Life Expectancy
South Dakota residents live 1.0 years longer on average
South Dakota has a life expectancy of 78.5 yrs vs 77.5 yrs in Illinois, a meaningful gap for relocation planning.
Life Expectancy Comparison
Health
Illinois vs South Dakota: Life Expectancy
South Dakota has a higher life expectancy than Illinois.
Illinois
IL • Midwest
77.5 yrs
Life expectancy at birth in years (CDC 2021).
South Dakota
SD • Midwest
78.5 yrs
Life expectancy at birth in years (CDC 2021).
Visual Comparison
Illinois
77.5 yrs
South Dakota
78.5 yrs
Health Context
Key factors that shape the life-expectancy gap between these two states.
Health
Poverty
Illinois has a lower poverty rate
Poverty and health outcomes are closely linked. Illinois's lower poverty rate (11.6%) versus South Dakota (11.8%) is part of the longevity story.
View detailed comparisonIncome
Illinois has higher household income
Higher median income correlates with better healthcare access. Illinois leads at $78,433 vs $70,010 in South Dakota.
View detailed comparisonAffordability
Illinois has a lower cost of living
Lower living costs mean more disposable income for healthcare. Illinois's cost-of-living index is 95.2 vs 99.7 in the other state.
View detailed comparisonHealth Snapshot
Illinois
Health
Life expectancy
77.5 yrs
Economy
Median household income
$78,433
Poverty rate
11.6%
Cost of living index
95.2
South Dakota
Health
Life expectancy
78.5 yrs
Economy
Median household income
$70,010
Poverty rate
11.8%
Cost of living index
99.7
What Stands Out
- South Dakota has the higher life expectancy at 78.5 years.
- Illinois has the lower poverty rate.
- Illinois has the higher median household income.
Related Pages
What This Means
Illinois vs South Dakota: Life Expectancy in context
South Dakota has a life expectancy of 78.5 yrs, compared with 77.5 yrs in Illinois. Life expectancy at birth in years (CDC 2021).
Illinois
77.5 yrs
South Dakota
78.5 yrs
People Also Ask
Illinois vs South Dakota Life Expectancy — Common Questions
Q What is Illinois's life expectancy?
Illinois's life expectancy is 77.5 yrs.
Q What is South Dakota's life expectancy?
South Dakota's life expectancy is 78.5 yrs.
Q Which state has a higher life expectancy — Illinois or South Dakota?
South Dakota has a higher life expectancy than Illinois.
More Comparisons: Illinois vs South Dakota
Grouped tabs keep the deep-dive links tighter and easier to scan.
Explore Each State
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; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes 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.