Poverty, Debt Lead To Early Death In The U.S., Studies Say

Key Takeaways

People in poverty and growing debt increased a person’s risk of dying early

The more years spent in poverty and the more debt accumulated, the higher a person’s risk of premature death

Inadequate social and medical supports aren’t helping people who struggle financially

THURSDAY, Nov. 13, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Poverty and indebtedness increase a person’s risk of dying young, a pair of new studies say.

People with poverty-level family income or increasing debt levels during early adulthood have higher odds of premature death, according to two studies published in the November issue of The Lancet Public Health .

Further, the more time spent in poverty or with increasing levels of debt, the higher the risk of early death, results showed.

“Greater cumulative exposure