Death Rates, by state
States with the highest death rates in 2020 and 2021 are heavily concentrated in the South. MS has the highest death rate, followed by WV, AL, KY, LA, and TN.
Age-adjusted death rates per 100,000 population
Average for years 2020-21
Source: CDC, Wonder.
As Covid ravaged the nation in 2020 and 2021, on its way to killing more than 1 million Americans, the U.S. death rate jumped 20%. Among states with the highest overall death rates in 2020 and 2021, 7 Southern states (AL, AR, KY, LA, SC, TN, and WV) have all enacted legislation to weaken their state governments’ authority to protect public health through options such as mask mandates and quarantine orders. This has left these states more vulnerable to future pandemics (Public health authority limits).
Drug overdose deaths are also ravaging the nation, with over 100,000 deaths in 2021 (Drug overdose deaths). 4 Southern states (KY, LA, TN, and WV) suffered among the highest overdose death rates in the U.S., contributing to their high overall death rates.
From 2020-2021, approximately 1.6 million Americans died, in excess of expected deaths, about half of whom were working-age. Covid was a leading cause of death but other causes spiked sharply, including overdoses, suicides, motor vehicle deaths, and pregnancy-related deaths (Excess deaths).1,2,3,4
“Inflation and the Labor Market”. Powell. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. November, 2022. https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/powell20221130a.htm
“What the data says about gun deaths in the U.S.”. Gramlich. Pew Research Center. February, 2022. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/02/03/what-the-data-says-about-gun-deaths-in-the-u-s/
“NHTSA Early Estimates Show Record Increase in Fatalities Nationwide”. U.S. Department of Transportation. August, 2022. https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/early-estimates-first-quarter-2022
“The U.S. Maternal Mortality Crisis Continues to Worsen: An International Comparison”. Gunja, Gumas, and Williams II. The Commonwealth Fund. December, 2022. https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2022/us-maternal-mortality-crisis-continues-worsen-international-comparison
