Illinois Mortality Rates
2025 Comprehensive Health Report
Population
Life Expectancy
Mortality Rate
Annual Deaths
Leading Causes of Death
Updated data from 2018-2019 showing Illinois mortality statistics and national rankings:
| Cause of Death | Deaths/Year | Per 100,000 | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heart Disease | 25,690 | 162 | 21st |
| Cancer | 23,902 | 151.9 | 20th |
| Stroke | 6,153 | 38.8 | 19th |
| Accidents (includes vehicle accidents) |
6,095 | 45 | 38th |
| Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases (emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma) |
5,539 | 35 | 36th |
| Alzheimer’s Disease | 3,954 | 24.5 | 38th |
| Diabetes | 2,825 | 18.1 | 42nd |
| Kidney Disease (nephritis, nephrosis, nephrotic syndrome) |
2,553 | 16.2 | 12th |
| Pneumonia + Flu | 2,108 | 13.4 | 18th |
| Septicemia | 1,752 | 11.2 | 17th |
| Drug Overdose | 2,790 | 21.9 | 24th |
| Liver Disease / Cirrhosis | 1,463 | 9.7 | 38th |
| Suicide | 1,439 | 10.9 | 44th |
| Homicide | 979 | 8.1 | 12th highest |
Health Status Overview
Population and Demographics
Illinois is the nation’s 6th most populous state with 12.67 million residents. The state has experienced challenges with population decline of 1.2% between 2010 and 2019, representing the 2nd largest population loss nationally. Illinois has the nation’s 11th lowest fertility rate at 56.1 births per 1,000 women aged 15-44.
Illinois’ overall mortality rate ranks 15th highest among states at 863.5 deaths per 100,000 residents. However, when adjusted for population age, Illinois’ mortality rate is slightly below the national rate, and the state’s life expectancy of 78.8 years aligns with the national average.
Health Condition Analysis
Areas of Strength
Illinois performs well in several health categories compared to national averages:
- Diabetes: 9th lowest rate nationally
- Suicide Rate: 7th lowest in the nation
- Vehicle Safety: 2nd safest in the Midwest (9.1 deaths per 100,000)
- Workplace Safety: 2nd safest in the Midwest (2.7 work-related deaths per 100,000)
- Marriage Stability: Lowest divorce rate nationally (1.3 per 100,000)
Areas of Concern
Illinois faces challenges in specific health areas:
- Kidney Disease: 12th highest rate nationally
- Homicide Rate: Ties Georgia for 12th highest (8.1 per 100,000)
- Air Quality: 2nd worst state for air pollution (behind California)
- Housing Issues: 7th worst for housing with high lead risk
- Social Issues: 4th worst for residential segregation
162 per 100,000
151.9 per 100,000
226.73 per sq mile
38.8 years
Violence and Safety
Crime and Violence Trends
Illinois has seen fluctuating homicide rates in recent years. With 8.1 homicides per 100,000 residents, the state ties Georgia for the 12th highest homicide rate. This represents changes from previous years when Illinois ranked 10th highest (2018) and 9th highest (2017).
In 2019, among major cities, Peoria had the 15th highest homicide rate nationally, while Chicago ranked 28th. Illinois ranks 16th nationally for all firearm-related deaths.
On the positive side, Illinois maintains the nation’s 7th lowest suicide rate at 10.9 per 100,000 residents.
COVID-19 Impact
Pandemic Response and Impact
During 2020, Illinois experienced 100 COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 population, ranking as the 15th highest among U.S. states. By August 2021, the state’s COVID death rate had increased to 207 per 100,000, though the national ranking improved to 17th highest.
Life Insurance Considerations
For these reasons, we at IBUSA typically try to help Illinois applicants first qualify for no medical exam term life insurance when possible.
For those who won’t be able to qualify for such a policy, fully underwritten life insurance policies and guaranteed issue life insurance policies may still be an option.
Environmental and Social Factors
Environmental Health Challenges
Illinois faces significant environmental health challenges:
- Ranks as the nation’s 2nd worst state for air pollution (behind California)
- 7th worst for housing with high lead risk
- 4th worst for residential segregation
These environmental factors contribute to health disparities and may influence the state’s mortality patterns, particularly in urban areas like Chicago.
Social Stability Indicators
Despite health challenges, Illinois shows remarkable social stability. In 2019, the state had the nation’s lowest divorce rate at just 1.3 divorces per 100,000 population. Illinois was also among the ten states with the lowest marriage rates, suggesting stable long-term relationships among those who do marry.
Data Sources
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service (citing U.S. Census Bureau, 2019)
Statista, Population Density in the U.S. by Federal States (2020)
StatsAmerica (Indiana Business Research Center), Median Age in 2019
CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, State & Territorial Data (2018-2019)
Kaiser Family Foundation, Number of Deaths per 100,000 Population (2019)
CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, Life Expectancy at Birth by State (2018)
CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, Fertility Rates by State (2019)
CBS News, Murder Map: Deadliest U.S. Cities (April 2021)
CDC, Provisional Death Rates for COVID-19 (2020)
National Safety Council, Motor-Vehicle Deaths by State (2019)
United Health Foundation, America’s Health Rankings, 2020 Annual Report: Illinois
