Mortality Rates in Oklahoma
- Oklahoma Population: 3,956,971 (28th highest)
- Population Density: 58.03 per square mile (34th most dense)
- Median Age: 37.1 (6th youngest)
- Deaths Per Year: 40,993
- Annual Deaths Per 100,000: 1,038.1
- Life Expectancy at Birth: 75.6
- Fertility Rate (births per 1,000 women age 15-44): 63.4 (9th highest rate)
Leading Causes of Death in Oklahoma
| Cause of Death | Deaths Per Year | Deaths Per 100,000 | National Rank |
| Heart Disease
|
10,960 | 231.4 | 1st |
| Cancer
|
8,309 | 173 | 4th |
| Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases (e.g., emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma)
|
3,003 | 62.4 | 1st |
| Accidents (includes vehicle accidents)
|
2,439 | 58 | 18th |
| Stroke
|
1,803 | 38.4 | 20th |
| Alzheimer’s Disease
|
1,775 | 37.9 | 12th |
| Diabetes
|
1,306 | 28 | 5th |
| Liver Disease / Cirrhosis
|
705 | 15.6 | 5th |
| Pneumonia + Flu
|
640 | 13.7 | 16th |
| Kidney Disease (nephritis, nephrosis, nephrotic syndrome)
|
527 | 11.2 | 30th |
| Septicemia
|
387 | 8.2 | 29th |
| Suicide
|
816 | 20.5 | 8th |
| Drug Overdose
|
645 | 16.7 | 32nd |
| Homicide
|
333 | 8.8 | 11th |
Population Statistics
With 1,038.1 deaths per 100,000 population, Oklahoma has the 10th highest rate among U.S. states.
Adjusted for age, Oklahoma ranks 6th Oklahoma’s life expectancy at birth of 75.6 years is tied for 6th lowest, alongside Arkansas and Louisiana.
Oklahoma has the nation’s 9th highest fertility rate, though the state’s 5.5% rate of population growth between 2010 and 2019 was below the national average of 6.3%.
Health Conditions
Oklahoma has the nation’s highest rates of death due to heart disease (the leading cause of death nationally) and lower respiratory illnesses.
Oklahoma also ranks in the top ten highest rates of death due to cancer, diabetes, and liver disease.
For this reason, it’s not all that uncommon that many of the applicants we receive from Oklahoma will be considered “higher risk” applicants due to a pre-existing medical condition.
The good news is that many of these applicants will still be eligible for a traditional life insurance coverage however applying for a simplified issue no medical exam life insurance policy will usually not be an option.
Some applicants may also only be able to qualify for guaranteed issue life insurance if their pre-existing condition is considered to serious by some life insurance companies.
Lifestyle
Oklahoma has the nation’s 9th highest rate of adult smokers and 4th highest rate of adult obesity.
The good news is that only California and Nevada have rates of death due to choking lower than Oklahoma’s 1.0 per 100,000 population.
Firearms and Homicides
Oklahoma ranks 11th highest in both homicide and firearm-mortality rates—with rates of 8.8 and 11.6 per 100,000, respectively.
Driving
Oklahoma rates as the 9th most dangerous state in which to drive.
Covid
For 2020, Oklahoma’s COVID-19 death rate was 101.2 per 100,000 population—12th highest among U.S. states. Through July, 2021, Oklahoma dropped to 22nd highest, with a rate of 189 per 100,000.
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).
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, State & Territorial Data (2018 – 2019).
Kaiser Family Foundation, Number of Deaths per 100,000 Population (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 23, 2021).
CDC, State Tobacco Activities Tracking and Evaluation System, Map of Current Cigarette Use Among Adults (2018).
Statista, Percentage of Adults with Obesity in the United States as of 2019 (2019).
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).
