📊 Overall Health Rankings

According to America’s Health Rankings 2024, Louisiana ranks 49th in overall health among U.S. states, a slight improvement from 50th place in previous years (Mississippi now ranks 50th). Louisiana’s 2025 population stands at approximately 4.56 million, but growth remains stagnant due to high mortality rates and out-migration.

Louisiana continues to face significant health challenges, with the state having the 8th highest age-adjusted mortality rate nationally. The state’s average life expectancy of 72.2 years remains among the lowest in the nation, with stark gender disparities.

🚨 Maternal and Infant Health Crisis

Louisiana maintains the highest maternal mortality rate in the United States at 58.1 deaths per 100,000 births, with severe racial disparities – Black mothers face mortality rates nearly four times higher than white mothers. The state has implemented initiatives to address this crisis, including expanded doula services and extended postpartum Medicaid coverage.

Louisiana’s infant mortality rate has shown improvement, declining to 7.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023, down from 7.59 previously. However, this still ranks as the 2nd highest in the nation behind Mississippi.

✅ Homicide Rates – Significant Progress

Louisiana’s homicide rate has improved to 9.0 per 100,000 residents in 2024, ranking 4th nationally (down from 1st or 2nd in previous years). New Orleans saw dramatic improvements in 2024, with murders down 35% from the previous year and 64% from three years ago, recording only 124 murders – one of its lowest levels since the 1970s.

💊 Drug Overdoses – Major Victory

Louisiana experienced one of the nation’s largest declines in drug overdose deaths, with a 35.2% decrease between 2023 and 2024, better than the national average decline of 27%. This improvement is attributed to:

• Increased availability of naloxone (Narcan)
• Expanded treatment access
• State-funded overdose prevention programs
• Comprehensive Overdose Prevention and Response Hub

⚠️ Life Insurance Considerations

For these reasons, we at IBUSA typically try to help Louisiana applicants first qualify for term life insurance with no exam.

For those unable to qualify for such policies, life insurance with a top company requiring a medical exam remains viable.

Some people with pre-existing conditions may need to consider final expense insurance as an alternative.

LA40by2030 Initiative

Louisiana has launched an ambitious initiative to improve the state’s health ranking from 49th to 40th by 2030. This collaborative effort involves:

• Over 30 organizations working together
• Focus on health disparities in rural and minority communities
• Expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act
• Extended postpartum coverage to one year
• Various maternal health initiatives
• Comprehensive mental health programs

🏥 COVID-19 Update

While COVID-19 was a leading cause of death in Louisiana during 2020-2022, with the state experiencing some of the highest per-capita death rates nationally, it has since dropped significantly as a cause of mortality. By 2024, COVID-19 no longer ranks among the top 10 causes of death in the state.

⚡ Workplace Safety

Louisiana continues to have elevated workplace fatality rates. The state’s economy, heavily dependent on oil/gas, construction, and maritime industries, faces ongoing occupational safety challenges.

Louisiana’s overall rate of accidental deaths remains approximately 20% above the national average, which is why we often recommend clients consider purchasing an additional accidental death policy to supplement traditional life insurance coverage.

Louisiana continues to face challenges with:

• High poverty rates affecting health access
• Obesity rates of approximately 40% of adults
• Chronic health conditions linked to lifestyle factors
• Rural healthcare access disparities
• Racial health outcome disparities

Despite these challenges, Louisiana has shown significant progress in reducing drug overdoses and violent crime, offering hope for continued health improvements.

Data Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, 2024-2025

America’s Health Rankings, United Health Foundation, 2024 Annual Report

Louisiana Department of Health, Vital Statistics Reports, 2023-2024

March of Dimes, 2024 Report Card for Louisiana

FBI Crime Data Explorer and Louisiana State Police Crime Statistics, 2024

CDC Vital Statistics Rapid Release – Provisional Drug Overdose Data, 2024-2025

U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates, 2024-2025

Louisiana Opioid Data and Surveillance System, 2024

OSHA Fatality and Catastrophe Reports, 2024

World Population Review, State Rankings, 2024-2025