Mortality in Illinois
- Illinois Population: 12,671,821 (6th highest)
- Population Density: 226.73 per square mile (11th most dense)
- Median Age: 38.8 (26th oldest)
- Deaths Per Year: 110,022
- Annual Deaths Per 100,000: 863.5
- Life Expectancy at Birth: 78.8
- Fertility Rate (births per 1,000 women age 15-44): 56.1 (40th highest rate)
Leading Causes of Death in Illinois
| Cause of Death | Deaths Per Year | Deaths 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 (e.g., 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 |
| Liver Disease / Cirrhosis
|
1,463 | 9.7 | 38th |
| Suicide
|
1,439 | 10.9 | 44th |
| Drug Overdose
|
2,790 | 21.9 | 24th |
| Homicide
|
979 | 8.1 | 12th |
Population Statistics
Illinois is the nation’s 6th most populous state. Between 2010 and 2019, the population of Illinois decreased by 1.2%, which was the 2nd largest population loss. Illinois has the nation’s 11th lowest fertility rate.
Illinois’ overall mortality rate is 15th highest among the states. However, adjusted for population age, Illinois’ mortality rate is slightly below the national rate, and Illinois’ 78.8-year life expectancy is consistent with the average life expectancy nationally.
Health Conditions
Illinois’ rates are close to the national rates for most health-related causes of death. The notable exceptions are diabetes—for which Illinois is 9th lowest—and kidney disease—for which Illinois is 12th
For these reasons and more, we here at IBUSA will typically try to help applicants from Illinois first qualify for a no medical exam term life insurance when possible, and for those that 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.
Homicide, Suicide and Firearms
With 8.1 homicides per 100,000, Illinois ties Georgia for 12th highest homicide rate. Illinois was 10th highest in 2018 and 9th highest in 2017. In 2019, Peoria had the 15th highest homicide rate among U.S. cities, and Chicago was 28th.
Illinois has the nation’s 7th lowest suicide rate. For all firearm related deaths, Illinois ranked 16th
Covid
In 2020, Illinois had 100 COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 population—15th highest among U.S. states. Through August, 2021, Illinois’ COVID death rate had increased to 207 and the state’s rank dropped to 17th
Driving
With 9.1 vehicle deaths per 100,000, Illinois ranks as the Midwest’s 2nd safest state for drivers (behind Minnesota’s 8.0 per 100,000). Illinois also ranks as the Midwest’s 2nd safest state for workers——with 2.7 work-related deaths per 100,000 workers—again behind Minnesota.
Anomalies
Illinois is the nation’s 2nd worst state for air pollution (behind California). Illinois is 4th worst for residential segregation and 7th worst for housing with high lead risk.
For 2019, Illinois had the nation’s lowest divorce rate—with just 1.3 divorces per 100,000 population. Illinois was also among the ten states with the lowest marriage rates.
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, State & Territorial Data (2018 – 2019).
Kaiser Family Foundation, Number of Deaths per 100,000 Population (2019).
CDC, Natl. Center for Health Statistics, Life Expectancy at Birth by State (2018).
CDC, Natl. Center for Health Statistics, Fertility Rates by State (2019).
CDC, Natl. Center for Health Statistics, Stats of the States (2021).
Fieldstadt, Elisha. Murder Map: Deadliest U.S. Cities (CBSNews.com, April 19, 2021).
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 (Aug. 24, 2021).
Natl. Safety Council, Motor-Vehicle Deaths by State (2019).
Natl. Safety Council, Work Deaths by State (2019).
United Health Foundation, America’s Health Rankings, 2020 Annual Report: Illinois.
