Critical Health Statistics

West Virginia faces significant health challenges that require urgent attention and intervention:

• Overall Mortality: Highest rate nationally at 1,300.1 deaths per 100,000
• Life Expectancy: Lowest nationally at 74.4 years
• Drug Overdose Crisis: Highest rate nationally at 52.8 per 100,000
• Accidental Deaths: Highest rate nationally at 96.9 per 100,000
• Diabetes: Highest rate nationally at 36.2 per 100,000

Multiple Top-Tier Health Risks

West Virginia ranks in the top 10 nationally for most major health-related causes of death:

• Cancer: 3rd highest rate nationally
• Chronic Respiratory Diseases: 3rd highest rate
• Liver Disease: 4th highest rate
• Pneumonia/Flu: 7th highest rate
• Septicemia: 7th highest rate
• Heart Disease: 8th highest rate
• Kidney Disease: 11th highest rate

Opioid Epidemic Impact

West Virginia has been severely impacted by the opioid crisis, with the highest drug overdose death rate in the nation at 52.8 per 100,000 residents. The primary drug involved in overdoses is opioids, reflecting the state’s position at the center of America’s opioid epidemic.

This crisis has contributed significantly to West Virginia’s overall mortality burden and shortened life expectancy. The state continues to work on comprehensive approaches including treatment access, harm reduction, and prevention programs.

High-Risk Health Behaviors

West Virginia residents face significant lifestyle-related health risks:

• Smoking Rate: Highest nationally at 25.4% of adults
• Obesity Rate: 2nd highest nationally (behind only Mississippi)

These lifestyle factors contribute significantly to the state’s elevated rates of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and respiratory diseases. The high smoking rate particularly impacts the 3rd highest rate of chronic respiratory diseases.

Highest Accidental Death Rate

West Virginia has the highest accidental death rate among U.S. states at 96.9 per 100,000 residents. Transportation-related deaths are the most common type of accident, likely reflecting the state’s mountainous terrain, rural roads, and economic dependence on industries with higher accident risks.

The elevated accident rate also reflects occupational hazards in mining, agriculture, and other industries important to West Virginia’s economy.

Violence and Mental Health

West Virginia maintains moderate levels for violence-related mortality:

• Homicide Rate: 24th nationally at 5.7 per 100,000 (below national average)
• Suicide Rate: 14th highest nationally at 18.5 per 100,000

While homicide rates are relatively low, the elevated suicide rate reflects ongoing mental health challenges that may be connected to economic hardship, social isolation, and substance use issues.

Moderate Infant Health Outcomes

West Virginia’s infant mortality rate is 6.3 deaths per 1,000 live births, ranking 16th highest among U.S. states. While concerning, this rate is not among the worst nationally and suggests opportunities for improvement through enhanced prenatal care and maternal health programs.

Positive COVID-19 Outcomes

Despite West Virginia’s significant health challenges, the state demonstrated relatively good COVID-19 outcomes during 2020, with a death rate of 57.1 per 100,000, ranking 11th lowest in the U.S.

Through July 2021, the rate increased to 162 per 100,000, but this still represented better performance than many states with generally better health profiles. This suggests effective public health response and perhaps benefits from the state’s lower population density.

Life Insurance Considerations

Given the significant health challenges in West Virginia, we have found that not all West Virginia applicants will be able to qualify for life insurance with no medical exam given the relative health profile of this state’s population.

For those that can’t qualify for no-exam policies, it may still be possible to qualify for life insurance policies that require medical exams and/or guaranteed issue life insurance policies.

Opportunities for Intervention

West Virginia’s health challenges present opportunities for targeted interventions:

Lifestyle Interventions: Smoking cessation programs and obesity prevention could significantly impact multiple chronic diseases including cancer, heart disease, respiratory diseases, and diabetes.

Substance Use Treatment: Expanding access to addiction treatment and harm reduction programs could address the nation’s highest overdose rate.

Safety Programs: Enhanced workplace safety, road safety, and accident prevention programs could address the highest accidental death rate.

Economic Development: Improving economic opportunities may help address underlying social determinants contributing to poor health outcomes.

Notable Exception: Alzheimer’s Disease

Interestingly, despite West Virginia’s poor performance in most health categories, the state’s Alzheimer’s mortality rate is below the national average, ranking 25th nationally. This represents one of the few areas where West Virginia performs better than expected, though the reasons for this exception require further investigation.

Summary: West Virginia’s Health Profile

West Virginia faces the most significant health challenges of any U.S. state, with the highest overall mortality rate and lowest life expectancy nationally. The state struggles with multiple interconnected health crises including the opioid epidemic, high rates of chronic diseases linked to lifestyle factors, and elevated accidental deaths.

These challenges reflect complex interactions between economic factors, geographic isolation, industrial history, and social determinants of health. While the situation is serious, targeted interventions focusing on substance use treatment, lifestyle modification, safety improvements, and economic development could help improve health outcomes for West Virginia residents.

The state’s relatively good COVID-19 response demonstrates capacity for effective public health action when resources and attention are focused appropriately.

Data Sources

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service (citing U.S. Census Bureau, 2019)

Statista, Population Density in the U.S. by Federal States (2020)

StatsAmerica (Indiana Business Research Center), Median Age in 2019

CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, Fertility Rates by State (2019)

Kaiser Family Foundation, Number of Deaths per 100,000 Population (2019)

CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, Stats of the States (2021)

CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, State & Territorial Data (2018-2019)

CDC, Provisional Death Rates for COVID-19 (2020)

New York Times, Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count (July 2021)

CDC, State Tobacco Activities Tracking and Evaluation System (2018)

Statista, Percentage of Adults with Obesity in the United States (2019)