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. (More life expectancy stories.) Report an error