According to the CDC data and reports, in 2020:
- The top three leading causes of death in the United States were heart disease, cancer, and COVID-19.
- The U.S. had nearly 92,000 drug overdose deaths. The top states for the number of drug poisoning deaths were California, Florida, and Ohio. However, the states that had the most drug poisoning deaths per 100,000 people were West Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Kentucky.
- The states with the highest death rate from firearms were Mississippi, Louisiana, and Wyoming, while the states with the most deaths were Texas, California, and Florida. The total number of firearm deaths in 2020 was 45,000.
- According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 36,000 fatal traffic crashes occurred in 2020.
Major causes of death
Top 10 Leading Causes Of Death, 2021
| Heart disease 695,547173.82 Malignant neoplasms (cancer) 605,213146.63 COVID-19 416,893104.14 Accidents (unintentional injuries) 224,93564.75 Cerebrovascular diseases (stroke) 162,89041.16 Chronic lower respiratory diseases 142,34234.77 Alzheimer’s disease 119,39931.08 Diabetes 103,29425.49 Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis 56,58514.510 Kidney disease 54,35813.6 All other causes 882,77525.5 All deaths 3,464,231879.7 |
(1) Based on number of deaths.
(2) Deaths per 100,000 U.S. standard population.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System, Mortality.
Odds of dying from accidental injuries
The chart below shows the likelihood, or odds, of dying as a result of a specific type of accident. The odds of dying over a one-year period are based on the U.S. population as a whole, not on participants in any particular activity or on how dangerous that activity may be. For example, more people are killed in auto accidents than in motorcycle accidents or airplane crashes, not because riding a motorcycle or traveling in an airplane is more or less dangerous, but because far more people travel by car.
Odds Of Death In The United States By Selected Cause Of Injury, 2020 (1)
| Cause of death Number of deaths, 2020 One-year odds Accidental poisoning by and exposure to noxious substances (2)87,4043,77049 Drug poisoning 83,5583,94351 Opioids (including both legal and illegal) 64,1835,13467 All motor vehicle accidents 42,3397,782101 Car occupants 6,80248,439629 Pedestrians 7,90441,686541 Motorcycle riders 5,35361,551799 Assault by firearm 19,38316,999221 Exposure to smoke, fire and flames 2,951111,6521,450 Fall on and from stairs and steps 2,669123,4491,603 Drowning and submersion while in or falling into swimming pool 740445,2495,782 Fall on and from ladder or scaffolding 576572,0217,429 Firearms discharge (accidental) 400823,71010,698 Air and space transport accidents 364905,17611,756 Cataclysmic storm (3)1222,700,69035,074 Flood 378,904,976115,649 Bitten or struck by dog 625,314,26069,016 Earthquake and other earth movements 349,690,710125,853 Lightning 17(4)(4) |
(1) Based on fatalities and life expectancy in 2020. Ranked by deaths in 2020.
(2) Includes all types of medications including narcotics and hallucinogens, alcohol and gases.
(3) Includes hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, dust storms and other cataclysmic storms.
(4) Rates based on less than 20 deaths are likely to be unstable from year to year and are therefore not included.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics; National Safety Council.
The opioid crisis
Top 10 States By Drug Poisoning Deaths and Death Rates, 2020 (1)
| California 8,90821.81 West Virginia 1,33081.42 Florida 7,23135.02 District of Columbia 42458.13 Ohio 5,20447.23 Kentucky 2,08349.24 Pennsylvania 5,16842.44 Delaware 44447.35 New York 4,96525.45 Ohio 5,20447.26 Texas4,17214.16 Tennessee 3,03445.67 Illinois 3,54928.17 Maryland 2,77144.68 North Carolina 3,14630.98 Louisana 1,89642.79 Tennessee 3,03445.69 Pennsylvania 5,16842.410 New Jersey 2,84032.110 Maine 49639.7 |
(1) Drug overdose caused by prescription and illegal drugs.
(2) Rates are age-adjusted using the direct method and the 2000 U.S. standard population, except for age-specific crude rates. All rates are per 100,000 population.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.