COVID-19 has been a leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2020, particularly for people over age 35, according to a new report published in JAMA. As of Dec. 21, over 320,000 people in the country have died after contracting SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
Using data from state and local health departments, 24/7 Tempo calculated each state’s total number of COVID-19-related deaths since the beginning of the outbreak in the U.S. to determine the states where deaths per capita are the highest.
Deaths per capita in more than half of U.S. states were higher during the week ending on Dec. 20 than during the week prior. California had the largest increase, with an average of 73 more deaths per 100,000 residents dying from COVID-19 a day in the week ending on Dec. 20 than the previous week.
Adults over age 45 are more likely to die from COVID-19 than fatal car accidents, respiratory diseases, drug overdoses, suicide, and murder. And those over age 55 face even higher rates of dying due to the coronavirus.
More than 3,300 deaths were reported nationwide on Dec. 16, marking an all-time high. The sad record comes at the beginning of the biggest vaccination effort in U.S. history. Though millions of Americans will likely get one of the currently two approved COVID-19 vaccines in the next few months, the shots won’t be administered in time to prevent a likely increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths this winter.
Only a dozen states reported fewer daily new COVID-19 cases per capita in the most recent week compared to the week before. These are the states where the coronavirus spread is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
Click here to see the states where most people have died from COVID-19.
20. South Carolina
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 21: 97 per 100,00 people (total: 4,935)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 21: 5,378 per 100,00 people — 21st lowest (total: 273,406)
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 20: 3,029 per 100,000 people — 22nd highest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 20: 28 per 100,000 people — 17th lowest
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 14: 2,875 per 100,000 people — 25th lowest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 14: 25 per 100,000 people — 20th lowest
> Population: 5.1 million
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19. Florida
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 21: 98 per 100,00 people (total: 20,860)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 21: 5,641 per 100,00 people — 25th lowest (total: 1,201,566)
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 20: 10,805 per 100,000 people — 3rd highest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 20: 104 per 100,000 people — 7th highest
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 14: 9,800 per 100,000 people — 6th highest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 14: 106 per 100,000 people — 6th highest
> Population: 21.3 million
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18. Georgia
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 21: 99 per 100,00 people (total: 10,383)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 21: 4,844 per 100,00 people — 16th lowest (total: 509,588)
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 20: 4,792 per 100,000 people — 12th highest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 20: 44 per 100,000 people — 21st highest
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 14: 4,380 per 100,000 people — 16th highest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 14: 36 per 100,000 people — 21st highest
> Population: 10.5 million
17. New Mexico
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 21: 104 per 100,00 people (total: 2,171)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 21: 6,204 per 100,00 people — 22nd highest (total: 129,993)
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 20: 1,456 per 100,000 people — 16th lowest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 20: 31 per 100,000 people — 21st lowest
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 14: 1,622 per 100,000 people — 16th lowest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 14: 32 per 100,000 people — 24th lowest
> Population: 2.1 million
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16. Indiana
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 21: 106 per 100,00 people (total: 7,101)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 21: 6,997 per 100,00 people — 14th highest (total: 468,219)
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 20: 5,560 per 100,000 people — 11th highest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 20: 82 per 100,000 people — 9th highest
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 14: 6,160 per 100,000 people — 10th highest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 14: 78 per 100,000 people — 10th highest
> Population: 6.7 million
15. Arkansas
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 21: 107 per 100,00 people (total: 3,237)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 21: 6,691 per 100,00 people — 17th highest (total: 201,650)
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 20: 2,278 per 100,000 people — 20th lowest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 20: 42 per 100,000 people — 22nd highest
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 14: 1,951 per 100,000 people — 18th lowest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 14: 33 per 100,000 people — 25th highest
> Population: 3.0 million
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14. Pennsylvania
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 21: 109 per 100,00 people (total: 13,981)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 21: 4,401 per 100,00 people — 11th lowest (total: 563,589)
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 20: 9,129 per 100,000 people — 5th highest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 20: 194 per 100,000 people — 3rd highest
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 14: 10,474 per 100,000 people — 4th highest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 14: 178 per 100,000 people — 2nd highest
> Population: 12.8 million
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13. Arizona
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 21: 111 per 100,00 people (total: 7,972)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 21: 6,433 per 100,00 people — 21st highest (total: 461,345)
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 20: 6,451 per 100,000 people — 9th highest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 20: 88 per 100,000 people — 8th highest
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 14: 7,772 per 100,000 people — 9th highest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 14: 58 per 100,000 people — 15th highest
> Population: 7.2 million
12. Iowa
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 21: 114 per 100,00 people (total: 3,589)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 21: 8,483 per 100,00 people — 3rd highest (total: 267,744)
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 20: 1,556 per 100,000 people — 17th lowest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 20: 54 per 100,000 people — 17th highest
