New Yorkers lived longer in 2023 than the year before, according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s newly released Annual Summary of Vital Statistics. The report shows that citywide life expectancy rose to 82.6 years, up 1.1 years from 2022, reflecting ongoing recovery from the worst health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the city’s broader public health efforts.
While the overall increase marks meaningful progress, the data highlight persistent racial disparities. Black New Yorkers had the lowest life expectancy of any group at 78.3 years, compared with 83.3 years among white New Yorkers. Life expectancy for Latino New Yorkers reached 82.8 years, while Asian and Pacific Islander New Yorkers had the highest life expectancy at 86.9 years. Health officials note that inequities that widened during the pandemic have narrowed somewhat, but the gap between groups remains larger than it was in 2019.
The 2023 Annual Summary is based on finalized data, offering a comprehensive view of the city’s health trends. The Health Department also released provisional figures for 2024 through its HealthyNYC initiative, showing that life expectancy reached 83.2 years last year, achieving a major public health milestone years ahead of schedule. Finalized 2024 data are expected in 2026.
“The Health Department’s annual vital statistics contain a wealth of information on major drivers of New York City’s health, and we use the data to inform our programs and policies to promote and protect the health of all New Yorkers,” Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse said in a statement.
The report underscores the impact of structural inequities on health outcomes. Systemic racism, economic inequality, gender disparities and other factors continue to shape who benefits most from public health advances. City officials say the data are essential for guiding programs and policies aimed at reducing inequities and improving outcomes for all residents.
Premature mortality, defined as death before age 65, declined in 2023. The age-adjusted premature death rate dropped 5%, from 220.3 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2022 to 209.2 in 2023, though it remains above the pre-pandemic level of 180.2 in 2019. The overall age-adjusted death rate also decreased, from 579.2 deaths per 100,000 in 2022 to 529.8 in 2023. COVID-19 deaths fell sharply, with the age-adjusted death rate from the virus dropping from 40.5 per 100,000 in 2022 to 7.7 in 2023.
Drug overdose deaths, however, edged slightly higher, increasing 0.5% from 2022. Rates were highest among Black New Yorkers, and adults aged 55 to 64 experienced the highest overdose mortality of any age group. Birth and infant health indicators showed mixed trends. The city’s birth rate held steady at 11.9 births per 1,000 residents. Infant mortality fell to 4.2 deaths per 1,000 live births, a 2.3% decrease from 2022, though the rate for Black infants remained nearly four times higher than for white infants.
The Annual Summary compiles vital records dating back to 1930 and presents data by race, ethnicity, age, sex, neighborhood and borough. The information helps the Health Department target programs to address the city’s leading causes of death, chronic conditions, overdose, maternal mortality and other health inequities.
