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Counties with the highest life expectancy in South Carolina
Life expectancy in the United States has increased, by nearly seven years over the past half century. (The average life expectancy was 70.8 years in 1970 and is projected to be 77.5 years in 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.) There are many factors that can contribute to how long you live—from genetics to your alcohol or smoking habits, your diet and weight, and your physical activity levels. But then there’s the matter of where you live.
Some areas of the world, known as the “Blue Zones,” have a disproportionate number of residents who live to at least 100 years of age. These five particular areas of the world – Ikaria, Greece; Loma Linda, California; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Okinawa, Japan; and Sardinia, Italy – are the subject of intense research as scientists try to determine what it is about their diet, lifestyle, and environment that promotes such longevity. While it may not be such an obvious factor, where you live can play a significant role in overall lifespan, which is why some states and even counties in the U.S. tend to have higher life expectancies than others.
By analyzing the 2024 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, Stacker was able to identify the counties with the highest life expectancies in South Carolina. Life expectancy is the average number of years a person is expected to live from birth. It is calculated based on the number of deaths in a given period and the average number of people at risk of death during that period. Counties with unreliable or insufficient data were excluded from the analysis. Mortality data comes from the National Vital Statistics System.
Read on to find out where Berkeley County ranks on the list.
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#12. Jasper County (simultaneous)
– Life expectancy: 75.3 years
— 0.1 years higher than the national average
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#12. Horry County (simultaneous)
– Life expectancy: 75.3 years
— 0.1 years higher than the national average
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#11. Lancaster Area
– Life expectancy: 75.4 years
— 0.2 years higher than the national average
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#10. Oconee County
– Life expectancy: 75.6 years
— 0.4 years higher than the national average
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#9. Richland County
– Life expectancy: 76.1 years
— 0.9 years higher than the national average
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#8. Edgefield County
– Life expectancy: 76.3 years
— 1.1 years higher than the national average
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#7. Lexington County
– Life expectancy: 76.7 years
— 1.5 years higher than the national average
Nolichuckyjake // Shutterstock
#5. York County (simultaneous)
– Life expectancy: 76.8 years
— 1.6 years higher than the national average
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#5. Greenville County (simultaneous)
– Life expectancy: 76.8 years
— 1.6 years higher than the national average
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#4. Dorchester County
– Life expectancy: 77.0 years
— 1.8 years higher than the national average
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#3. Berkeley District
– Life expectancy: 77.2 years
— 2.0 years higher than the national average
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#2. Charleston Area
– Life expectancy: 78.1 years
— 2.9 years higher than the national average
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#1. Beaufort District
– Life expectancy: 81.3 years
— 6.1 years higher than the national average
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, written by Kiersten Hickman, and is part of a series leveraging data automation in 50 states.
