Health

Alaska vs California: Life Expectancy

California has a higher life expectancy than Alaska.

Alaska flag
Alaska
AK · West
75.4 yrs
Life expectancy at birth in years (CDC 2021).
California flag
California
CA · West
Winner
79.2 yrs
Life expectancy at birth in years (CDC 2021).

Visual comparison

Alaska75.4 yrs
California79.2 yrs

National Rankings

Where They Rank Nationally

See where both states fall among all 50 states for life expectancy.

Alaska #37 · 75.4 yrs
California #12 · 79.2 yrs
Lowest Highest

Top 10 States — Life Expectancy

#1 Hawaii flag Hawaii
81.6 yrs
#2 Connecticut flag Connecticut
80.7 yrs
#3 Utah flag Utah
80.4 yrs
#4 Minnesota flag Minnesota
80.1 yrs
#5 Massachusetts flag Massachusetts
80.0 yrs
#6 Vermont flag Vermont
80.0 yrs
#7 Washington flag Washington
79.8 yrs
#8 Colorado flag Colorado
79.7 yrs
#9 New Hampshire flag New Hampshire
79.5 yrs
#10 New York flag New York
79.4 yrs
Selected states
#37 Alaska flag Alaska
75.4 yrs
#12 California flag California
79.2 yrs

Alaska ranks 37th and California ranks 12th nationally for life expectancy.

Health Context

Life Expectancy in context

Key factors that shape the life-expectancy gap between these two states.

Life Expectancy

California residents live 3.8 years longer on average

California has a life expectancy of 79.2 yrs vs 75.4 yrs in Alaska, a meaningful gap for relocation planning.

Poverty

Alaska has a lower poverty rate

Poverty and health outcomes are closely linked. Alaska's lower poverty rate (10.4%) versus California (12.0%) is part of the longevity story.

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Income

Alaska has higher household income

Higher median income correlates with better healthcare access. Alaska leads at $86,533 vs $84,097 in California.

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Affordability

Alaska has a lower cost of living

Lower living costs mean more disposable income for healthcare. Alaska's cost-of-living index is 125.8 vs 138.5 in the other state.

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Health snapshot

Alaska
Health
Life expectancy
75.4 yrs
Economy
Median household income
$86,533
Poverty rate
10.4%
Cost of living index
125.8
California
Health
Life expectancy
79.2 yrs
Economy
Median household income
$84,097
Poverty rate
12.0%
Cost of living index
138.5

What stands out

  • California has the higher life expectancy at 79.2 years.
  • Alaska has the lower poverty rate.
  • Alaska has the higher median household income.

Related pages

Violent Crime Poverty Rate Income Cost of Living

What this means

Alaska vs California: Life Expectancy in context

California's life expectancy is 79.2 yrs, compared with 75.4 yrs in Alaska. Life expectancy at birth in years (CDC 2021).

Alaska
75.4 yrs
California
79.2 yrs

People also ask

Alaska vs California Life Expectancy — common questions

QWhat is Alaska's life expectancy?

Alaska's life expectancy is 75.4 yrs.

QWhat is California's life expectancy?

California's life expectancy is 79.2 yrs.

QWhich state has a higher life expectancy — Alaska or California?

California has a higher life expectancy than Alaska.

More comparisons: Alaska vs California

Grouped tabs keep the deep-dive links tighter and easier to scan.

Full comparison
Older Adult Health Outcomes Uninsured Rate Obesity Rate Healthcare Quality Score Infant Mortality Rate Drug Overdose Death Rate

Explore each state

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Data source and freshness

Primary source
CDC National Center for Health Statistics — State Life Expectancy
Data period
2021
Dataset reviewed
July 23, 2026
Method note
Life expectancy at birth.