WASHINGTON, January 19, 2022—Americans ages 15 to 24 are twice as likely to die as their peers in France, Germany, Japan and other wealthy nations, while the infant mortality rate is up to three times higher in the United States. That’s according to a new report released today by PRB that cites violence, poverty and racial disparities as the primary drivers of high death rates and lower life expectancies among children and young people in the United States. Show “Dying Young in the United States: What’s Driving High Death Rates Among Americans Under Age 25 and What Can Be Done?” provides the most comprehensive look at deaths among young Americans before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report finds that injuries, suicides and homicides are the leading causes of death among children and young adults, and premature birth and congenital abnormalities are the top causes of infant mortality. In 2019 alone, nearly 60,000 people under age 25 died in the United States, including almost 21,000 infants. Poverty, race/ethnicity, gender, parental education, family structure and regional location are important factors in mortality risk among young Americans, with children and young people in southern states at greater risk for early death, the report finds. The research team was led by Richard G. Rogers, professor of sociology and fellow of the Institute of Behavioral Science at the University of Colorado Boulder, and Robert A. Hummer, professor of sociology and fellow of the Carolina Population Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with funding from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health. “The death of a child or young adult is a tremendous tragedy for parents, for families and for our society,” Hummer said. “As the report shows, a significant number of young lives could have been saved through policies and interventions addressing safety and social and economic inequities, making these losses even more tragic.” “We are publishing this report to inform policymakers and provide the data and evidence needed to prioritize social, economic and health policies and programs that could reduce the number of preventable deaths among young Americans,” said Linda A. Jacobsen, vice president of U.S. Programs for PRB, a nonprofit organization that analyzes and publishes data on population and health trends. While it’s too early to fully assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mortality patterns, the authors warn that growing mental health and substance abuse problems experienced by young Americans during this period could contribute to rising death rates in the wake of the pandemic. Other key findings include:
To reverse these trends, the authors recommend reducing child poverty through direct payments and expanded tax credits, alongside funding for child care, preschool, housing, nutrition and health care. They also call for addressing racial and ethnic barriers to improve access to quality health care and reproductive health programs. Improving treatment for and prevention of mental illness and substance abuse, as well as enacting broad safety measures related to guns and gun ownership, could also save many young lives. “Immediate and aggressive action is needed at both the federal and state levels to stem death rates among those under the age of 25 in the United States,” Rogers said. “More purposefully supporting infants, children, young adults and young families is an essential way to ensure a brighter future for all Americans.” About PRB: PRB promotes and supports evidence-based policies, practices and decision-making to improve the health and well-being of people throughout the world. Find out more at www.prb.org. Follow us on Twitter @PRBdata. NotesUnintentional injuries are commonly referred to as "accidents." **The number of deaths is too small to a calculate reliable rate.Data Sources
DefinitionDeaths among those aged 15 through 24 yearsNumeratorNumber of deaths among persons aged 15-24 yearsDenominatorNumber of persons aged 15-24 years in the populationHow Are We Doing?The leading causes of death among teens and young adults aged 15-24 years are unintentional injury, homicide, suicide, cancer, and heart disease. In 2020, more than half of unintentional injury deaths in this age group were due to drug poisoning. The death rate among Blacks aged 15-24 years is significantly above the rates for other racial/ethnic groups but the gap has narrowed in recent years.How Do We Compare With the U.S.?The death rate among New Jersey residents aged 15-24 years is significantly lower than the national rate.Page Content Updated On 04/26/2022, Published on 04/26/2022
The top causes of death among people ages 20 to 24 in the United States are either present at birth (congenital) or happen later on. The causes of death that happen later in life are often preventable. This article will go over the top causes of death for young adults in the U.S. and discuss how each cause can be avoided.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), unintentional injuries accounted for about 45% of deaths among people aged 20 to 24 years old in 2020. Most of these deaths were caused by poisonings related to certain drugs, including narcotics and hallucinogens. Drug poisoning can happen by accident, which is why properly storing and discarding medications is important. However, some people who die from being exposed to these drugs have a substance use disorder. They may die from an overdose or from complications that happen when more than one substance is used at the same time. In some cases, a person dies after using a substance that they didn't realize had been mixed or "laced" with something else. Motor vehicle accidents also accounted for many accidental deaths, as they have in previous years. The good news is that the motor vehicle death rate has been going down because cars are getting safer. To protect yourself, wear your seat belt, drive defensively, and avoid risky behaviors (like driving while texting) when you're behind the wheel.
