But in 1, 344 counties, the average premature death rate rose, from 317 to about 333 per 100, 000.

WSJ: Study Points to Declining Life Span for Some U.S. Women

It said deaths among non-elective admissions at weekends had contributed to the hospital's death rate being 11% higher than the average NHS hospital.

BBC: Concerns over Basildon Hospital weekend death rate

Situated downwind of a belt of incinerators in Saitama prefecture, the city has an infant death rate 40% to 70% higher than the average for the prefecture.

CNN: Warning -- this garbage is dangerous

The death rate among women from oesophageal cancer was almost double the Western European average in 2009 at 96% higher.

BBC: Scottish mortality rate 'among highest in Western Europe'

The death rate among babies whose mothers planned - and did - give birth at home was lower than the average for all births taken together - including those in a hospital, midwife-led unit, as well as at home.

BBC: Home birth to ward increases risk

Minivans appeared the safest based on the IIHS study, with a death rate of just 25 per million registered vehicles in that category compared with an average 48 driver deaths per million registered vehicles in 2006 through 2009 across all model types with the model years 2005 to 2008.

FORBES: Driver Deaths More Likely in Small Cars