Life expectancy and health outcomes vary significantly across Florida’s counties according to data retrieved on December 12, 2024, from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a program of the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. The statewide average life expectancy in Florida stands at 78.5 years, yet many counties fall substantially below this benchmark.
The following analysis examines the 25 Florida counties with the shortest life expectancy, ranging from Bradford County at 74.6 years to Union County at 67.4 years. Each county’s profile includes its life expectancy, the gap between county and state averages (expressed in years and months), and the percentage of residents reporting fair to poor health status.
This stark variation in life expectancy reveals significant health disparities across Florida’s communities. The most dramatic example is Union County, where residents can expect to live 11 years and 1 month less than the state average, while even in Bradford County, which has the highest life expectancy among these 25 counties, residents still live nearly 4 years less than the state average.
#25. Bradford County
This county has a life expectancy of 74.6 years, falling 3 years and 11 months below the state average. In this county, 22% of residents report fair to poor health.
#24. Lafayette County
This county has a life expectancy of 74.6 years, falling 3 years and 11 months below the state average. In this county, 23% of residents report fair to poor health.
#23. Bay County
This county has a life expectancy of 74.5 years, falling 4 years below the state average. In this county, 16% of residents report fair to poor health.
#22. Baker County
This county has a life expectancy of 74.4 years, falling 4 years and 1 month below the state average. In this county, 18% of residents report fair to poor health.
#21. Marion County
This county has a life expectancy of 74.4 years, falling 4 years and 1 month below the state average. In this county, 18% of residents report fair to poor health.
#20. Calhoun County
This county has a life expectancy of 74.3 years, falling 4 years and 2 months below the state average. In this county, 22% of residents report fair to poor health.
#19. Duval County
This county has a life expectancy of 74.3 years, falling 4 years and 2 months below the state average. In this county, 16% of residents report fair to poor health.
#18. Levy County
This county has a life expectancy of 74.2 years, falling 4 years and 4 months below the state average. In this county, 20% of residents report fair to poor health.
#17. Dixie County
This county has a life expectancy of 74.1 years, falling 4 years and 5 months below the state average. In this county, 21% of residents report fair to poor health.
#16. Gadsden County
This county has a life expectancy of 74.1 years, falling 4 years and 5 months below the state average. In this county, 23% of residents report fair to poor health.
#15. Gulf County
This county has a life expectancy of 73.9 years, falling 4 years and 7 months below the state average. In this county, 17% of residents report fair to poor health.
#14. Okeechobee County
This county has a life expectancy of 73.9 years, falling 4 years and 7 months below the state average. In this county, 21% of residents report fair to poor health.
#13. Suwannee County
This county has a life expectancy of 73.8 years, falling 4 years and 8 months below the state average. In this county, 18% of residents report fair to poor health.
#12. Liberty County
This county has a life expectancy of 73.7 years, falling 4 years and 10 months below the state average. In this county, 21% of residents report fair to poor health.
#11. Taylor County
This county has a life expectancy of 73.5 years, falling 5 years below the state average. In this county, 21% of residents report fair to poor health.
#10. Citrus County
This county has a life expectancy of 73.2 years, falling 5 years and 4 months below the state average. In this county, 16% of residents report fair to poor health.
#9. Columbia County
This county has a life expectancy of 73.2 years, falling 5 years and 4 months below the state average. In this county, 19% of residents report fair to poor health.
#8. Escambia County
This county has a life expectancy of 73.1 years, falling 5 years and 5 months below the state average. In this county, 16% of residents report fair to poor health.
#7. Madison County
This county has a life expectancy of 73.0 years, falling 5 years and 6 months below the state average. In this county, 25% of residents report fair to poor health.
#6. Hamilton County
This county has a life expectancy of 72.7 years, falling 5 years and 10 months below the state average. In this county, 25% of residents report fair to poor health.
#5. Jackson County
This county has a life expectancy of 72.1 years, falling 6 years and 5 months below the state average. In this county, 21% of residents report fair to poor health.
#4. Washington County
This county has a life expectancy of 71.8 years, falling 6 years and 8 months below the state average. In this county, 22% of residents report fair to poor health.
#3. Holmes County
This county has a life expectancy of 71.7 years, falling 6 years and 10 months below the state average. In this county, 22% of residents report fair to poor health.
#2. Putnam County
This county has a life expectancy of 71.5 years, falling 7 years below the state average. In this county, 23% of residents report fair to poor health.
#1. Union County
This county has a life expectancy of 67.4 years, falling 11 years and 1 month below the state average. In this county, 21% of residents report fair to poor health.
