Murder is no longer one of the 10 leading causes of death in Alaska.
On Friday, the Alaska Health Analytics &Vital Records section of the state Department of Health and Social Services published its annual report of births, deaths, marriages and other vital statistics in the 49th state.
The report covers figures from 2016.
Cancer remains the leading cause of death, followed by heart disease and accidents.
At the bottom of the top 10, murder has been replaced by influenza and pneumonia.
According to Vital Statistics, 60 people died of the flu or pneumonia in 2016. Flu and pneumonia have traditionally been the No. 10 cause of death in Alaska, but Anchorage’s exceptional murder rate pushed it to No. 11 in 2015.
Alaska’s suicide rate (suicide is the No. 6 leading cause of death) dropped between 2015 and 2016, according to the report.
The number of firearm-related deaths (a figure that includes suicides, accidents and homicide) stayed about the same: There were 174 firearm-related deaths in 2016, down just two from 2015.
Both figures are much higher than the 10-year average of 140 firearm-related deaths.
There were 131 drug-related deaths (98 percent were caused by overdoses) that represent almost a quarter of all accidental deaths in Alaska. There were 126 drug-related deaths in 2015.
The number of alcohol-related deaths surged to 182 in 2016, up from 160 in 2015.
The average life expectancy for a person born in Alaska has declined slightly since peaking between 2012 and 2014, according to Vital Statistics.
An Alaskan born today can expect to live for 76.2 years. That’s down from 76.7 years.
Those figures continue to vary wildly by race.
A Native child can expect to live for less than 70 years. An Asian child can expect to live for 80. The life expectancy of a white child is 77.7 years.
Fast facts:
• There were 5,272 marriages in Alaska in 2016, including 81 same-sex marriages. (The figures on same-sex marriages are somewhat unreliable.)
• There were also 2,942 marriages dissolved.
• June (731) was the most popular month for marriages.
• 11,213 Alaskans were born last year; 4,520 died.
• More Alaskans were born in June (982) than any other month. February (840) had the fewest birthdays.
• The youngest mother was 13 years old; the youngest father was 14.
• The oldest mother was 51; the oldest father was 73.
• There were 570 adoptions in 2016.
• December had the most deaths (439), while February (337) had the fewest.
• A Native baby is more than three times as likely to die in infancy as a white baby. A black baby is more than twice as likely to die in infancy as a white baby.
• Contact reporter James Brooks at james.k.brooks@juneauempire.com or call 523-2258.
