Mortality Rates in New York
- New York Population: 19,453,561 (4th highest)
- Population Density: 410.32 per square mile (6th most dense)
- Median Age: 39.2 (20th oldest)
- Deaths Per Year: 157,183
- Annual Deaths Per 100,000: 804.3
- Life Expectancy at Birth: 80.5 years
- Fertility Rate (births per 1,000 women age 15-44): 57.2 (16th lowest)
Leading Causes of Death in New York
| Cause of Death | Deaths Per Year | Deaths Per 100,000 | National
Rank |
| Heart Disease | 43,806 | 166.6 | 17th |
| Cancer | 33,655 | 134.9 | 43rd |
| Accidents (includes vehicle accidents) | 7,390 | 34.3 | 50th |
| Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases (e.g., emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma) | 7,188 | 27.5 | 48th |
| Stroke | 6,192 | 23.8 | 50th |
| Diabetes | 4,564 | 18 | 43rd |
| Pneumonia + Flu | 4,286 | 16.5 | 5th |
| Alzheimer’s Disease | 3,753 | 13.7 | 50th |
| Hypertension (high blood pressure) | 2,788 | 10.6 | 10th |
| Kidney Disease (nephritis, nephrosis, nephrotic syndrome) | 2,565 | 9.9 | 36th |
| Suicide | 1,705 | 8.3 | 49th |
| Drug Overdose | 3,617 | 18.2 | 29th |
| Homicide | 601 | 3.2 | 36th |
Health Conditions
Many of the best life insurance companies see New York as a bit of a “mixed bag” when considering applicants from this state. New York is among the ten states with the lowest rates of several leading health-related causes of death (cancer, respiratory diseases, stroke, diabetes), but is among the ten highest in high blood pressure and pneumonia / flu.
New York’s 804.3 total deaths per 100,000 ranks 7th lowest, and, when adjusted for age, New York’s rate is 3rd lowest (behind only CA and HI).
New York’s life expectancy at birth of 80.5 years rates 3rd highest in the nation
Accidents and Motor Vehicle Statistics
New York’s 34.3 per 100,000 deaths due to accident is the nation’s lowest rate. The state’s 5.7 vehicle deaths per 100,000 make New York one of the top three safest states in which to drive.
Tobacco Use
With only 12.8% of New York adults regular smokers, New York is the 6th most smoke-free state, which likely contributes to its very low rates of death due to respiratory illness. It also makes most New Yorkers eligible for non-tobacco rates assuming the applicant does not use any tobacco products at all.
Obesity
New York is also one of the ten least obese states in the U.S.
Covid
New York’s COVID-19 death rate per 100,000 is 273—second highest behind only neighboring New Jersey. New York’s 53,095 total COVID deaths (as of July, 2021) is also second highest (behind CA).
Workplace
Coming in at 3.1 per 100,000, New York’s rate of workplace fatalities is among the highest in the northeastern U.S. (though the rate is not high nationally).
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, Life Expectancy at Birth by State (2018).
Kaiser Family Foundation, Number of Deaths per 100,000 Population (2019).
CDC, Natl. Center for Health Statistics, Fertility Rates by State (2019).
CDC, Natl. Center for Health Statistics, Stats of the States (2021).
Natl. Safety Council, Motor-Vehicle Deaths by State (2019).
Natl. Safety Council, Work Deaths by State (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).
