Life expectancy gap for Black Bostonians is growing, city warns

Black Bostonians consistently live fewer years than their non-Black neighbors, according to a new report from the city, and the life expectancy gap has doubled since 2013.

The report, part of the Boston Public Health Commission’s agenda, says Black Bostonians have the lowest life expectancy, living an average of 77.8 years in 2013, compared to 80.5 years for other residents.

By 2024, the 3.3-year gap has doubled to 6.6 years, the city said. The average life expectancy for Black people is 76.2 years, while the average life expectancy for the rest of Boston’s population is 82.2 years, according to the report. Closing the gap: A report examining life expectancy among Boston’s black residents was released last week.

The report is the first of its kind analyzing life expectancy among Black people and the beginning of a series examining diverse health needs in Boston.

“Every Boston resident deserves the opportunity to thrive in their city. This report makes clear that we have more work to do, and we are acting with urgency,” Michelle Wu He said in a press release about the report.

The report found that between 2022 and 2024, Black men lived 9.3 years less than other men in Boston, and Black women lived 6.4 years less than other women. The report notes that unintentional overdose, cancer, and cardiovascular disease are the three leading causes of premature death among Black Bostonians.

The second biggest cause of premature death for black men is homicide, the report says.

“Boston cannot call itself a healthy city when Black residents continue to die years earlier than their neighbors,” City Councilor Ruthsie Luigon said in the statement. “This widening gap in life expectancy is the result of systemic inequality, not individual choices, and is preventable.”

Along with the report, BPHC announced a $1 million investment to fund organizations working to improve the health of Black men and a $1 million investment in the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

“This partnership with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for the Health of Our Black Communities is more than just a collaboration — it is a declaration that our communities have the right not only to survive, but to thrive,” said City Council Member Henry Santana.

Other initiatives include a Black Men’s Health Activation Summit for community leaders to discuss health priorities and a Mayor’s Advisory Council on Living Long and Healthy Lives.

The agenda of living long and healthy, which It was launched in 2024includes $5 million in grants announced in August targeting life expectancy gaps in Dorchester, Roxbury and Mattapan — the neighborhoods with the greatest health disparities.

“We are bringing together residents, advocates and organizations to confront these inequities head-on and build a healthier future for everyone in our city,” Wu said.

Molly Farrar is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on education, politics, crime and more.