STATE VITALS: DELAWARE

Delaware has the 4th highest percentage of births born to unmarried mothers (48.7%) in the nation, lower only than Mississippi, Louisiana and New Mexico and significantly higher than the total U.S. (40.8%). The state’s low birthweight rate is also higher than the U.S. as a whole (8.4% vs. 8.1%). Among the ten leading causes of death in the U.S., Delaware has mortality rates that are higher than the U.S. rate for the following causes: cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease, stroke, and accidents. The state also has higher rates of homicide and drug poisoning deaths than the overall U.S. rate.

However, Delaware has the 10th lowest suicide rate in the U.S., and a lower mortality rate from Alzheimer’s Disease than the U.S. as a whole. The state also has lower rates of teen births and preterm births than the total U.S. rate.