NJSHAD - Complete Health Indicator Report

Definition and Why is this Important?

Why Is This Important?

Life expectancy is a summary mortality measure often used to describe the overall health status of a population.

Definition

Average life span or number of years of life that could be expected if current death rates were to remain constant

Life expectancy from birth is very sensitive to infant and child mortality. Life expectancy from age 65 is less sensitive to infant and child mortality than life expectancy from birth and is thought to better represent overall adult health status.

In NJSHAD, life expectancy is calculated using a method developed by CL Chiang. For more information on calculation of life expectancy in NJSHAD, please visit the life expectancy documentation page.

Current Outlook

How Are We Doing?

Life expectancy was slowly increasing among all racial and ethnic groups as well as among both males and females until 2015. Small declines in overall life expectancy were experienced the following three years before again increasing slightly in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 caused average life expectancy (ALE) among all New Jersey residents to decline 3 years. The impact on ALE was not the same among different groups. Between 2019 and 2020, ALE declined by 7.7 years among Hispanics, 6.1 years among Asians, 4.7 years among Blacks, and 1.7 years among Whites. ALE among males declined 3.3 years while the decline among females was 2.4 years.

As of 2020, the average life expectancy among New Jersey residents was 77.7 years. Life expectancy among females (80.7 years) was six years greater than among males (74.8). Among New Jersey residents, life expectancy is highest among Asians (86.1 years), followed by Hispanics and Whites (both 78.4), and Blacks (72.2).

By county, estimates range from 72.3 years in Salem to 82.4 years in Hunterdon.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

Life expectancy among New Jersey residents is slightly greater than the U.S. estimate of 77.0 years. ¹

Health Improvement Resources

Available Services

Average life expectancy for your zip code or census tract: Neighborhood Life Expectancy Project

Interactive map of life expectancy estimates by state or census tract: NCHS Data Visualization Gallery

More Resources

U.S. Life Tables - 1890 to present

U.S. Small-area Life Expectancy Estimates Project (USALEEP) - Data and Methodology

Healthy People 2030 Overall Health and Well-Being Measures

Life Expectancy at Birth by Year, New Jersey, 2000 to 2020

2000	2000	77.6	77.5	77.6
2001	2001	77.6	77.6	77.6
2002	2002	78.0	78.0	78.0
2003	2003	78.2	78.2	78.3
2004	2004	78.7	78.7	78.7
2005	2005	78.8	78.8	78.8
2006	2006	79.1	79.1	79.1
2007	2007	79.5	79.5	79.6
2008	2008	79.7	79.7	79.7
2009	2009	80.2	80.2	80.2
2010	2010	80.3	80.3	80.3
2011	2011	80.2	80.2	80.2
2012	2012	80.5	80.5	80.5
2013	2013	80.5	80.5	80.6
2014	2014	80.7	80.7	80.7
2015	2015	80.7	80.6	80.7
2016	2016	80.5	80.5	80.5
2017	2017	80.4	80.3	80.4
2018	2018	80.4	80.4	80.4
2019	2019	80.6	80.6	80.7
2020	2020	77.7	77.7	77.7

Data Sources

Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health
(https://www.nj.gov/health/vital/)
Population Estimates, State Data Center, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
(https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/demographics/population-household-estimates/)

How the Measure is Calculated

Numerator:
Not applicable. For information on life expectancy calculation, please see life expectancy documentation page.
Denominator:
See numerator note.

