This Is the Unluckiest State in America, According to Data
From natural disasters to lottery winners, this U.S. state has the worst luck.
![Extreme Close-Up of a Person's Hand Holding a Penny and Scraping a Scratch-Off Lottery Ticket](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/04/lottery-scratcher.jpg?quality=82&strip=1&resize=640%2C360)
Luck is a tricky concept to get a handle on. Some people seem to always manage a free ride on their way to striking gold, while others appear to forever be walking under a raincloud. Why is that the case? Could where a person lives possibly be a factor? To find out, at Best Life, we crunched the numbers to determine the unluckiest state in America.
To quantify how much—or how little—luck each state has, we looked at five key metrics, which we gave a weighted value, and then applied to our proprietary algorithm to see how each state scored on our 100-point scale Unlucky Index.
First, we looked at accident mortality by state according to the most recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The rate of accidental death measures death from unintentional injuries stemming from incidents like drug overdoses, vehicular accidents, and falls—which as a category is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, researchers found.
Next, we turned our focus to natural disasters, using data gathered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the number of official natural disasters that have occurred in each state since 1953.
And, since you just can't analyze luck without mentioning the lottery, we gathered data on the number of Powerball jackpot winners in all 45 states where the game is available—from 1992 to the most recent winning jackpot in Florida on March 27, 2021. (The five states that don't participate were not penalized, as we adjusted the weighted algorithm to account for their lack of data in this category.)
Finally, we collected and analyzed data on each state's unemployment rate as tracked by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of February 2021. Of course, we recognize that there are myriad contributing factors to a state's unemployment rate, but we can't imagine that anyone in the unfortunate position of being unemployed wouldn't question whether plain old dumb luck didn't have something to do with it.
Read on to discover the unluckiest state in America, and see if your state measures the way you expect it would. And for the places where people aren't lucky enough to give less to Uncle Sam, This State Has the Highest Taxes in America, According to Data.
50
Utah
![park city utah skyline](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/shutterstock_1537714529.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 45.2 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 47
Number of Powerball winners: N/A
Unemployment rate: 3 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 0.00
49
Indiana
![The skyline of Indianapolis, Indiana](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/02/indanapolis-indiana-skyline-covid-vaccine-rescheduled.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 56 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 51
Number of Powerball winners: 39
Unemployment rate: 4 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 8.02
48
Nebraska
![The skyline of downtown Omaha, Nebraska during the day](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/02/skyline-omaha-nebraska-covid-cases-rise.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 40.1 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 72
Number of Powerball winners: 10
Unemployment rate: 3.1 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 12.11
47
Minnesota
![building and lakes in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/st-paul-minnesota.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 44.9 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 74
Number of Powerball winners: 22
Unemployment rate: 4.3 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 15.47
46
Iowa
![white houses, green land and empty roads, photo taken from above, in Iowa City, Iowa](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/iowa-city-iowa.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 42.3 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 72
Number of Powerball winners: 9
Unemployment rate: 3.6 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 17.03
45
Kansas
![buildings and the Cooper dome in the downtown area of Topeka, Kansas](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/topeka-kansas.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 48 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 79
Number of Powerball winners: 11
Unemployment rate: 3.2 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 20.16
44
Idaho
![cityscape photo of downtown Bosie, Idaho](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/01/boise-idaho.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 51.2 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 50
Number of Powerball winners: 5
Unemployment rate: 3.3 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 20.37
43
Maryland
![Maryland](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/maryland.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 36.6 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 36
Number of Powerball winners: 3
Unemployment rate: 6.2 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 20.79
42
Missouri
![cityscape photo of the historic columns and downtown Columbia, Missouri](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/01/columbia-missouri.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 61 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 74
Number of Powerball winners: 31
Unemployment rate: 4.2 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 23.05
41
New Hampshire
![Manchester is the largest city in the state of New Hampshire and the largest city in northern New England. Manchester is known for its industrial heritage, riverside mills, affordability, and arts & cultural destination.](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/new-hampshire-state.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 58. 8 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 55
Number of Powerball winners: 11
Unemployment rate: 3.3 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 24.27
40
Georgia
![Georgia](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/georgia.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 42.2 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 70
Number of Powerball winners: 6
Unemployment rate: 4.8 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 24.28
39
Wisconsin
![Milwaukee, Wisconsin](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/01/aerial-drone-milwaukee-marina-wisconsin.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 61.1 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 54
Number of Powerball winners: 18
Unemployment rate: 3.8 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 24.33
38
South Dakota
![cityscape photo of downtown Sioux Falls, South Dakota](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/sioux-falls-south-dakota.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 53.3 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 64
Number of Powerball winners: 3
Unemployment rate: 2.9 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 24.43
37
Alabama
![cityscape photo of a highway, homes, and buildings in Mobile, Alabama](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/mobile-alabama-1.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 54.1 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 93
Number of Powerball winners: N/A
Unemployment rate: 4 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 25.24
36
Vermont
![Church Street in Burlington, Vermont in the afternoon](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/burlington-vermont.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 56.4 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 50
Number of Powerball winners: 0
Unemployment rate: 3.1 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 26.64
35
Michigan
![road and trees in Highland Park, Michigan](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/03/highland-park-michigan.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 50 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 42
Number of Powerball winners: 5
Unemployment rate: 5.2 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 27.09
34
Hawaii
![An aerial shot of downtown Honolulu, Hawaii from the water looking inland.](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/12/downtown-honolulu-hawaii-skyline-covid-under-control.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 39.2 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 58
Number of Powerball winners: N/A
Unemployment rate: 9.2 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 28.15
33
North Dakota
![fargo north dakota](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/shutterstock_1114407548.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 45 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 64
Number of Powerball winners: 0
Unemployment rate: 4.7 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 28.31
32
Virginia
![downtown skyline and river in Richmond, Virginia at twilight](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/richmond-virginia.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 43.8 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 69
Number of Powerball winners: 1
Unemployment rate: 5.2 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 30.34
31
Arkansas
![Overlook of the town of Fayetteville, Arkansas with the University of Arkansas](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/03/fayetteville-arkansas.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 48 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 78
Number of Powerball winners: 1
Unemployment rate: 4.5 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 32.34
30
South Carolina
![Charleston South Carolina](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/South-Carolina.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 62.1 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 38
Number of Powerball winners: 6
Unemployment rate: 5.2 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 35.67
29
Montana
![Montana landscape](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/04/Montana-scenery.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 55.4 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 91
Number of Powerball winners: 4
Unemployment rate: 3.9 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 36.63
28
Rhode Island
![downtown east greenwich rhode-island](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/east-greenwich-road-island.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 56.4 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 25
Number of Powerball winners: 8
Unemployment rate: 7.3 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 37.35
27
Nevada
![reno nevada skyline](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/shutterstock_128052527.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 44.1 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 96
Number of Powerball winners: N/A
Unemployment rate: 8.3 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 38.03
26
New Jersey
![aerial view of Keyport New Jersey](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/02/keyport-new-jersey.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 49.2 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 53
Number of Powerball winners: 11
Unemployment rate: 7.8 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 38.36
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25
Wyoming
![landscape photo of the Devils Tower in Crook County, Wyoming at sunrise](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/crook-county-wyoming.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 63.1 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 37
Number of Powerball winners: 30
Unemployment rate: 5.3 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 40.32
24
Alaska
![Advancing towards Margerie Glacier in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/03/glacier-bay-national-park-alaska.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 62.2 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 71
Number of Powerball winners: N/A
Unemployment rate: 6.6 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 40.32
23
North Carolina
![cityscape photo of Durham, North Carolina](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/durham-north-carolina.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 56.1 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 70
Number of Powerball winners: 6
Unemployment rate: 5.7 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 40.34
22
Illinois
![cityscape of houses and shops downtown Galena, Illinois](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/galena-illinois.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 45 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 63
Number of Powerball winners: 2
Unemployment rate: 7.4 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 40.42
21
Massachusetts
![public garden boston, massachusetts](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/04/boston-massachusetts.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 53.3 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 54
Number of Powerball winners: 6
Unemployment rate: 7.1 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 41.44
20
New York
![Poughkeepsie, New York skyline](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/09/Poughkeepsie-New-York.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 34.3 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 101
Number of Powerball winners: 12
Unemployment rate: 8.9 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 41.63
And for the place where you better have plenty of cash to spend, This Is the Most Expensive State in America.
