🌟 Strong Health Performance

Nebraska demonstrates one of the most positive health profiles in the United States with a mortality rate of 876 per 100,000 – significantly below the national average. The state’s life expectancy of 79.1 years exceeds national benchmarks, reflecting effective public health approaches and favorable lifestyle factors.

With 1.93 million residents (37th highest population), Nebraska shows encouraging patterns across most major health categories, reflecting successful preventive care, effective healthcare delivery, and positive community health initiatives.

🏆 National Leadership in Key Areas

Nebraska ranks as one of the safest states nationally across multiple critical health metrics:

• Drug Overdose Deaths: Lowest rate nationally (8.7 per 100,000)
• Accidental Poisoning: Lowest rate in the country (7.3 per 100,000)
• Accidental Deaths Overall: 6th lowest (40.1 per 100,000)
• Heart Disease Deaths: 14th lowest (144.9 per 100,000)
• Stroke Deaths: 11th lowest (31.5 per 100,000)
• Firearm Deaths: 13th lowest (10.4 per 100,000)
• COVID-19 Deaths: 12th lowest (132 per 100,000 through August 2021)
• Infant Mortality: 15th lowest (4.95 per 1,000 live births)

📈 Positive Demographic Indicators

Nebraska presents strong demographic characteristics that support continued health and economic vitality:

• Young Population: 5th youngest state with median age of 36.9 years
• High Fertility: 5th highest fertility rate nationally at 66.2 per 1,000 women
• Low Population Density: 43rd most dense at 25.22 per square mile
• Rural Character: 8th lowest population density among U.S. states

The combination of young demographics and high fertility rates suggests a sustainable population structure with strong potential for continued economic and social development.

👮 Exceptional Crime Prevention

Nebraska demonstrates outstanding public safety performance across multiple measures:

• Homicide Rate: Low rate at 3.1 per 100,000 (39th nationally)
• Historical Improvement: Homicide rate was 5th lowest nationally in 2018 at 1.9 per 100,000
• Firearm Safety: 13th lowest firearm death rate at 10.4 per 100,000
• Drug-Related Crime: Minimal impact with lowest overdose death rate nationally

This represents exceptionally effective law enforcement, community engagement, and crime prevention strategies that create safer communities statewide.

🦠 Effective Pandemic Management

Nebraska maintained one of the nation’s most successful COVID-19 responses:

• Through August 2021: 12th lowest death rate at 132 per 100,000
• Healthcare System Resilience: Maintained capacity and quality of care
• Community Response: Effective public health messaging and compliance

This performance reflects strong healthcare infrastructure, effective government response, and responsible community behavior during the pandemic.

⚠️ Moderate Risk Areas

While Nebraska’s overall health profile is excellent, some areas warrant continued monitoring and intervention:

• Hypertension Deaths: 6th highest rate nationally (11.8 per 100,000)
• Pneumonia/Flu Deaths: 12th highest rate (14.5 per 100,000)
• Chronic Respiratory Disease: 16th highest rate (46.1 per 100,000)

These areas suggest opportunities for enhanced preventive care, vaccination programs, and cardiovascular health initiatives to further improve Nebraska’s health outcomes.

💡 Life Insurance Considerations

Given Nebraska’s exceptionally positive health risk profile across multiple categories, residents generally benefit from favorable life insurance considerations. At IBUSA, we often find Nebraska applicants well-positioned for no medical exam term life insurance policies.

For comprehensive coverage needs, fully underwritten life insurance policies typically offer competitive rates for Nebraska residents due to the state’s low mortality risk profile. Guaranteed issue life insurance policies remain available for those with specific health concerns.

Nebraska’s leadership in preventing drug overdoses, accidents, and violent crime, combined with low rates of major chronic diseases, creates a very favorable environment for life insurance underwriting and premium structures.

National Health Success Story

Nebraska represents one of the most successful public health models in the United States:

• Prevention Excellence: National leadership in drug overdose and accident prevention
• Demographic Strength: Young, growing population with high fertility rates
• Safety Leadership: Exceptionally low rates of violence and preventable deaths
• Healthcare Quality: Below-average mortality across most major disease categories
• Crisis Management: Effective COVID-19 response and healthcare system resilience

The state demonstrates how effective public health policy, community engagement, and healthcare delivery can create and sustain exceptional health outcomes. Nebraska serves as a model for other states seeking to improve population health and reduce preventable mortality.

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 Including District of Columbia (2020)

StatsAmerica (Indiana Business Research Center), Median Age in 2019

CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, Fertility Rates by State (2019)

CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, Stats of the States (2021)

CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, State & Territorial Data (2018-2019)

CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, Life Expectancy at Birth by State (2018)

New York Times, Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count (Aug. 4, 2021)

National Safety Council, State Overview Table: 2019