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 14: 1,723 per 100,000 people — 17th lowest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 14: 79 per 100,000 people — 9th highest
> Population: 3.2 million
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11. Michigan
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 21: 121 per 100,00 people (total: 12,074)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 21: 4,963 per 100,00 people — 18th lowest (total: 496,056)
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 20: 4,414 per 100,000 people — 15th highest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 20: 126 per 100,000 people — 5th highest
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 14: 5,197 per 100,000 people — 12th highest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 14: 124 per 100,000 people — 5th highest
> Population: 10.0 million
10. Illinois
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 21: 129 per 100,00 people (total: 16,407)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 21: 7,067 per 100,00 people — 13th highest (total: 900,370)
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 20: 7,352 per 100,000 people — 8th highest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 20: 153 per 100,000 people — 4th highest
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 14: 8,551 per 100,000 people — 7th highest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 14: 177 per 100,000 people — 3rd highest
> Population: 12.7 million
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9. South Dakota
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 21: 143 per 100,00 people (total: 1,261)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 21: 9,554 per 100,00 people — 2nd highest (total: 84,290)
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 18: 241 per 100,000 people — 3rd lowest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 18: 7 per 100,000 people — 8th lowest
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 11: 636 per 100,000 people — 7th lowest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 11: 21 per 100,000 people — 16th lowest
> Population: 882,000
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8. New York
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 21: 146 per 100,00 people (total: 28,598)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 21: 4,340 per 100,00 people — 10th lowest (total: 848,042)
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 20: 10,412 per 100,000 people — 4th highest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 20: 116 per 100,000 people — 6th highest
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 14: 10,154 per 100,000 people — 5th highest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 14: 91 per 100,000 people — 7th highest
> Population: 19.5 million
7. Mississippi
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 21: 148 per 100,00 people (total: 4,411)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 21: 6,546 per 100,00 people — 20th highest (total: 195,500)
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 20: 2,127 per 100,000 people — 18th lowest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 20: 30 per 100,000 people — 20th lowest
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 14: 2,129 per 100,000 people — 19th lowest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 14: 35 per 100,000 people — 23rd highest
> Population: 3.0 million
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6. Louisiana
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 21: 151 per 100,00 people (total: 7,042)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 21: 6,140 per 100,00 people — 23rd highest (total: 286,145)
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 20: 2,505 per 100,000 people — 24th lowest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 20: 32 per 100,000 people — 23rd lowest
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 14: 2,501 per 100,000 people — 21st lowest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 14: 34 per 100,000 people — 24th highest
> Population: 4.7 million
5. Rhode Island
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 21: 154 per 100,00 people (total: 1,625)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 21: 7,359 per 100,00 people — 9th highest (total: 77,812)
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 20: 999 per 100,000 people — 11th lowest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 20: 17 per 100,000 people — 13th lowest
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 14: 1,179 per 100,000 people — 11th lowest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 14: 15 per 100,000 people — 11th lowest
> Population: 1.1 million
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4. Connecticut
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 21: 156 per 100,00 people (total: 5,581)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 21: 4,556 per 100,00 people — 12th lowest (total: 162,782)
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 20: 2,289 per 100,000 people — 21st lowest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 20: 31 per 100,000 people — 22nd lowest
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 14: 2,593 per 100,000 people — 22nd lowest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 14: 31 per 100,000 people — 23rd lowest
> Population: 3.6 million
3. North Dakota
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 21: 162 per 100,00 people (total: 1,233)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 21: 11,857 per 100,00 people — the highest (total: 90,121)
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 20: 957 per 100,000 people — 10th lowest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 20: 30 per 100,000 people — 19th lowest
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 14: N/A
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 14: N/A
> Population: 760,000
2. Massachusetts
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 21: 170 per 100,00 people (total: 11,717)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 21: 4,687 per 100,00 people — 14th lowest (total: 323,531)
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 20: 4,708 per 100,000 people — 13th highest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 20: 53 per 100,000 people — 18th highest
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 14: 4,987 per 100,000 people — 13th highest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 14: 50 per 100,000 people — 16th highest
> Population: 6.9 million
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1. New Jersey
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 21: 204 per 100,00 people (total: 18,194)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 21: 4,856 per 100,00 people — 17th lowest (total: 432,592)
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 20: 4,563 per 100,000 people — 14th highest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 20: 63 per 100,000 people — 12th highest
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Dec 14: 4,838 per 100,000 people — 15th highest
> Avg. new daily deaths in 7 days ending Dec 14: 63 per 100,000 people — 14th highest
> Population: 8.9 million
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