As national death rate dips, some states did better than others

The national death rate in the U.S. fell to a historic low in 2025, with Northeastern states like New Jersey, Rhode Island, and New York experiencing the largest declines since 2015. The drop is attributed to reduced rates of drug overdoses, gun homicides, and traffic accidents, alongside long-term healthcare expansion efforts. However, the Trump administration's proposed cuts to Medicaid and rural hospital funding threaten to undermine these gains.