US Life Expectancy in 2020, Had Largest Decline br Since World War II.br In 2020, the average life expectancy in br the United States fell by a year and a half br to 77 years and four months.br The life expectancy for Black and br Hispanic Americans dropped by nearly three years.br The drop in life expectancy for br Black Americans was the most significant br since the Great Depression.br For white Americans, br it fell by 1.2 years.br Deaths from COVID-19 were the br greatest contributor to the "basically catastrophic" br drop in U.S. life expectancy.br Of the 3.3 million Americans who died in 2020, br 11 percent died from COVID-19.br In addition to COVID-19, br drug overdoses played a major role br when it came to deaths among white Americans.br Life expectancy is considered a general br representation of the health of a particular nation.br Experts say that while it is likely that br life expectancy in the U.S.