Health / life expectancy States With Longest, Shortest Life Expectancy It's Hawaii on one end, Mississippi on the other By Newser Editors, Newser Staff Posted Feb 25, 2017 9:13 AM CST Copied A view of the Kapalua coastline in Maui, Hawaii. the state is No. 1 in life expectancy. (Tor Johnson/Hawaii Tourism Authority via AP) Some states fare better than others when it comes to the ultimate bottom line: life expectancy. Here are the worst performers, per an analysis at 24/7 Wall St: Mississippi, 74.8 years Alabama, 75. 4 years (tie) West Virginia, 75.4 years (tie) Louisiana, 75.8 years (tie) Oklahoma, 75.8 years (tie) Kentucky, 75.8 years (tie) Arkansas, 75.8 years (tie) And here are the best performers: Hawaii, 81.2 years California, 80.9 years Connecticut, 80.8 years Minnesota, 80.7 years (tie) Massachusetts, 80.7 years (tie) Click for the full rankings and the methodology. (Read more life expectancy stories.) Report an error