U.S. life expectancy fell in 2021 to its lowest point in 25 years, according to a report released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Life expectancy at birth fell from 77 years in 2020 to 76.4 last year. It was the second straight decrease — life expectancy was 78.8 in 2019. 

The country’s death rate jumped by 5.3% from 835.4 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020 to 879.7 in 2021. 

The decrease in life expectancy was largely driven by COVID-19 and opioid overdoses, the CDC said.

There were 416,893 COVID deaths in 2021, up 18.8% from the 350,831 recorded in 2020.

A separate study released Thursday by the CDC found that drug overdose deaths, which account for more than a third of all accidental deaths, were up nearly 16% last year to 106,699. Over the past two decades, overdose deaths have increased five-fold, according to the study. 

The rate of deaths from overdoses involving synthetic opioids other than methadone — including fentanyl — increased by 22% in 2021.

The 10 leading causes of death were largely unchanged from the previous year. The only change was that chronic liver disease/cirrhosis replaced influenza/pneumonia at No. 9.

Heart disease, cancer, COVID-19, unintentional injuries and stroke were the five leading causes. 

Life expectancy for men fell from 74.2 years to 73.5, while it declined for women from 79.9 to 79.3.

Most racial groups also saw a decrease in life expectancy, while every age group experienced a rise in death rates.