2
Homicide, or murder, was responsible for about 16% of deaths between the ages of 20 and 24 in 2020. Most of these homicides were committed with firearms. Gun violence can be hard to avoid, as you don't necessarily have control over where you live. Staying safe in your neighborhood if there is a lot of gun violence or reaching out for help if you're experiencing domestic violence are key steps that you can take. If you have firearms in your home, it's important that they are kept safely—particularly if you have children.
4
Cancer (malignant neoplasms) caused about 3.2% of deaths in the 20 to 24 age group in 2020. Many childhood cancers were included in that number. You can't always prevent cancer from happening. That's why it's important that you know the early signs and symptoms of cancer. You should also know your personal cancer risk, which is based on your family history, lifestyle, and other factors. There's no single way to prevent cancer, but there are some general steps that you can take to support your overall health, such as:
You can talk to your provider about specific steps you can take to lower your risk for cancer.
5
In 2020, about 2.4% of deaths in people 20 to 24 was from heart disease. Many young people who have heart disease were born with it (congenital heart disease). In this case, there wasn't anything they could have done to keep it from happening. However, heart disease can also happen later in life—especially for people who have certain risk factors. You can take steps to lower your risk of heart disease at any age by:
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In 2020, COVID-19 accounted for about 1.6% of deaths in people ages 20 to 24. During the pandemic, people of all ages got sick and died from COVID. While some of these people were more vulnerable to getting seriously ill or dying from the virus, there were also plenty of young and otherwise healthy people who died from COVID. The best way to prevent COVID is to get vaccinated and boosted, as recommended by the CDC. Other ways to protect yourself and others from COVID include: If you do get COVID, there are treatments that you might be able to have that can help reduce your risk of getting severely ill or developing complications. If you have symptoms of COVID or have been exposed to someone who you know or think was sick, you'll need to get tested. You can talk to your provider about the best option for treatment.
7
Diabetes caused about 0.9% of deaths among people ages 20 to 24 in 2020. People with diabetes live longer now than they used to because of advances in how the disease is treated. However, it can still cause complications. For example, having diabetes increases your risk of having heart attacks and strokes. People who are born with diabetes (type 1) could not have prevented it, but they can take steps to avoid complications—including death. For example, managing the condition by making sure they have the insulin they need to survive and making any lifestyle changes necessary to stay healthy. People with type 2 diabetes can also manage the condition through lifestyle changes and, in some cases, medication. In many cases, the condition can be prevented by taking certain steps. Some of these steps can also reverse type 2 diabetes. You might be able to lower your risk of type 2 diabetes or reverse it by:
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Congenital conditions (also called anomalies) are those that people are born with. In 2020, these conditions accounted for just under 1% (0.8%) of deaths among people ages 20 to 24. Examples of these conditions are cystic fibrosis or maternally transmitted human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Since these conditions happen before a person is born, they can't prevent them on their own. However, people who are pregnant can be screened to find out if a fetus is at risk for certain conditions. For someone living with a congenital condition, preventing complications comes down to learning how to manage the condition and having a team of providers that they can work with.
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About 0.7% of deaths among people ages 20-24 occurred during pregnancy or during/after childbirth. There are several reasons that people can die during pregnancy or while giving birth, including: You can't always control whether these complications happen to you. However, there are some general steps that you can take to lower the chances that they'll happen, such as:
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In 2020, chronic lower respiratory disease accounted for about 0.6% of deaths among people between the ages of 20 and 24. Examples of these conditions include: There are some steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing these conditions and prevent complications from them, such as:
Many potential causes of death at any age are out of your control. However, by adopting a healthy lifestyle and practicing common-sense safety measures, many of them can be prevented.
Even if you can't prevent a disease, you often can reduce your risk of complications from it—including death. Talk to your provider about your risks and work together on lowering them. Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the top three leading causes of death in the United States between the ages of 15 25?
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