Kansas Mortality Rates
2025 Comprehensive Health Report
Population
Life Expectancy
Median Age
Annual Deaths
Leading Causes of Death
Current data showing Kansas’s mortality statistics and national rankings:
| Cause of Death | Deaths/Year | Per 100,000 | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heart Disease | 6,140 | 166 | 18th – Better than average |
| Cancer | 5,619 | 153.8 | 15th – Better than average |
| Respiratory Diseases | 1,780 | 48 | 12th – Higher than average |
| Accidents | 1,524 | 48 | 33rd – Lower than average |
| Stroke | 1,303 | 34.8 | 29th – Near average |
| Diabetes | 884 | 24.4 | 14th – Higher than average |
| Alzheimer’s | 839 | 21.9 | 40th – Much lower |
| Kidney Disease | 561 | 15.2 | 16th – Higher than average |
| Suicide | 523 | 18.2 | 16th – Concerning |
| Drug Overdose | 403 | 14.3 | 38th – Much lower |
Health Status Overview
📊 Positive Health Profile
Kansas demonstrates a generally favorable health profile compared to many U.S. states. With a population of approximately 2.91 million and ranking as the 8th youngest state with a median age of 37.3 years, Kansas benefits from a relatively young demographic structure.
The state performs better than the national average in most major causes of death, including heart disease (18th lowest), cancer (15th lowest), and has one of the lowest drug overdose rates in the nation (38th, meaning 37 states have higher rates).
Key Health Challenges
⚠️ Respiratory Health Concerns
Kansas ranks 12th highest nationally for chronic respiratory disease deaths, with 48 deaths per 100,000 residents. This elevated rate may be related to agricultural practices, air quality issues, and occupational exposures in farming and industrial sectors.
The state also shows higher than average rates of diabetes-related deaths (14th highest nationally), which may be connected to lifestyle factors and the state’s obesity rate of 35.2% (12th highest in the nation).
🧠 Mental Health Considerations
Kansas has the 16th highest suicide rate nationally at 18.2 per 100,000 residents, making suicide the 10th leading cause of death in the state. This represents a significant mental health challenge that requires continued attention and resources.
166 per 100,000
153.8 per 100,000
48 per 100,000
14.3 per 100,000
Notable Strengths
✅ Low Drug Overdose Rates
Kansas maintains one of the lowest drug overdose death rates in the nation, ranking 38th with only 14.3 deaths per 100,000 residents. This represents the 13th lowest rate nationally, indicating effective substance abuse prevention and treatment programs.
👥 Young, Growing Population
As the 8th youngest state with the 12th highest fertility rate (631 births per 1,000 women age 15-44), Kansas benefits from demographic trends that support long-term economic and social stability. This young population profile contributes to lower overall mortality rates.
🔒 Low Violent Crime
Kansas maintains a relatively low homicide rate of 4.9 per 100,000 (24th lowest nationally), about 15% below the national average. This contributes to the state’s overall safety profile.
⚠️ Life Insurance Considerations
Kansas residents benefit from the state’s generally favorable health profile and low drug overdose rates. Most Kansas applicants qualify for standard or preferred life insurance rates. We typically recommend starting with traditional life insurance policies from top-rated companies.
Given the state’s young population and lower-than-average mortality rates, many Kansas residents also choose no medical exam life insurance policies for convenience and speed of approval.
However, due to higher respiratory disease rates and agricultural/industrial workplace risks, some Kansas residents may benefit from additional coverage considerations.
Public Health Focus Areas
Kansas Health Improvement Priorities
Kansas health officials focus on several key areas for continued improvement:
- Respiratory health programs targeting agricultural and industrial workers
- Diabetes prevention and management initiatives
- Mental health services expansion, particularly suicide prevention
- Obesity reduction programs and healthy lifestyle promotion
- Rural healthcare access improvement
- Maintaining low drug overdose rates through prevention programs
🏥 COVID-19 Response
Kansas’s COVID-19 death rate of 182 per 100,000 through August 2021 was slightly below the national rate, ranking 24th nationally (tied with Florida). This performance reflects the state’s healthcare system capacity and public health response effectiveness.
⚡ Workplace Safety
Kansas averages around 5.2 employment-related deaths per 100,000 workers annually, with transportation accidents accounting for about 40% of work-related deaths. The state’s agricultural and transportation industries require ongoing safety attention.
Workers in higher-risk sectors may want to consider accidental death and dismemberment coverage to supplement traditional life insurance.
Rural vs Urban Health Disparities
As a state with low population density (35.64 per square mile, 41st most dense), Kansas faces unique challenges:
- Limited healthcare access in rural areas
- Longer emergency response times in agricultural regions
- Specialist care requiring travel to larger cities
- Agricultural and industrial occupational health risks
- Mental health services distribution challenges
Despite these challenges, Kansas maintains better-than-average health outcomes in most categories, demonstrating the effectiveness of the state’s healthcare system and the benefits of its young population structure.
Data Sources
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, 2024
CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, State & Territorial Data, 2023-2024
Statista, Population Density and Obesity Statistics, 2024
United Health Foundation, America’s Health Rankings, 2024
CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, Life Expectancy and Fertility Rates, 2023
New York Times, Coronavirus Tracking Data, 2021-2024
Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Vital Statistics, 2024
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Workplace Safety Data, 2024
CDC Wonder Database, Leading Causes of Death, 2023-2024
StatsAmerica, Indiana Business Research Center, Demographic Data, 2024
