Mortality in North Carolina
North Carolina Mortality Rates
2025 Comprehensive Health Report
Population
Life Expectancy
Health Ranking
Annual Deaths
Leading Causes of Death
Updated data from 2022-2024 showing North Carolina’s mortality statistics and national rankings:
Cause of Death | Deaths/Year | Per 100,000 | National Rank |
---|---|---|---|
Heart Disease | 22,100+ | 203 | 29th |
Cancer | 20,700+ | 191 | 19th |
Accidents | 8,700+ | 80 | 22nd |
Stroke | 4,500+ | 41.5 | 11th highest |
Alzheimer’s Disease | 4,000+ | 37 | 16th |
Respiratory Diseases | 4,500+ | 41.5 | 23rd |
Drug Overdose | 4,300+ | 40 | Critical Issue |
Diabetes | 2,600+ | 24 | 15th |
Kidney Disease | 1,800+ | 17 | 7th highest |
Homicide | 860+ | 8 | 15th highest |
Health Status Overview
📊 Middle-Tier Health Status
North Carolina ranks 30th in overall health among U.S. states according to America’s Health Rankings 2024, positioning it in the middle tier of American health outcomes. With a population of approximately 10.84 million (9th largest), the state shows mixed health indicators.
However, North Carolina’s life expectancy has declined significantly from 76.1 years in 2020 to 74.9 years in 2021 – a drop of more than a year that outpaced the national decline. The state now ranks 36th nationally in life expectancy.
Critical Health Challenges
💊 Drug Overdose Crisis
North Carolina is experiencing a severe drug overdose epidemic. From 2000-2023, more than 41,500 North Carolinians lost their lives to drug overdose. In 2024, an estimated 3,025 people died from overdoses – about 8 people per day.
The crisis has worsened dramatically, with an 89% increase in overdose deaths from 2018 to 2022 (from 2,301 to 4,339 deaths). The rate per 100,000 residents nearly doubled from 22.2 to 44.1 during this period.
This epidemic primarily affects younger populations and has significantly contributed to the state’s declining life expectancy. Overdose is the leading cause of death among people experiencing homelessness in North Carolina.
🤱 Maternal Health Crisis
North Carolina faces significant maternal mortality challenges. In the 2018-2019 period, mental health conditions were the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths, comprising nearly one-third of all cases (31.6%).
Twenty pregnancy-related deaths were attributed to overdoses, with nearly all involving opioids (18 of 20), and fentanyl noted in 14 cases. For non-Hispanic Black individuals, increased pregnancy-related mortality was associated with a rise in pregnancy-related homicides.
More than half of pregnancy-related deaths occurred during pregnancy, delivery, or within 42 days postpartum.
Health Strengths and Challenges
✅ Health Strengths
North Carolina demonstrates several health advantages:
- Relatively low levels of frequent mental stress
- Low black/white residential segregation
- Good air pollution levels
- Strong physical environment ranking (9th nationally)
- Heart disease mortality below national average
⚠️ Ongoing Challenges
Despite improvements, North Carolina faces several persistent health challenges:
- High premature death rate
- Low supply of dental care providers
- High uninsured rate
- Above-average rates for stroke, kidney disease, and diabetes mortality
- Significant racial and geographic health disparities
Life Insurance Considerations
⚠️ Insurance Recommendations
Given North Carolina’s health challenges, including elevated stroke, kidney disease, diabetes, and overdose rates, IBUSA typically recommends helping residents first qualify for term life insurance with no exam.
For those unable to qualify for no-exam policies, fully underwritten life insurance policies with top companies remain viable options.
Applicants with significant pre-existing conditions may need to consider guaranteed issue life insurance policies.
Due to North Carolina’s above-average vehicle death rate (15.3 per 100,000 vs national average of 11.9), residents should consider purchasing accidental death coverage to supplement traditional life insurance.
Health Disparities and Geographic Variations
📍 Significant Health Inequities
North Carolina faces pronounced health disparities across racial and geographic lines:
- Infant Mortality: African American babies are 2.4 times more likely to die than white babies
- Diabetes Deaths: African Americans are 2.3 times more likely to die from diabetes than whites
- Geographic Variation: Life expectancy ranges from 73.1 years in Swain County to 82.1 years in Orange County
- Rural vs Urban: Significant differences in healthcare access and outcomes between rural and urban areas
State Health Initiatives
🎯 Healthy North Carolina 2030
North Carolina has set an ambitious goal to increase life expectancy to 82.0 years by 2030. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is focusing on three key priorities through 2024:
- Investing in behavioral health and resilience
- Supporting child and family well-being
- Building a strong and inclusive workforce
🏥 COVID-19 Update
North Carolina performed relatively well during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the 8th lowest death rate nationally in 2020. Through 2021, the state maintained rates about 30% below the national average. COVID-19 has since dropped from the top leading causes of death by 2024.
Data Sources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, 2024-2025
America’s Health Rankings, United Health Foundation, 2024 Annual Report
North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics, 2023-2024 Vital Statistics
NC Department of Health and Human Services, Overdose Epidemic Data 2024
North Carolina Maternal Mortality Review Committee, 2024 Report
USAFacts, Leading Causes of Death Analysis, 2024
ncIMPACT Initiative, State of NC Health Report, 2024
U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates, 2024-2025
County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2024-2025