Mortality Rates in Nevada
- Nevada Population: 3,080,156 (32nd highest)
- Population Density: 28.59 per square mile (40th most dense)
- Median Age: 38.3 (32nd oldest)
- Deaths Per Year: 24,715
- Annual Deaths Per 100,000: 814.5
- Life Expectancy at Birth: 77.9 years (18th lowest)
- Fertility Rate (births per 1,000 women age 15-44): 58.3 (26th highest rate)
Leading Causes of Death in Nevada
| Cause of Death | Deaths Per Year | Deaths Per 100,000 | National
Rank |
| Heart Disease | 6,864 | 198.1 | 7th |
| Cancer | 5,434 | 149 | 26th |
| Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases (e.g., emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma) | 1,661 | 47.3 | 14th |
| Accidents (includes vehicle accidents) | 1,437 | 44.1 | 39th |
| Stroke | 1,284 | 37.9 | 22nd |
| Alzheimer’s Disease | 678 | 26.1 | 42nd |
| Diabetes | 836 | 23.1 | 19th |
| Liver Disease / Cirrhosis | 492 | 13.4 | 15th |
| Pneumonia + Flu | 458 | 13.3 | 19th |
| Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) | 363 | 10.5 | 11th |
| Kidney Disease (nephritis, nephrosis, nephrotic syndrome) | 303 | 8.7 | 42nd |
| Suicide | 642 | 19.8 | 11th |
| Drug Overdose | 647 | 20.1 | 26th |
| Homicide | 166 | 5.5 | 25th |
Annual Deaths
With an average of 814.5 annual deaths per 100,000 over the past 20 years, Nevada ranks 13th lowest among U.S. states, though Nevada’s 2019 age-adjusted rate was moderately above the national average.
Fertility Rates
Nevada’s 58.3 fertility rate is identical to the average for the entire U.S.
Health Conditions
Nevada has the nation’s 7th highest rate of heart disease while ranking relatively low in Alzheimer’s and kidney disease rates. Which makes it a “mixed bag” as far as most of the top life insurance companies are concerned since each of these are considered significant pre-existing medical conditions when it comes to qualifying for life insurance.
If you have a pre-existing condition, consider final expense insurance as an alternative to a fully underwritten life insurance policy.
Covid
In 2020, COVID-19 accounted for 92.3 deaths per 100,000 in Nevada (17th highest in the U.S.), making COVID one of the state’s top five highest causes of death for the year. As of July, 2021, Nevada’s COVID fatality rate of 184 deaths per 100,000 is consistent with the national average.
Homicide and Firearm Deaths
Nevada’s annual average of 15.3 firearm-related deaths per 100,000 is 15th highest in the United States, though Nevada’s 5.5 per 100,000 homicide rate is slightly below the national average of 5.8.
Driving
Nevada’s rate of 9.9 motor vehicle deaths per 100,000 population places it among the safest western states in which to drive. Which is great, but even though this rate is very low, man Nevada state residents will still choose to purchase an accidental death policy when they are not able to qualify for a tradition life insurance policy or as a way to supplment a traditional or no medical exam life insurance policy.
Workplace
Nevada’s rate of workplace fatalities (2.8 per 100,000 workers) is among the nation’s lowest.
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 (2019).
CDC, Natl. Center for Health Statistics, Stats of the States (2021).
Kaiser Family Foundation, Number of Deaths per 100,000 Population (2019).
CDC, Natl. Center for Health Statistics, State & Territorial Data (2018 – 2019).
CDC, Natl. Center for Health Statistics, Provisional Death Rates for COVID-19 (2020).
New York Times, Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count (July 1, 2021).
Natl. Safety Council, Motor-Vehicle Deaths by State (2019).
Natl. Safety Council, Work Deaths by State (2019).
