Mortality Rates in Maryland
- Maryland Population: 6,045,680 (19th highest)
- Population Density: 623.99 per square mile (4th most dense)
- Median Age: 39.2 (21st oldest)
- Deaths Per Year: 50,568
- Annual Deaths Per 100,000: 836.8
- Life Expectancy at Birth: 78.5 years old
- Fertility Rate (births per 1,000 women age 15-44): 59.2 (24th highest rate)
Leading Causes of Death in Maryland
| Cause of Death | Deaths Per Year | Deaths Per 100,000 | National Rank |
| Heart Disease
|
11,770 | 159.3 | 23rd |
| Cancer
|
10,743 | 144.4 | 32nd |
| Stroke
|
3,049 | 41.8 | 10th |
| Accidents (includes vehicle accidents)
|
2,425 | 36.6 | 48th |
| Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases (e.g., emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma)
|
2,155 | 29.2 | 45th |
| Diabetes
|
1,514 | 20.5 | 27th |
| Alzheimer’s Disease
|
1,012 | 13.8 | 49th |
| Septicemia
|
833 | 11.3 | 14th |
| Pneumonia + Flu
|
827 | 11.4 | 31st |
| Kidney Disease (nephritis, nephrosis, nephrotic syndrome)
|
736 | 10 | 36th |
| Liver Disease / Cirrhosis
|
573 | 7.8 | 48th |
| Suicide
|
657 | 10.3 | 47th |
| Drug Overdose
|
2,369 | 38.2 | 4th |
| Homicide
|
578 | 10 | 8th |
Population Statistics
Maryland is the nation’s 4th most densely populated state. Its 59.2 fertility rate is slightly above the national rate, though Maryland’s 4.7% rate of population growth between 2010 and 2019 lagged behind the overall U.S. rate of 6.3%.
Health Conditions
Maryland has the nation’s 2nd lowest rate of death due to Alzheimer’s, 3rd lowest for liver disease, and 6th lowest for chronic respiratory illnesses.
Stroke is the only major health-related cause of death in which Maryland is among the ten states with the highest rates.
For this reason, its not all that uncommon for many of our Maryland life insurance applicants to choose to apply for a no exam life insurance policy.
Maryland also has the nation’s 3rd lowest rate of accidental deaths.
Crime and Homicides
Maryland’s homicide rate of 10.0 per 100,000 population is 8th highest among U.S. states. Maryland’s overall violent crime rate for 2020 was 454 per 100,000—making it the 11th most violent state. Baltimore’s violent crime rate of 1,859 per 100,000 is 4th highest among American cities (behind Memphis, St. Louis, and Detroit).
For this reason, may Maryland residents often choose to supplement their traditional life insurance with an affordable accidental death policy as well.
Overdose and Suicide
Maryland has the nation’s 4th lowest suicide rate, though—at 38.2 per 100,000 population—Maryland’s drug overdose death rate is 4th highest in the U.S.
Covid
Through July, 2021, Maryland’s COVID-19 death rate of 162 per 100,000 was about 12% below the national average.
Workplace
Maryland’s occupational death rate of 2.6 per 100,000 workers makes it one of the safest states in which to work.
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).
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).
New York Times, Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count (July 23, 2021).
Stebbins, Samuel. Dangerous States: Which States have the Highest Rates of Violent Crime and Most Murders? (USA Today, Jan. 13, 2020).
Fieldstadt, Elisha. The Most Dangerous Cities in America, Ranked. (CBS News, Nov. 9, 2020).
United Health Foundation, America’s Health Rankings, 2020 Annual Report: Maryland.
Natl. Safety Council, Work Deaths by State (2019).
