Mortality Rates in Alabama
- Alabama Population: 4,903,185 (24th largest)
- Population Density: 97.18 per square mile (27th most dense)
- Median Age: 39.4 (19th oldest)
- Deaths Per Year: 54,109
- Annual Deaths Per 100,000: 1,100
- Life Expectancy at Birth: 75.1 years.
- Fertility Rate (births per 1,000 women age 15-44): 61.7 (17th highest rate)
Leading Causes of Death in Alabama
| Cause of Death | Deaths Per Year | Deaths Per 100,000 | National Rank |
| Heart Disease
|
13,445 | 223.2 | 4th |
| Cancer
|
10,263 | 170.0 | 10th |
| Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases (e.g., emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma)
|
3,530 | 57.8 | 6th |
| Stroke
|
3,139 | 50.0 | 2nd |
| Accidents (includes vehicle accidents)
|
2,757 | 53.8 | 25th |
| Alzheimer’s Disease
|
2,659 | 45.2 | 5th |
| Diabetes
|
1,223 | 19.8 | 33rd |
| Pneumonia + Flu (nephritis, nephrosis, nephrotic syndrome)
|
1,018 | 20.2 | 4th |
| Septicemia
|
1,034 | 17.3 | 3rd |
| Kidney Disease
|
1,007 | 16.5 | 12th |
| Suicide
|
804 | 16.3 | 23rd |
| Drug Overdose
|
768 | 16.3 | 18th |
| Homicide
|
581 | 12.0 | 3rd |
| Liver Disease / Cirrhosis
|
831 | 13.6 | 14th |
Health Conditions
Alabama ranks in the top five among U.S. states for highest rates of heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and blood-poisoning illnesses (septicema).
On a positive note, the state’s death rate from diabetes, is the second lowest in its region.
Certain health conditions can make it more difficult for individuals to qualify for a traditional term life insurance policy.
Applicants who are unable to qualify for a traditional term or whole life insurance policy due to a pre-existing medical condition may want to consider a guaranteed issue or final expense insurance policy.
Tobacco Use
Alabama is among the top ten U.S. states in smoking rates for adults and has correspondingly high death rates resulting from lower respiratory illnesses. It is also why life insurance applicants will want to know how a particular life insurance company will view one’s tobacco use, before applying for coverage.
Homicides
Alabama’s 12 homicides per 100,000 is the third highest rate in the nation, trailing only neighbors Mississippi and Louisiana. For this reason may residents may consider purchasing an accidental death policy which would provide coverage due to homicide in many situations.
With 22.2 firearm fatalities per 100,000 residents, Alabama has the fifth highest rate among U.S. states.
Covid
At 55.6 deaths per 100,000, Alabama had the 9th highest fatality rate for COVID-19 in 2020. Alabama has had the 15th highest rate of COVID cases per 10,000 residents, coming in about 10% above the national average.
For more information about how life insurance companies are considering applicants who have been previously diagnosed with Covid 19 please see our article, Life Insurance After Covid 19.
Sources:
U.S. Dept of Ag., Economic Research Service, https://data.ers.usda.gov/reports.aspx?ID=17827 (citing U.S. Census Bureau, 2019).
Statista, Population Density in the U.S. by Federal States Including District of Columbia in 2020 (2020).
StatsAmerica (Ind. Bus. Research Center), Median Age in 2019.
CDC, Natl. Center for Health Statistics, Fertility Rates by State (2019).
Alabama Dept. of Pub. Health, Center for Health Statistics. 2019 Vital Statistics (Rev. Feb., 2021).
CDC, Natl. Center for Health Statistics, Stats of the States: Alabama (2017).
CDC, State Tobacco Activities Tracking and Evaluation System, Map of Current Cigarette Use Among Adults (2018).
CDC, Natl. Center for Health Statistics, Provisional Death Rates for COVID-19 (2020).
New York Times, Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count (May 26, 2021).