Life Expectancy at Birth by Race/Ethnicity, New Jersey, 2000 to 2020

White
	1	White	2000	2000	78.1	78.0	78.1
	1	White	2001	2001	78.1	78.0	78.1
	1	White	2002	2002	78.4	78.4	78.5
	1	White	2003	2003	78.7	78.6	78.7
	1	White	2004	2004	79.0	78.9	79.0
	1	White	2005	2005	78.9	78.9	78.9
	1	White	2006	2006	79.2	79.2	79.3
	1	White	2007	2007	79.6	79.6	79.6
	1	White	2008	2008	79.8	79.8	79.8
	1	White	2009	2009	80.2	80.2	80.2
	1	White	2010	2010	80.3	80.3	80.3
	1	White	2011	2011	80.2	80.1	80.2
	1	White	2012	2012	80.3	80.3	80.3
	1	White	2013	2013	80.3	80.2	80.3
	1	White	2014	2014	80.4	80.3	80.4
	1	White	2015	2015	80.4	80.3	80.4
	1	White	2016	2016	80.1	80.1	80.1
	1	White	2017	2017	79.9	79.8	79.9
	1	White	2018	2018	79.8	79.8	79.9
	1	White	2019	2019	80.1	80.1	80.2
	1	White	2020	2020	78.4	78.4	78.4
Black
	2	Black	2000	2000	71.2	71.2	71.3
	2	Black	2001	2001	71.3	71.2	71.4
	2	Black	2002	2002	72.1	72.0	72.1
	2	Black	2003	2003	71.9	71.8	72.0
	2	Black	2004	2004	73.1	73.1	73.2
	2	Black	2005	2005	73.2	73.1	73.3
	2	Black	2006	2006	73.6	73.5	73.7
	2	Black	2007	2007	74.3	74.2	74.4
	2	Black	2008	2008	74.6	74.5	74.6
	2	Black	2009	2009	75.5	75.4	75.6
	2	Black	2010	2010	75.5	75.4	75.5
	2	Black	2011	2011	75.6	75.5	75.6
	2	Black	2012	2012	76.4	76.4	76.5
	2	Black	2013	2013	76.5	76.4	76.5
	2	Black	2014	2014	76.9	76.8	76.9
	2	Black	2015	2015	76.4	76.4	76.5
	2	Black	2016	2016	76.4	76.3	76.5
	2	Black	2017	2017	76.4	76.3	76.4
	2	Black	2018	2018	76.5	76.4	76.5
	2	Black	2019	2019	76.9	76.8	76.9
	2	Black	2020	2020	72.2	72.1	72.2
Hispanic
	3	Hispanic	2000	2000	82.0	81.9	82.1
	3	Hispanic	2001	2001	82.3	82.2	82.4
	3	Hispanic	2002	2002	82.6	82.5	82.7
	3	Hispanic	2003	2003	83.5	83.4	83.6
	3	Hispanic	2004	2004	86.0	85.9	86.1
	3	Hispanic	2005	2005	84.8	84.8	84.9
	3	Hispanic	2006	2006	85.2	85.2	85.3
	3	Hispanic	2007	2007	86.5	86.4	86.6
	3	Hispanic	2008	2008	86.1	86.0	86.2
	3	Hispanic	2009	2009	86.9	86.8	86.9
	3	Hispanic	2010	2010	85.1	85.0	85.2
	3	Hispanic	2011	2011	85.6	85.6	85.7
	3	Hispanic	2012	2012	85.5	85.5	85.6
	3	Hispanic	2013	2013	85.3	85.2	85.4
	3	Hispanic	2014	2014	85.8	85.8	85.9
	3	Hispanic	2015	2015	85.9	85.8	86.0
	3	Hispanic	2016	2016	86.1	86.0	86.2
	3	Hispanic	2017	2017	85.7	85.6	85.7
	3	Hispanic	2018	2018	85.4	85.3	85.4
	3	Hispanic	2019	2019	86.1	86.0	86.1
	3	Hispanic	2020	2020	78.4	78.3	78.4
Asian
	4	Asian	2000	2000	88.6	88.4	88.7
	4	Asian	2001	2001	89.2	89.1	89.3
	4	Asian	2002	2002	89.3	89.1	89.4
	4	Asian	2003	2003	89.7	89.6	89.8
	4	Asian	2004	2004	88.6	88.5	88.8
	4	Asian	2005	2005	88.8	88.7	88.9
	4	Asian	2006	2006	90.5	90.4	90.6
	4	Asian	2007	2007	91.8	91.6	91.9
	4	Asian	2008	2008	91.4	91.3	91.5
	4	Asian	2009	2009	92.5	92.4	92.6
	4	Asian	2010	2010	89.1	89.0	89.2
	4	Asian	2011	2011	90.4	90.3	90.4
	4	Asian	2012	2012	90.7	90.6	90.8
	4	Asian	2013	2013	90.4	90.4	90.5
	4	Asian	2014	2014	91.7	91.6	91.8
	4	Asian	2015	2015	92.1	92.0	92.2
	4	Asian	2016	2016	92.2	92.1	92.2
	4	Asian	2017	2017	92.2	92.2	92.3
	4	Asian	2018	2018	92.4	92.4	92.5
	4	Asian	2019	2019	92.2	92.2	92.3
	4	Asian	2020	2020	86.1	86.0	86.1

