Life Expectancy
Arkansas residents live 1.5 years longer on average
Arkansas has a life expectancy of 73.4 yrs vs 71.9 yrs in Mississippi, a meaningful gap for relocation planning.
Life Expectancy Comparison
Health
Arkansas vs Mississippi: Life Expectancy
Arkansas has a higher life expectancy than Mississippi.
Arkansas
AR • South
73.4 yrs
Life expectancy at birth in years (CDC 2021).
Mississippi
MS • South
71.9 yrs
Life expectancy at birth in years (CDC 2021).
Visual Comparison
Arkansas
73.4 yrs
Mississippi
71.9 yrs
Health Context
Key factors that shape the life-expectancy gap between these two states.
Health
Poverty
Arkansas has a lower poverty rate
Poverty and health outcomes are closely linked. Arkansas's lower poverty rate (15.7%) versus Mississippi (18.0%) is part of the longevity story.
View detailed comparisonIncome
Arkansas has higher household income
Higher median income correlates with better healthcare access. Arkansas leads at $52,123 vs $49,111 in Mississippi.
View detailed comparisonAffordability
Mississippi has a lower cost of living
Lower living costs mean more disposable income for healthcare. Mississippi's cost-of-living index is 85.5 vs 87.6 in the other state.
View detailed comparisonHealth Snapshot
Arkansas
Health
Life expectancy
73.4 yrs
Economy
Median household income
$52,123
Poverty rate
15.7%
Cost of living index
87.6
Mississippi
Health
Life expectancy
71.9 yrs
Economy
Median household income
$49,111
Poverty rate
18.0%
Cost of living index
85.5
What Stands Out
- Arkansas has the higher life expectancy at 73.4 years.
- Arkansas has the lower poverty rate.
- Arkansas has the higher median household income.
Related Pages
What This Means
Arkansas vs Mississippi: Life Expectancy in context
Arkansas has a life expectancy of 73.4 yrs, compared with 71.9 yrs in Mississippi. Life expectancy at birth in years (CDC 2021).
Arkansas
73.4 yrs
Mississippi
71.9 yrs
People Also Ask
Arkansas vs Mississippi Life Expectancy — Common Questions
Q What is Arkansas's life expectancy?
Arkansas's life expectancy is 73.4 yrs.
Q What is Mississippi's life expectancy?
Mississippi's life expectancy is 71.9 yrs.
Q Which state has a higher life expectancy — Arkansas or Mississippi?
Arkansas has a higher life expectancy than Mississippi.
More Comparisons: Arkansas vs Mississippi
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Sources: Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset, with minimum wage data from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker.