Mortality Rates in North Carolina
- North Carolina Population: 10,488,084 (9th highest)
- Population Density: 218.04 per square mile (13th most dense)
- Median Age: 39.2 (21st oldest)
- Deaths Per Year: 93,885
- Annual Deaths Per 100,000: 904.2
- Life Expectancy at Birth: 77.6
- Fertility Rate (births per 1,000 women age 15-44): 57.8 (31st highest rate)
Leading Causes of Death in North Carolina
| Cause of Death | Deaths Per Year | Deaths Per 100,000 | National Rank |
| Cancer
|
19,951 | 152 | 19th |
| Heart Disease
|
19,617 | 154.7 | 29th |
| Accidents (includes vehicle accidents)
|
6,190 | 56.1 | 22nd |
| Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases (e.g., emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma)
|
5,411 | 41.5 | 23rd |
| Stroke
|
5,202 | 41.5 | 11th |
| Alzheimer’s Disease
|
4,508 | 36.9 | 16th |
| Diabetes
|
3,124 | 24.1 | 15th |
| Kidney Disease (nephritis, nephrosis, nephrotic syndrome)
|
2,121 | 16.7 | 7th |
| Pneumonia + Flu
|
1,733 | 13.8 | 15th |
| Septicemia
|
1,549 | 12.2 | 12th |
| Liver Disease / Cirrhosis
|
1,443 | 11.3 | 25th |
| Suicide
|
1,358 | 12.5 | 41st |
| Drug Overdose
|
2,266 | 22.3 | 23rd |
| Homicide
|
707 | 7 | 15th |
Population Statistics
North Carolina has the 10th highest population among U.S. states and grew at a rate of 10.00% between 2010 and 2019. The fertility rate in North Carolina is 20th lowest (tied with Virginia).
At 77.6 years, North Carolina’s average life expectancy at birth is 15th lowest among U.S. states and about the same as Washington, D.C.
North Carolina’s infant mortality rate of 6.8 per 1,000 live births is 12th highest in the U.S. North Carolina has the nation’s 10th highest rate of low birthweight births.
Health Conditions
North Carolina’s rates of mortality due to stroke, kidney disease, diabetes, and septicemia (blood poisoning illnesses) are noticeably above the overall national rate, but North Carolina’s heart disease mortality rate is below the national rate.
For these reasons and more, we here at IBUSA will typically try to help applicants from North Carolina first qualify for a no medical exam term life insurance when possible, and for those that won’t be able to qualify for such a policy, fully underwritten life insurance policies and guaranteed issue life insurance policies may still be an option.
Homicide, Suicides and Firearms
At 7 deaths per 100,000, North Carolina’s homicide rate is the nation’s 15th highest, while the state’s suicide rate is 10th For overall firearm-related fatalities, North Carolina is close to the middle—tied with South Dakota for 23rd highest at 13.1 per 100,000.
Covid
With 43.1 COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 population in 2020, North Carolina had the nation’s 8th lowest rate. Through August, 2021, North Carolina’s COVID death rate rose to 131 per 100,000—11th lowest and about 30% below the overall national rate of 186.
Driving
With 15.3 vehicle deaths per 100,000 population, North Carolina’s motor vehicle death rate is well-above the overall national rate of 11.9 but 2nd lowest in the Southeast (behind Georgia). For this reason alone well often recommend that our clients at least consider purchasing an additional accidental death policy as a way to supplement any traditional life insurance coverage they may already have.
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, State & Territorial Data (2018 – 2019).
CDC, Natl. Center for Health Statistics, Fertility Rates by State (2019).
CDC, Natl. Center for Health Statistics, Stats of the States (2021).
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 (Aug. 11, 2021).
Natl. Safety Council, State Overview Table: 2019 (preventable-injury-related death rates per 100,000 population by state of residence, United States, 2019).
Natl. Safety Council, Motor-Vehicle Deaths by State (2019).
