What does this measure?
The number of deaths per year, expressed as an age-adjusted rate per 100,000 residents.
Why is this important?
Mortality rates are a measure of the overall health of a community, particularly since some of the most common causes of death, such as heart disease, can be prevented or mitigated through lifestyle changes, prevention efforts, early intervention, and better health care.
How does our county compare?
In 2023, Lancaster County's mortality rate was 646 per 100,000 residents, a decrease of 2% since 2010. Lancaster had a lower rate than the state (768 per 100,000 residents). Lancaster's mortality rate was lower than all surrounding counties, except Chester, at 611 per 100,000. Lancaster was closely followed by Cumberland (691 per 100,000).
Chester, Cumberland, and Dauphin counties experienced decreases in mortality rates from 2010 while Berks, York and Lebanon saw increases. Chester saw the largest decrease, at 4.5% and Lebanon saw the largest increase at 3.9%.
Notes about the data
Rates have been adjusted for differences in age and gender among the geographies.
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 758.8 | 769.1 | 749.4 | 758.7 | 746.2 | 766.3 | 768.4 | 777.0 | 759.4 | 750.6 | 890.2 | 895.4 | 817.8 | 768.3 |
| Lancaster County | 659.2 | 657.2 | 682.4 | 673.9 | 663.5 | 685.8 | 692.4 | 687.5 | 671.6 | 648.9 | 796.9 | 784.1 | 715.7 | 645.8 |
| Berks County | 720.5 | 719.3 | 703.5 | 731.5 | 704.7 | 736.4 | 760.0 | 732.1 | 697.3 | 724.8 | 834.0 | 874.1 | 768.3 | 726.5 |
| Chester County | 639.6 | 653.5 | 632.2 | 617.5 | 617.9 | 636.2 | 615.7 | 650.6 | 628.2 | 617.3 | 721.9 | 671.4 | 635.3 | 611.0 |
| Cumberland County | 709.8 | 699.2 | 699.8 | 693.1 | 665.4 | 678.3 | 690.8 | 722.9 | 691.6 | 664.8 | 780.0 | 786.0 | 730.3 | 691.4 |
| Dauphin County | 759.0 | 800.8 | 722.6 | 746.2 | 723.4 | 758.8 | 759.8 | 760.1 | 728.7 | 730.8 | 863.3 | 899.3 | 820.6 | 726.7 |
| Lebanon County | 711.1 | 744.6 | 683.6 | 770.0 | 662.7 | 747.7 | 738.5 | 754.0 | 753.6 | 733.0 | 886.6 | 925.9 | 809.7 | 738.5 |
| York County | 722.8 | 733.2 | 685.7 | 707.3 | 733.9 | 761.3 | 753.0 | 744.6 | 725.6 | 726.2 | 861.8 | 903.4 | 771.1 | 742.9 |
Notes: Rate per 100,000 residents. Numbers are age- and sex-adjusted.
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 123,473 | 127,122 | 125,432 | 128,704 | 127,773 | 132,278 | 132,724 | 135,577 | 134,645 | 133,932 | 155,551 | 155,457 | 147,124 | 138,018 |
| Lancaster County | 4,375 | 4,485 | 4,731 | 4,766 | 4,793 | 5,032 | 5,116 | 5,192 | 5,166 | 5,108 | 6,071 | 5,919 | 5,868 | 5,367 |
| Berks County | 3,622 | 3,669 | 3,658 | 3,862 | 3,723 | 3,966 | 4,060 | 4,036 | 3,926 | 4,081 | 4,618 | 4,821 | 4,421 | 4,133 |
| Chester County | 3,453 | 3,655 | 3,632 | 3,662 | 3,749 | 3,944 | 3,885 | 4,122 | 4,117 | 4,094 | 4,678 | 4,413 | 4,455 | 4,350 |
| Cumberland County | 2,177 | 2,205 | 2,215 | 2,254 | 2,216 | 2,301 | 2,361 | 2,502 | 2,452 | 2,373 | 2,775 | 2,780 | 2,715 | 2,594 |
| Dauphin County | 2,333 | 2,531 | 2,316 | 2,412 | 2,404 | 2,537 | 2,563 | 2,601 | 2,552 | 2,588 | 3,033 | 3,174 | 3,019 | 2,664 |
| Lebanon County | 1,342 | 1,436 | 1,322 | 1,493 | 1,316 | 1,489 | 1,496 | 1,532 | 1,572 | 1,543 | 1,813 | 1,877 | 1,747 | 1,562 |
| York County | 3,616 | 3,763 | 3,615 | 3,786 | 3,978 | 4,235 | 4,208 | 4,239 | 4,198 | 4,294 | 5,007 | 5,274 | 4,818 | 4,624 |
| INDICATORS | TREND |
|---|---|
| People Without Health Insurance | Decreasing |
| Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |
| Health Status | Decreasing |
| Rate of Depression Diagnosis | Maintaining |
| Adults Who are Overweight or Obese | Not Applicable |
| Mortality Rates | Decreasing |
| Mortality Rate, by Race/Ethnicity | Increasing |
| Fatal Drug Overdoses | Increasing |
| Cancer Incidence | Decreasing |
