // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Mahoning County

– Average life expectancy: 75.2 years (1.3 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #78
— Length of life rank: #69
— Quality of life rank: #80

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Jack W. Pearce // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Trumbull County

– Average life expectancy: 75.2 years (1.3 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #72
— Length of life rank: #73
— Quality of life rank: #70

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OZinOH // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Ashtabula County

– Average life expectancy: 75.2 years (1.3 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #71
— Length of life rank: #65
— Quality of life rank: #79

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Analogue Kid // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Pickaway County

– Average life expectancy: 75.2 years (1.3 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #52
— Length of life rank: #63
— Quality of life rank: #33

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Leslie K. Dellovade // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Muskingum County

– Average life expectancy: 75.1 years (1.4 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #67
— Length of life rank: #70
— Quality of life rank: #66

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Willjay // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Guernsey County

– Average life expectancy: 75 years (1.5 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #73
— Length of life rank: #71
— Quality of life rank: #77

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James St. John // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Marion County

– Average life expectancy: 75 years (1.5 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #70
— Length of life rank: #68
— Quality of life rank: #72

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Bwsmith84 // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Clinton County

– Average life expectancy: 74.7 years (1.8 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #68
— Length of life rank: #76
— Quality of life rank: #54

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Michael Shake // Shutterstock

#14. Lucas County

– Average life expectancy: 74.6 years (1.9 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #79
— Length of life rank: #75
— Quality of life rank: #75

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Tysto // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Montgomery County

– Average life expectancy: 74.6 years (1.9 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #75
— Length of life rank: #80
— Quality of life rank: #64

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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Jefferson County

– Average life expectancy: 74.5 years (2.0 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #76
— Length of life rank: #77
— Quality of life rank: #68

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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Brown County

– Average life expectancy: 74.2 years (2.3 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #66
— Length of life rank: #74
— Quality of life rank: #58

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Mike Sharp // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Ross County

– Average life expectancy: 74.1 years (2.4 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #77
— Length of life rank: #72
— Quality of life rank: #78

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Cindy Funk // Wikicommons

#10. Clark County

– Average life expectancy: 73.9 years (2.6 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #80
— Length of life rank: #81
— Quality of life rank: #74

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Bwsmith84 // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Fayette County

– Average life expectancy: 73.8 years (2.7 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #74
— Length of life rank: #79
— Quality of life rank: #62

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Aesopposea // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Adams County

– Average life expectancy: 73.5 years (3.0 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #83
— Length of life rank: #78
— Quality of life rank: #88

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Jimmy Emerson // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Meigs County

– Average life expectancy: 73.3 years (3.2 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #84
— Length of life rank: #83
— Quality of life rank: #86

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Kurt Tarvis // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Gallia County

– Average life expectancy: 72.8 years (3.7 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #86
— Length of life rank: #86
— Quality of life rank: #85

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Seicer // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Lawrence County

– Average life expectancy: 72.7 years (3.8 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #81
— Length of life rank: #82
— Quality of life rank: #83

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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Vinton County

– Average life expectancy: 72.4 years (4.1 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #85
— Length of life rank: #85
— Quality of life rank: #84

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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Jackson County

– Average life expectancy: 72.1 years (4.4 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #82
— Length of life rank: #84
— Quality of life rank: #81

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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Pike County

– Average life expectancy: 72 years (4.5 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #87
— Length of life rank: #87
— Quality of life rank: #87

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Spongefan // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Scioto County

– Average life expectancy: 70.7 years (5.8 less than the statewide average)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #88
— Length of life rank: #88
— Quality of life rank: #82