How Long Do People In Tampa Bay Live?

Residents in many parts of the Tampa Bay area have a life expectancy that exceeds the national average of 79.1 years with the Sarasota and Bradenton areas topping the local charts at 81.2 years on average.

Other Bay area communities also beat out the national average, but some fall short of the mark, according to a new study on life expectancy across the United States.

The study, called Geographies of Opportunity, was published last week by the Social Science Research Council, as part of an ongoing effort to track disparities in quality of life across America. The study reveals life expectancy rates across the country broken out by U.S. Congressional districts.

According to the study, the average life expectancy in the United States is now 79.1 years, an increase of almost four years over life expectancy in 1990. But according to the researchers, some Americans, especially African Americans and some Southerners, have seen far less of an increase. A few parts of the South have seen no increase at all.

The longest life expectancy in the U.S. is in California’s 19th Congressional district, which includes San Jose and part of Santa Clara County, where people live 83.9 years on average, or roughly as long as people in Japan.

The lowest life expectancy is in rural southeastern Kentucky, where people live just under 73 years, or about as long as residents of the Gaza Strip.

See Also:

• Which Bay Area Counties Are the Healthiest?
• Sarasota, Bradenton Lead the Nation in Well-Being, Survey Says

Here’s how the Tampa Bay area stacks up by Congressional district:

• District 12 – U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, covers most of Pasco and some of north Pinellas: The district ranks 305th overall in the nation with an average life expectancy of 78.2 years, coming in just below the national average. It does outrank nearby District 11 (Hernando, Citrus and Sumter counties), which has a life expectancy of 77.8 years at birth.
• District 13 – U.S. Rep. David Jolly, covers Clearwater, Dunedin, St. Pete Beach and other parts of Pinellas: With an overall ranking of 245, this district’s life expectancy at birth is 78.9 years.
• District 14 – U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, covers Town ‘N Country, Tampa, portions of the Brandon area, and a slice of St. Petersburg: The district ranks 225th overall with a life expectancy of 79.2 years.
• District 15 – U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, covers Plant City, Thonotosassa, part of Brandon and Lakeland: The district ranks 230th with a life expectancy of 79.1 years.
• District 16 – U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, covers Sarasota and Bradenton: The district ranks 77th overall with a life expectancy of 81.2 years.

The study’s authors say a variety of factors affect life expectancy, from access to health insurance to race and employment opportunities. But the study also lists four factors it dubs the “fatal four,” which can shorten lifespan dramatically: smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise and alcohol abuse.

The study tracks well with a recently released report by County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. That sixth annual study indicated Sarasota was one of the healthiest counties in the Bay area while Pasco had room for improvement.

Graphic credit: Geographies of Opportunity, The Social Science Research Council, Sarah Burd-Sharps and Kristen Lewis.

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Patch’s Warren St. John contributed to this report.