Data Notes

Data for White, Black, and Asian does not include Hispanics. Hispanic ethnicity can be any race.

Data Sources

Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health
(https://www.nj.gov/health/vital/)
Population Estimates, State Data Center, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
(https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/demographics/population-household-estimates/)

How the Measure is Calculated

Numerator:
Not applicable. For information on life expectancy calculation, please see life expectancy documentation page.
Denominator:
See numerator note.

Life Expectancy at Birth by Sex, New Jersey, 2000 to 2020

Male
	1	Male	2000	2000	74.9	74.8	74.9
	1	Male	2001	2001	74.9	74.9	75.0
	1	Male	2002	2002	75.6	75.5	75.6
	1	Male	2003	2003	75.7	75.7	75.7
	1	Male	2004	2004	76.3	76.2	76.3
	1	Male	2005	2005	76.3	76.3	76.3
	1	Male	2006	2006	76.5	76.5	76.5
	1	Male	2007	2007	77.0	77.0	77.0
	1	Male	2008	2008	77.2	77.2	77.2
	1	Male	2009	2009	77.7	77.7	77.7
	1	Male	2010	2010	77.8	77.8	77.8
	1	Male	2011	2011	77.8	77.8	77.8
	1	Male	2012	2012	78.1	78.0	78.1
	1	Male	2013	2013	78.0	78.0	78.1
	1	Male	2014	2014	78.3	78.2	78.3
	1	Male	2015	2015	78.2	78.2	78.2
	1	Male	2016	2016	78.0	78.0	78.1
	1	Male	2017	2017	77.8	77.8	77.8
	1	Male	2018	2018	77.8	77.8	77.8
	1	Male	2019	2019	78.1	78.1	78.2
	1	Male	2020	2020	74.8	74.8	74.8
Female
	2	Female	2000	2000	80.0	80.0	80.1
	2	Female	2001	2001	80.1	80.0	80.1
	2	Female	2002	2002	80.3	80.3	80.3
	2	Female	2003	2003	80.6	80.6	80.6
	2	Female	2004	2004	81.0	80.9	81.0
	2	Female	2005	2005	81.1	81.1	81.1
	2	Female	2006	2006	81.5	81.5	81.5
	2	Female	2007	2007	81.8	81.8	81.9
	2	Female	2008	2008	82.0	81.9	82.0
	2	Female	2009	2009	82.4	82.4	82.5
	2	Female	2010	2010	82.6	82.6	82.7
	2	Female	2011	2011	82.5	82.5	82.5
	2	Female	2012	2012	82.8	82.8	82.8
	2	Female	2013	2013	82.9	82.8	82.9
	2	Female	2014	2014	82.9	82.9	83.0
	2	Female	2015	2015	83.0	82.9	83.0
	2	Female	2016	2016	82.8	82.8	82.9
	2	Female	2017	2017	82.8	82.8	82.8
	2	Female	2018	2018	82.9	82.8	82.9
	2	Female	2019	2019	83.1	83.0	83.1
	2	Female	2020	2020	80.7	80.7	80.7

Data Sources

Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health
(https://www.nj.gov/health/vital/)
Population Estimates, State Data Center, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
(https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/demographics/population-household-estimates/)

How the Measure is Calculated

Numerator:
Not applicable. For information on life expectancy calculation, please see life expectancy documentation page.
Denominator:
See numerator note.

