Cardiovascular disease was the main driver in most years, while diabetes, chronic kidney disease, Alzheimer’s and dementias, and drug poisonings also widened the gap, especially after 2010.
Covid caused about a fifth of excess deaths in 2020-2022, and researchers said social factors such as inequality, healthcare access and education must be addressed alongside medical treatment.
With new laws cutting health coverage, how will communities stop a rise in deaths from treatable illness?
Could redesigning cities and social policies be the real cure for America's high death rates?
As new synthetic drugs prove resistant to Narcan, how will the U.S. prevent the next overdose surge?
The U.S. Mortality Crisis: Rising Death Rates, Deep Inequities, and Paths to Health Equity
Overview
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed and worsened deep health vulnerabilities in the U.S., causing direct deaths and indirect ones from overwhelmed healthcare systems. Mental health and substance abuse crises surged, driving a sharp rise in alcohol-induced deaths, especially among American Indian, Black, and rural communities. Youth mortality remains alarmingly high, with infants and children dying at rates far above peer nations, largely due to inadequate maternal care, injuries, and firearm violence. Socioeconomic factors and systemic racism create persistent disparities, with Black and Indigenous populations facing much higher maternal and infant mortality. Meanwhile, high healthcare costs, fragmented access, and policy rollbacks further deepen inequities, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to improve health and equity.