Montana recorded more deaths than births in 2020
The state recorded 12,018 deaths to 10,791 live births
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Montana recorded more deaths than live births in 2020, according to data collected by the state's Department of Public Health and Human Services.
A recent report released by the state agency looked at "provisional deaths" in 2020, which are not final and subject to change, and how the data compared to 2015 through 2019 death data. The data showed that more Montana residents died in 2020 than were born, with 12,018 deaths to 10,791 live births.
Based on the data, 2020 would be the first year Montana's death rate exceeded those born since 1908.
Overall, the death rate increased by 14 per cent compared to the last five years, the report revealed.
One impact on Montana's death toll was Covid-19, which was the third leading cause of death for the state and contributed to 9 per cent of total deaths. In total, 1,104 Montana residents died from the novel virus in 2020.
"The Covid-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the health and daily lives of Montanans," Adam Meier, the director of DPHHS, said in a statement. " Our hearts go out to all those who have lost a loved one over the past year as we approach the anniversary of the state's first Covid-19-related death. This report illustrations how this has impacted Montananas all across the state."
Read more:
The state experienced its first Covid-19 death on 26 March, 2020.
Nearly 70 per cent of the Covid-19 deaths in Montana were of those age 70 and older, and nearly 70 per cent of Covid-19 deaths occurred in someone with an underlying medical condition, the report revealed.
There has also been a race discrepancy in the Covid-19 death data.
Native Americans make up 7 per cent of the state's population, but they accounted for 18 per cent of Covid-19 deaths in 2020.
The only causes above Covid-19 in Montana were heart disease, which was the leading cause of death, and cancer, which was the second leading cause of death. Heart disease accounted for 42 per cent of all deaths and cancer accounted for 37 per cent of all deaths, the data reveals.
Covid-19 took the place of chronic lower respiratory diseases as the third leading cause of death in the state. In years prior, deaths from pneumonia, influenza, and other chronic pulmonary diseases were prominent in the state. But those deaths declined in 2020 while some residents battled the coronavirus instead.
Montana has recorded more than 102,000 Covid-19 infections since the start of the pandemic, and 1,396 residents have died from the novel virus, as of Tuesday morning.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments