Checked
Causes of Death in Maine
Heart disease and stroke death rates, drug overdose deaths and life expectancy
- Heart disease deaths
- 312.9
- Per 100,000 adults 35+. U.S. 315.3
- Stroke deaths
- 60.7
- Per 100,000 adults 35+
- Overdose deaths, 12 months
- 352
- -13.9% from a year earlier
- Life expectancy at birth
- 76.7 years
- 2021
Drug overdose deaths in Maine
Reported deaths in the 12 months ending each month. Provisional; recent months are undercounted.
Overdose deaths by drug involved
June 2025 to May 2026. A death can involve more than one drug, so rows add up to more than the total.
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Drug | Deaths |
|---|---|
| Synthetic opioids such as fentanyl | 209 |
| Methamphetamine and other psychostimulants | 109 |
| Cocaine | 166 |
| Prescription opioids (natural and semi-synthetic) | 34 |
| Methadone | 46 |
Life expectancy at birth
NCHS U.S. State Life Tables, 2021
- Everyone
- 76.7 years
- Male
- 73.8 years
- Female
- 79.8 years
Death rates by county
Heart disease and stroke: per 100,000 adults 35+ (2022 to 2024). Overdose deaths: April 2025 to March 2026, provisional.
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| County | Heart disease | Stroke | Overdose deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Androscoggin County | 361.4 | 61.0 | 39 |
| Aroostook County | 383.1 | 66.2 | 22 |
| Cumberland County | 255.4 | 58.2 | 66 |
| Franklin County | 337.8 | 67.4 | 1 to 9 (suppressed) |
| Hancock County | 322.7 | 57.7 | 1 to 9 (suppressed) |
| Kennebec County | 324.0 | 69.4 | 30 |
| Knox County | 309.5 | 51.9 | 11 |
| Lincoln County | 283.1 | 56.9 | 10 |
| Oxford County | 295.6 | 58.9 | 14 |
| Penobscot County | 379.3 | 62.5 | 56 |
| Piscataquis County | 378.8 | 64.8 | 1 to 9 (suppressed) |
| Sagadahoc County | 233.7 | 56.8 | 1 to 9 (suppressed) |
| Somerset County | 371.0 | 67.0 | 14 |
| Waldo County | 349.9 | 60.2 | 10 |
| Washington County | 399.6 | 67.2 | 18 |
| York County | 280.2 | 58.7 | 54 |
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). For treatment referrals, call SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. In an emergency, call 911.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the heart disease death rate in Maine?
- CDC reports 312.9 heart disease deaths per 100,000 adults ages 35 and older in Maine (age-adjusted, 2022 to 2024), compared with 315.3 nationally.
- How many overdose deaths were there in Maine?
- 352 drug overdose deaths were reported in Maine for June 2025 to May 2026, down 13.9% from a year earlier. The count is provisional.
- What is the life expectancy in Maine?
- Life expectancy at birth in Maine was 76.7 years in 2021 (79.8 for females and 73.8 for males).
- What do the heart disease and stroke death rates measure?
- They are age-adjusted deaths per 100,000 adults ages 35 and older, averaged over three years, from CDC's Interactive Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke. County rates are spatially smoothed by CDC to make small-county estimates more stable.
- Are the drug overdose death counts final?
- No. They are provisional 12-month counts from the National Center for Health Statistics. Recent months are often undercounted because some death investigations take months to complete. County counts from 1 to 9 deaths are suppressed by NCHS to protect privacy.
- Where does life expectancy by state come from?
- Life expectancy at birth comes from NCHS U.S. State Life Tables, based on death certificates and population estimates. It describes the average for everyone born in a state in that year, not the outlook for any one person.
Source: CDC Interactive Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke; NCHS Vital Statistics Rapid Release; NCHS U.S. State Life Tables · Last updated 10/23/2026