Dying Young in the United States: What's Driving High Death Rates Among Americans Under Age 25 and What Can Be Done?
2022
This brief from the Population Reference Bureau (PRB) details the latest findings and data on the death rates of people aged 15 to 24 in the United States. Compared to young people in other high-income countries, Americans under 25 are twice as likely to die, with mortality rates remaining stagnant or increasing for all age groups under 25 over the past several years. The authors examine these mortality differences, focusing on the risk factors for early death and the populations most at risk, finding that poverty, parental education, geographic location, and gender are significant factors in mortality risk for youth. The brief finds that unintentional injuries, suicide, and homicide represent the leading causes of death for children and young adults in the U.S. and cite higher death rates for Black and Mexican U.S. youth compared to their white counterparts. The brief calls for prioritizing economic, social, and health policies to reduce mortality in people under 25 in the U.S., including actions for reducing child poverty, addressing racial barriers to healthcare, and improving mental health treatment and prevention programs.
Source:
Dying Young in the United States: What’s Driving High Death Rates Among Americans Under Age 25 and What Can Be Done? Population Reference Bureau 2022. https://www.prb.org/resources/dying-young-in-the-united-states.