Mortality Rates in Mississippi
- Mississippi Population: 2,976,149 (34th highest)
- Population Density: 63.23 per square mile (32nd most dense)
- Median Age: 38.0 (35th oldest)
- Deaths Per Year: 32,301
- Annual Deaths Per 100,000: 1,081.6 (2nd highest)
- Life Expectancy at Birth: 74.6 years (2nd lowest)
- Fertility Rate (births per 1,000 women age 15-44): 62.7 (13th highest rate)
Leading Causes of Death in Mississippi
| Cause of Death | Deaths Per Year | Deaths Per 100,000 | National
Rank |
| Heart Disease | 7,997 | 226.7 | 2nd |
| Cancer | 6,587 | 179.1 | 1st |
| Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases (e.g., emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma) | 2,078 | 56.8 | 5th |
| Accidents (includes vehicle accidents) | 1,894 | 61.2 | 13th |
| Stroke | 1,851 | 52.1 | 1st |
| Alzheimer’s Disease | 1,662 | 48.8 | 1st |
| Diabetes | 1,159 | 32.5 | 2nd |
| Pneumonia + Flu | 789 | 22.6 | 1st |
| Kidney Disease (nephritis, nephrosis, nephrotic syndrome) | 771 | 21.8 | 1st |
| Liver Disease / Cirrhosis | 457 | 13 | 16th |
| Hypertension (high blood pressure) | 484 | 13.7 | 1st |
| Suicide | 436 | 14.4 | 33rd |
| Drug Overdose | 394 | 13.6 | 43rd |
| Homicide | 434 | 15.4 | 1st |
Health Conditions
Mississippi has the highest rates in the U.S. for multiple health-related causes of death, including cancer, stroke, high blood pressure, and kidney disease.
Such medical conditions will play a role in determining whether or not an individual will be able to qualify for a traditional term life insurance policy or a no medical exam life insurance policy.
Obesity
Mississippi’s obesity rate is the nation’s highest. The key for larger persons would be to apply with companies that offer larger builds and who have more obesity friendly guidelines.
Homicide and Firearms
Mississippi’s homicide rate of 15.5 per 100,000 population is double the national rate and has consistently increased over the past five years. Mississippi has ranked in the top three states for homicides per capita since at least 2014 and rates second in per capita firearms related deaths.
Driving
Motor vehicle fatalities in Mississippi totaled more than 25 per 100,000 population in 2019—the highest rate in the nation and about 20% higher than the next highest state (neighboring Alabama).
For this reason it’s not all that uncommon for some to purchase an accidental death policy instead of applying for a traditional term or whole life insurance policy.
Life Expectancy and Birth Rate
At 74.6 years, Mississippi’s life expectancy at birth is the nation’s second lowest, with only West Virginia ranking lower.
Mississippi has the nation’s highest live-birth infant mortality rate (9.07 per 1,000 births) and the highest rates for pre-term and low birth-weight births.
Covid
With 249 COVID-19 deaths per 100,000, Mississippi is fifth highest in the U.S. as of July, 2021.
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, Fertility Rates by State (rates for 2019).
CDC, Natl. Center for Health Statistics, Stats of the States (rates for 2019).
Mississippi State Dept. of Health, Death Statistics 2019 (Summary).
Statista, Percentage of Adults with Obesity in the United States as of 2019 (2019).
Natl. Safety Council, Motor-Vehicle Deaths by State (2019).
New York Times, Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count (July 1, 2021).
WorldPopulationReview.com, Safest States 2021; (https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/safest-states).
