Mortality Rates in Ohio
- Ohio Population: 11,689,100 (7th highest)
- Population Density: 286.19 per square mile (8th most dense)
- Median Age: 39.6 (18th oldest)
- Deaths Per Year: 124,264
- Annual Deaths Per 100,000: 1,063
- Life Expectancy at Birth: 76.8
- Fertility Rate (births per 1,000 women age 15-44): 60.8 (20th highest rate)
Leading Causes of Death in Ohio
| Cause of Death | Deaths Per Year | Deaths Per 100,000 | National Rank |
| Heart Disease
|
29,160 | 188.8 | 11th |
| Cancer
|
25,170 | 163 | 10th |
| Accidents (includes vehicle accidents)
|
8,287 | 67.7 | 6th |
| Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases (e.g., emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma)
|
7,170 | 45.9 | 17th |
| Stroke
|
6,504 | 42.2 | 7th |
| Alzheimer’s Disease
|
5,234 | 33.6 | 22nd |
| Diabetes
|
3,873 | 25.4 | 9th |
| Kidney Disease
|
2,164 | 14.1 | 19th |
| Pneumonia + Flu (nephritis, nephrosis, nephrotic syndrome)
|
1,930 | 12.6 | 25th |
| Septicemia
|
1,905 | 12.5 | 11th |
| Liver Disease / Cirrhosis
|
1,622 | 11.1 | 27th |
| Suicide
|
1,806 | 15.1 | 29th |
| Drug Overdose
|
4,251 | 38.3 | 3rd |
| Homicide
|
724 | 6.6 | 17th |
Population Statistics
Though Ohio has the nation’s 7th largest population and is the 8th most densely populated state, Ohio only grew at a rate of 1.3% from 2010 to 2019—less than ¼ of the national rate of population growth.
At 1,063 deaths per 100,000 population, Ohio’s mortality rate is 7th highest among U.S. states. Ohio’s average life expectancy of 76.8 years is tied with Indiana for 11th
Ohio has an infant mortality rate of 6.97 per 1,000 live births—10th highest in the nation.
Health Conditions
Ohio’s rates of most major health-related causes of death are above the overall national rates. Ohio ranks 7th and 9th highest for stroke and diabetes, respectively, and 11th highest for heart disease.
For these reasons and more, we here at IBUSA will typically try to help applicants from Ohio first qualify for no medical exam life insurance when possible, and for those that won’t be able to qualify for such a policy, fully underwritten life insurance policies and burial insurance policies may still be an option.
Accidental Causes
Ohio’s rate of deaths due to preventable accidents is 6th highest among U.S. states. Ohio’s rate of motor vehicle deaths is below the national rate, but Ohio has the 3rd highest rate of deaths due to accidental poisoning.
Which is why, we’ll 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.
Homicide
Ohio’s homicide rate of 6.6 per 100,000 is 17th highest among the states. Two Ohio cities are in the top ten highest murder rates nationally. Dayton is 5th highest—with 34.8 murders per 100,000 residents—and Cleveland’s 24.09 murders per 100,000 is 10th
Drug Overdose
At 38.3 deaths per 100,000, Ohio’s drug overdose death rate is nearly double the national rate and 3rd highest in the nation (behind West Virginia and Delaware).
Covid
With 177 COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 through August, 2021, Ohio’s COVID death rate is about 5% below the overall U.S. rate.
Lifestyle
Adults in Ohio have the nation’s 6th highest rate of smoking, and Ohio ranks 7th worst for chronic asthma and 5th lowest for air pollution.
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, Life Expectancy at Birth by State (2018).
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, State Overview Table: 2019 (preventable-injury-related death rates per 100,000 population by state of residence, United States, 2019).
Fieldstadt, Elisha. Murder Map: Deadliest U.S. Cities (CBSNews.com, April 19, 2021).
New York Times, Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count (Aug. 12, 2021).
CDC, State Tobacco Activities Tracking and Evaluation System, Map of Current Cigarette Use Among Adults (2018).
United Health Foundation, America’s Health Rankings, 2020 Annual Report: Ohio.
