New Health Department data indicate notable improvements in health, mortality among Philadelphians

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health announced the release of 2022 and preliminary 2023 data that indicate notable improvements in health and mortality among Philadelphians.

Newly released findings include:

According to Dr. Megan Todd, Chief Epidemiologist of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, "These new findings are good news for Philadelphia. The rebound in life expectancy suggests that we are recovering from the negative health impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic."

Although life expectancy has improved and deaths due to homicide and unintentional drug overdose have declined, Philadelphia is still facing serious public health crises.

Dr. Todd said, "Too many Philadelphians continue to die from overdoses, violence, and chronic disease – issues that have threatened the city since long before COVID-19. And the impact of these deaths is far from equal. Structural factors like poverty and racism mean that race, ethnicity, and neighborhood still dictate who bears the heaviest burden."

The Health Department released the 2022 and preliminary 2023 data on PhilaStats , an interactive vital statistics dashboard.

First published in May 2022, PhilaStats tracks trends in births, deaths, and population size over time, and by characteristics like age, neighborhood, and race/ethnicity. To help interpret vital statistics in context, PhilaStats shows maps of birth and death outcomes alongside maps of social factors that impact health, like poverty, access to health insurance, and unemployment. The dashboard aims to make vital statistics broadly accessible to community groups, journalists, researchers, and other members of the public.

PhilaStats will continue to be updated as new data become available. Note that preliminary estimates are subject to change as data are finalized.