Massachusetts Mortality Rates
2025 Comprehensive Health Report
Population
Life Expectancy
Population Density
Annual Deaths
Leading Causes of Death
Massachusetts mortality statistics showing favorable rankings compared to national averages:
| Cause of Death | Deaths/Year | Per 100,000 | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer | 12,582 | 139.9 | 38th |
| Heart Disease | 11,761 | 127.2 | 48th |
| Accidents | 4,052 | 53.3 | 28th |
| Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases | 2,839 | 31.2 | 42nd |
| Stroke | 2,464 | 26.7 | 48th |
| Drug Overdose | 2,210 | 32.1 | 8th highest |
| Alzheimer’s Disease | 1,663 | 17.7 | 48th |
| Diabetes | 1,383 | 15.3 | 50th (lowest) |
| Kidney Disease | 1,281 | 14.0 | 20th |
| Pneumonia + Flu | 1,217 | 13.2 | 21st |
Health Status Overview
📊 Excellent Health Rankings
Massachusetts ranks among the healthiest states in the nation with the 8th lowest age-adjusted mortality rate and 6th highest life expectancy at 80.1 years. The state’s infant mortality rate of 3.9 per 1,000 live births ranks as the nation’s 3rd lowest (behind Vermont and New Hampshire).
Massachusetts is the nation’s 2nd most densely populated state (behind New Jersey) with 6.89 million residents, yet maintains excellent health outcomes despite its urban density. The state has a fertility rate of 49.6 births per 1,000 women age 15-44, ranking as the 4th lowest nationally.
Outstanding Health Outcomes
🏆 National Leadership in Health
Massachusetts excels in multiple health categories:
- Heart Disease: 3rd lowest death rate nationally (behind Minnesota and Hawaii)
- Stroke: 3rd lowest death rate (behind New York and Connecticut)
- Alzheimer’s Disease: 3rd lowest death rate (behind New York and Maryland)
- Diabetes: Nation’s lowest diabetes death rate
- Homicide: 4th lowest rate at 2.3 per 100,000 (behind Vermont, Idaho, and Maine)
- Suicide: 3rd lowest rate (behind New Jersey and New York)
127.2 per 100,000
139.9 per 100,000
39.7 years (17th oldest)
5.7 per 100,000 (safest)
Areas of Concern
⚠️ Drug Overdose Crisis
Despite Massachusetts’ excellent health outcomes overall, the state faces a significant challenge with drug overdose deaths, ranking 8th highest nationally at 32.1 deaths per 100,000. This represents one of the few areas where Massachusetts performs worse than the national average.
The state also has the 7th highest rate of accidental poisoning deaths, often related to the overdose crisis. Massachusetts has implemented various harm reduction programs and expanded access to addiction treatment to address this issue.
📊 COVID-19 Impact
With 263 deaths per 100,000 through August 2021, Massachusetts had the 3rd highest COVID-19 mortality rate nationally (behind New Jersey and New York). This was largely due to early outbreaks in nursing homes and the state’s high population density.
💡 Life Insurance Considerations
Given Massachusetts’ excellent health outcomes, residents often qualify for preferred rates on life insurance policies. We at IBUSA typically try to help Massachusetts applicants qualify for no medical exam life insurance when possible.
For those that won’t qualify for such policies, fully underwritten term life insurance policies may still be an excellent option given the state’s favorable health statistics.
Lifestyle and Safety Factors
🚗 Motor Vehicle Safety Excellence
Massachusetts is the safest state for motorists with only 5.7 vehicle deaths per 100,000 residents. This exceptional safety record is attributed to stringent traffic laws, good road infrastructure, and comprehensive driver education programs.
🔫 Firearm Safety
Massachusetts has the nation’s lowest rate of firearm-related deaths, reflecting the state’s strict gun laws and comprehensive background check requirements. This contributes significantly to the state’s low homicide and suicide rates.
🍷 Mixed Lifestyle Factors
Massachusetts presents a mixed picture on lifestyle factors:
- Positive: 9th lowest adult smoking rate nationally
- Positive: 3rd lowest obesity rate
- Concern: 9th highest rate of excessive drinking
- Notable: Lowest divorce rate (tied with Illinois) at 1.5 divorces per 1,000 population
Population and Demographics
Population Characteristics
Massachusetts is unique among U.S. states with several distinctive demographic features:
- High Density: 883.68 people per square mile (2nd most dense after New Jersey)
- Aging Population: Median age of 39.7 years (17th oldest nationally)
- Low Fertility: 49.6 births per 1,000 women (4th lowest rate)
- Slow Growth: 5.3% population growth from 2010-2019 (15% below national average)
- Educational Attainment: Among the highest rates of college education nationally
Data Sources
U.S. Dept 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)
New York Times, Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count (Aug. 12, 2021)
United Health Foundation, America’s Health Rankings, 2020 Annual Report: Massachusetts
National Safety Council, State Overview Table: 2019