19
Kentucky
![farm house in kentucky, grass](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/04/farmhouse-kentucky.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 68.1 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 80
Number of Powerball winners: 18
Unemployment rate: 5.2 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 42.98
18
Pennsylvania
![landscape photo of Forest County, Pennsylvania](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/forest-county-pennsylvania.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 61.2 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 62
Number of Powerball winners: 18
Unemployment rate: 7.3 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 43.72
17
Delaware
![View from inside the Ashland covered bridge in Yorklyn, New Castle County, Delaware during the fall with colorful foliage in bright sunlight](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/delaware-in-fall.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 73.9 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 23
Number of Powerball winners: 10
Unemployment rate: 6.3 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 45.27
16
Connecticut
![fast moving traffic on a highway and buildings in Hartford, Connecticut at dusk](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/hartford-connecticut.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 56.2 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 36
Number of Powerball winners: 8
Unemployment rate: 8.5 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 45.65
15
Ohio
![cityscape photo of downtown Columbus, Ohio](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/12/columbus-ohio.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 67.7 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 59
Number of Powerball winners: 3
Unemployment rate: 5 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 45.80
14
Maine
![waterfalls in lewiston maine](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/12/lewiston-maine-falls.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 66.8 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 62
Number of Powerball winners: 0
Unemployment rate: 4.8 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 46.49
13
Tennessee
![The skyline of Chattanooga, Tennessee](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/12/chattanooga-tennessee-skyline-worst-covid-surge.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 67.8 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 76
Number of Powerball winners: 7
Unemployment rate: 4.9 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 46.82
12
Oregon
![Portland OR view](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/Oregon.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 46.1 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 133
Number of Powerball winners: 5
Unemployment rate: 6.1 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 48.72
11
Colorado
![reflection of the Rocky Mountains in front of lake in Denver, Colorado](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/denver-colorado-1.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 51.9 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 96
Number of Powerball winners: 3
Unemployment rate: 6.6 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 48.95
10
Florida
![boat in water, cape coral, florida, canal, palm trees](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/03/shutterstock_1659649828.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 55.6 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 160
Number of Powerball winners: 15
Unemployment rate: 4.7 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 49.76
And for the place where people are the most upset overall, check out This Is the Angriest State in America, According to Data.
9
Arizona
![cityscape photo of downtown Chandler, Arizona](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/chandler-arizona.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 58.7 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 98
Number of Powerball winners: 13
Unemployment rate: 6.9 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 50.65
8
Louisiana
![boat docked in the channel next to tress in New Orleans, Louisiana](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/new-orleans-louisiana.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 62.3 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 90
Number of Powerball winners: 17
Unemployment rate: 7.6 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 52.99
7
Mississippi
![gulfport mississippi tree and highway, heart attack cities](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/04/gulfport-mississippi.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 61.2 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 83
Number of Powerball winners: 0
Unemployment rate: 6.3 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 54.04
6
Washington
![red and green trees and a walk path in a garden in Seattle, Washington](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/seattle-washington-1.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 43.4 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 177
Number of Powerball winners: 1
Unemployment rate: 5.6 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 56.19
5
Oklahoma
![The skyline of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/04/oklahoma-city-skyline-covid-cases-surge.jpg)
Rate of accidental deaths: 58 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 210
Number of Powerball winners: 4
Unemployment rate: 4.4 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 67.94
4
West Virginia
![high street harpers ferry west virginia](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/01/high-street-harpers-ferry-west-virginia.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 96.9 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 73
Number of Powerball winners: 9
Unemployment rate: 6.2 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 75.68
3
New Mexico
![landscape photo of Sandia Mountains, New Mexico](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/sandia-mountains-new-mexico.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 77.8 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 100
Number of Powerball winners: 5
Unemployment rate: 8.3 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 78.71
2
California
![cityscape photo of highway, bridge, and buildings in downtown Sacramento, California](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/12/sacramento-california.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 35.9 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 336
Number of Powerball winners: 9
Unemployment rate: 8.5 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 95.34
And for the states suffering another misfortune at the moment, These 9 States Are Seeing the Worst COVID Spikes Right Now.
1
Texas
![street in downtown Laredo, Texas at night](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/12/laredo-texas-1.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rate of accidental deaths: 39.7 percent
Number of federally declared natural disasters: 360
Number of Powerball winners: 2
Unemployment rate: 6.9 percent
Unlucky Index Score: 100.00
And for the place where other serious risks abound, check out This Is the Most Dangerous City in America, According to Data.