Life Expectancy at Birth by Race/Ethnicity and Sex, New Jersey, 2020

Male
	1	Male	White	1	75.9	75.9	75.9
	1	Male	Black	2	68.2	68.1	68.3
	1	Male	Hispanic	3	74.1	74.0	74.2
	1	Male	Asian	4	83.6	83.6	83.7
Female
	2	Female	White	1	80.9	80.9	81.0
	2	Female	Black	2	76.0	75.9	76.1
	2	Female	Hispanic	3	83.0	82.9	83.0
	2	Female	Asian	4	88.4	88.3	88.5

Data Notes

Data for White, Black, and Asian do not include Hispanics. Hispanic ethnicity includes persons of any race.

Data Sources

Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health
(https://www.nj.gov/health/vital/)
Population Estimates, State Data Center, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
(https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/demographics/population-household-estimates/)

How the Measure is Calculated

Numerator:
Not applicable. For information on life expectancy calculation, please see life expectancy documentation page.
Denominator:
See numerator note.

Life Expectancy at Birth by County, New Jersey, 2020

Atlantic	1	75.6	75.5	75.7
Bergen	2	80.4	80.4	80.5
Burlington	3	78.3	78.2	78.4
Camden	4	75.6	75.6	75.7
Cape May	5	76.5	76.3	76.7
Cumberland	6	73.3	73.1	73.4
Essex	7	75.0	74.9	75.1
Gloucester	8	76.6	76.5	76.7
Hudson	9	77.0	76.9	77.1
Hunterdon	10	82.4	82.3	82.6
Mercer	11	77.2	77.2	77.3
Middlesex	12	78.7	78.7	78.8
Monmouth	13	78.9	78.8	78.9
Morris	14	80.3	80.2	80.4
Ocean	15	77.3	77.3	77.4
Passaic	16	76.2	76.1	76.3
Salem	17	72.3	72.0	72.5
Somerset	18	80.4	80.3	80.5
Sussex	19	78.0	77.8	78.1
Union	20	77.1	77.0	77.1
Warren	21	77.8	77.6	78.0
New Jersey	34000	77.7	77.7	77.7

Data Sources

Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health
(https://www.nj.gov/health/vital/)
Population Estimates, State Data Center, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
(https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/demographics/population-household-estimates/)

How the Measure is Calculated

Numerator:
Not applicable. For information on life expectancy calculation, please see life expectancy documentation page.
Denominator:
See numerator note.

Related Health Objectives and Indicators

Health Initiative: CDI
Chronic Disease Indicator HEA06
Description: Life expectancy at birth
https://www.cdc.gov/cdi/indicator-definitions/health-status.html

Health Initiative: EPHT
Environmental Public Health Tracking Indicator PV-137
Description: Life expectancy
https://ephtracking.cdc.gov/indicatorPages?selectedContentAreaAbbreviation=13&selectedIndicatorId=137

References and Resources

Footnote References

1. NCHS FastStats - Life Expectancy

Complete Indicator Report Data View Options

Definition and Why is this Important?

Why Is This Important?

Definition

Current Outlook

How Are We Doing?

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

Health Improvement Resources

Available Services

More Resources

Life Expectancy at Birth by Year, New Jersey, 2000 to 2020

Data Sources

How the Measure is Calculated

Numerator:

Denominator:

Life Expectancy at Birth by Race/Ethnicity, New Jersey, 2000 to 2020

Data Notes

Data Sources

How the Measure is Calculated

Numerator:

Denominator:

Life Expectancy at Birth by Sex, New Jersey, 2000 to 2020

Data Sources

How the Measure is Calculated

Numerator:

Denominator:

Life Expectancy at Birth by Race/Ethnicity and Sex, New Jersey, 2020

Data Notes

Data Sources

How the Measure is Calculated

Numerator:

Denominator:

Life Expectancy at Birth by County, New Jersey, 2020

Life Expectancy at Birth by County, New Jersey, 2020

Base Map

Overlays

Labels

Choropleth

Age in Years

Data Sources

How the Measure is Calculated

Numerator:

Denominator:

Related Health Objectives and Indicators

Health Initiative: CDI

Chronic Disease Indicator HEA06

Health Initiative: EPHT

Environmental Public Health Tracking Indicator PV-137

Related Content

Health Topic Pages Related to: Life Expectancy at Birth

Related Health Status Outcomes Indicators:

References and Resources

Footnote References