Health
Mortality Rate, by Race/Ethnicity

Increasing


Mortality Rate by Race/Ethnicity, 2023

What does this measure?

The number of deaths broken down by race/ethnicity, expressed as a rate per 100,000 population.

Why is this important?

Mortality rates are a measure of the overall health of a community, which is affected by a wide variety of factors, including genetics, lifestyle, economic status and other societal influences including structural racism.

How does our county compare?

White residents in Lancaster County had the highest mortality rate in 2023, at 621 per 100,000 people, higher than African Americans (570) and Hispanics (581). Rates among African Americans and Whites in Lancaster County were lower than the state rates, while Lancaster's rate among Hispanics was similar to the state's (575).

Among comparison counties, Lancaster had a lower morality rate among African Americans than York (797), Dauphin (893), Chester (852), and Berks (668). Lancaster also had a lower mortality rate among Hispanics compared to surrounding counties, with the exception of Chester, which had a rate of 455 per 100,000.

Why do these disparities exist?

Except at the very oldest ages, African Americans typically have the highest death rates of any of America's racial and ethnic groups. Much of this can be attributed to inequalities in economic status, education and occupation -- all of which are related to the risk of mortality. Structural racism drives several key social determinants of health, such as lower levels of income and generational wealth; less access to healthy food, water and public spaces; environmental damage; and the stress of prolonged discrimination. Black Americans receive less and lower-quality care for conditions like cancer, heart problems, pneumonia, prenatal and maternal health, and overall preventive health.

Notes about the data

Data come from a federal government survey designed to collect scientific data on health risks and behaviors. The data reported are for moving three-year averages. Berks and Schuylkill county data is combined by the survey and reported together. Similarly, Dauphin and Lebanon counties and Carbon, Lehigh, and Northampton counties are reported as groups of counties.

Rates are age-adjusted, meaning adjusted to account for differences in age distributions across geographies. Data is not available when count is less than 10, data or population is not available, or population estimate is less than 10. Rates based on small numbers are considered unreliable for analysis.

Mortality Rate by Race/Ethnicity, 2023
Asian or Pacific IslanderBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinoTotalWhite
Pennsylvania360.0919.5574.5768.3743.6
Lancaster County570.2581.2645.8621.0
Chester County286.8851.6454.5611.0602.6
York County797.3624.2742.9726.4
Dauphin County892.9567.6726.7678.1
Berks County668.3668.4726.5698.5
Lebanon County705.0738.5
Cumberland County691.4

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Health
Notes: 100,000 population, age-adjusted




Total Deaths by Race/Ethnicity, 2023
Asian or Pacific IslanderBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinoTotalWhite
Pennsylvania1,61213,8053,972138,018118,982
Lancaster County1272335,3674,955
Chester County642891124,3503,917
York County2041514,6244,273
Dauphin County4481172,6642,041
Berks County1533844,1333,732
Lebanon County901,562
Cumberland County2,594

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Health
Notes: These data were provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The Department specifically disclaims responsibility for any analyses, interpretations, or conclusions.




INDICATORS TREND
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 English Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate Not Applicable
Per-Student Spending Not Applicable
Students Receiving Special Education Services Not Applicable
Rate of Foster Care Admissions Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Plans of High School Graduates Not Applicable
Enrollment in Local Colleges Not Applicable
College Graduation Rates Not Applicable
Brain Drain/Gain Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Average Charitable Giving Not Applicable
Voter Registration Rate Not Applicable
Voter Participation Rate Not Applicable
Age of Housing Stock Not Applicable
Violent Crime Rate Not Applicable
Incarceration Rate Not Applicable
Incarceration Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Population Density Not Applicable
Air Quality Not Applicable
Water Use Not Applicable
Waterways Impaired by Pollution Not Applicable
Change in Population Not Applicable
Change in Population by Age and Gender Not Applicable
Population by Age Not Applicable
Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People with Disabilities Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Not Applicable
Language Diversity Not Applicable
Change in Total Jobs Not Applicable
Change in Employment by Sector Not Applicable
Sector Share of Total Jobs Not Applicable
Workers by Occupation Not Applicable
Change in Labor Force Not Applicable
People Entering/Leaving County/Region for Work Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Change in Average Salary Since 2010 Not Applicable
Female to Male Earnings Ratio Not Applicable
Employer Size Not Applicable
Change in Number of Businesses by Sector Not Applicable
Change in Total Agricultural Sales Not Applicable
Spending for Local Government Not Applicable
Spending for School Districts Not Applicable
Children Living in Poverty Not Applicable
Children in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Veterans Living in Poverty Not Applicable
Working Poor Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Household Type Not Applicable
Median Household Income Not Applicable
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Below ALICE Threshold Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Stable Household Budget Cost Not Applicable
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Household Receiving Temporary Assistance Not Applicable
Students Eligible for Free/Reduced Price Lunch Not Applicable
Median Home Value Not Applicable
Occupied Housing Units Not Applicable
Homeownership Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Rent Not Applicable
Cost of Renting Not Applicable
Households Without Vehicles Not Applicable
Means of Transportation to Work, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Without Health Insurance Not Applicable
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Health Status Not Applicable
Rate of Depression Diagnosis Not Applicable
Adults Who are Overweight or Obese Not Applicable
Mortality Rates Not Applicable
Mortality Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Fatal Drug Overdoses Not Applicable
Cancer Incidence Not Applicable
Households With Internet Access Not Applicable
High-Tech Jobs Not Applicable
STEM Graduates Not Applicable
Science and Engineering Research and Development Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable


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