Cause of death · ICD-10 G30 · 2017
Alzheimer's disease - Death Rates by State
121,404 deaths in 2017 across 51 US states, with age-adjusted rates spanning 13.2–49.6 per 100,000.
- 121,404
- Deaths, 2017
- 32.1
- Avg age-adj /100K
- 33.6
- Median /100K
- 51
- States + DC
The verdict
Mississippi carries the nation's heaviest alzheimer's disease burden at 49.6 per 100,000 - 3.8× the age-adjusted rate in New York, the lowest.
- 49.6
- Mississippi - highest, well above average
- 13.2
- New York - lowest, well below average
- #6 of 10
- national rank by death toll
- 36.4
- point spread, age-adjusted
ICD-10 G30. Source: CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death (CDC NCHS / NVSS), 2017.
Alzheimer's disease accounted for 121,404 deaths across 51 US states in 2017. Age-adjusted rates range from 13.2 per 100,000 in New York to 49.6 in Mississippi - a 36.4-point spread that reflects regional differences in healthcare access, lifestyle factors, and public health infrastructure. ICD-10 code: G30. Source: CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death (CDC NCHS / NVSS).
Nationally, alzheimer's disease is the #6 leading cause of death - just behind stroke.
Top 5 States by Alzheimer's disease Rate
How alzheimer's disease mortality changed, 1999–2017
Between 1999 and 2017, US alzheimer's disease deaths rose +173% from 44,536 to 121,404, while the average state age-adjusted rate rose +83% (17.5→32.1/100K).
Average of all 51 state age-adjusted rates per year. Source: CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death (CDC NCHS / NVSS), 1999–2017.
The line tracks the average state age-adjusted rate (unweighted across states), not a single national rate.
How the 51 states are spread on alzheimer's disease
Mississippi (49.6) and New York (13.2) sit at the extremes; the marker shows where the national average (32.1/100K) falls in the distribution.
Alzheimer's disease age-adjusted rate distribution, 2017
All 51 states bucketed by rate, most cluster near the average, with a tail toward the high end
32.1 Lower than 45% lower than 45% of 51 states
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death (CDC NCHS / NVSS) · 2017
States with Lowest Alzheimer's disease Rates
The five states with the lowest age-adjusted death rates for alzheimer's disease in 2017.
All State Rankings - Alzheimer's disease (2017)
| # | State | Deaths | Age-Adjusted | vs Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | 1,626 | +55% | |
| 2 | Tennessee | 3,522 | +46% | |
| 3 | Washington | 3,710 | +43% | |
| 4 | Georgia | 4,290 | +43% | |
| 5 | Alabama | 2,563 | +41% | |
| 6 | South Carolina | 2,549 | +40% | |
| 7 | Louisiana | 2,188 | +36% | |
| 8 | Vermont | 370 | +34% | |
| 9 | Utah | 991 | +31% | |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 1,752 | +23% | |
| 11 | Arkansas | 1,436 | +23% | |
| 12 | Texas | 9,545 | +20% | |
| 13 | North Carolina | 4,289 | +16% | |
| 14 | California | 16,238 | +16% | |
| 15 | South Dakota | 444 | +15% | |
| 16 | Idaho | 672 | +14% | |
| 17 | North Dakota | 387 | +14% | |
| 18 | Oregon | 1,850 | +12% | |
| 19 | Iowa | 1,597 | +10% | |
| 20 | Indiana | 2,771 | +10% | |
| 21 | Arizona | 3,058 | +9% | |
| 22 | Kentucky | 1,765 | +9% | |
| 23 | Minnesota | 2,474 | +9% | |
| 24 | Michigan | 4,428 | +8% | |
| 25 | Colorado | 1,830 | +7% | |
| 26 | Ohio | 5,117 | +5% | |
| 27 | Wyoming | 212 | +2% | |
| 28 | Missouri | 2,545 | +1% | |
| 29 | Wisconsin | 2,428 | -1% | |
| 30 | West Virginia | 770 | -5% | |
| 31 | Delaware | 377 | -5% | |
| 32 | Maine | 601 | -5% | |
| 33 | Nebraska | 698 | -11% | |
| 34 | Virginia | 2,549 | -14% | |
| 35 | Rhode Island | 435 | -15% | |
| 36 | Nevada | 779 | -15% | |
| 37 | Illinois | 4,021 | -20% | |
| 38 | New Hampshire | 436 | -23% | |
| 39 | Kansas | 894 | -24% | |
| 40 | New Jersey | 2,829 | -26% | |
| 41 | New Mexico | 572 | -29% | |
| 42 | Alaska | 98 | -31% | |
| 43 | Pennsylvania | 4,213 | -32% | |
| 44 | Montana | 285 | -35% | |
| 45 | Florida | 6,980 | -35% | |
| 46 | Connecticut | 1,077 | -36% | |
| 47 | Massachusetts | 1,841 | -38% | |
| 48 | Hawaii | 465 | -39% | |
| 49 | District of Columbia | 125 | -45% | |
| 50 | Maryland | 1,191 | -47% | |
| 51 | New York | 3,521 | -59% |
How do alzheimer's disease death rates vary across states?
Alzheimer's disease mortality data from the CDC WONDER database tracks deaths classified under ICD-10 code G30 across all US states and territories. In 2017, this cause accounted for 121,404 deaths nationally.
The 36.4-point spread between the highest-rate state (Mississippi, 49.6/100K) and the lowest (New York, 13.2/100K) reflects significant geographic variation. Age-adjusted rates use the year 2000 US standard population, enabling fair comparison between states with different demographic profiles. States above the national average of 32.1 per 100,000 may face higher risk factors related to healthcare access, environmental conditions, or socioeconomic disparities.
What the 2017 Alzheimer's disease Record Shows
In 2017, CDC WONDER classified 121,404 deaths under ICD-10 code G30 (Alzheimer's disease) across 51 US states and territories, with age-adjusted rates ranging from 13.2 per 100,000 in New York to 49.6 per 100,000 in Mississippi - a 36.4-point spread. The national average settled at 32.1 per 100,000 with a median of 33.6, and the 3.8x gap between extremes reflects how alzheimer's disease mortality concentrates geographically rather than distributing evenly across the population.
The top-rate cluster, led by Mississippi, Tennessee, Washington - typically shares a recognizable pattern: higher prevalence of upstream risk factors, limited preventive-care infrastructure in rural areas, and uneven specialist access. The bottom-rate cluster - New York, Maryland, District of Columbia - tends to combine broader insurance coverage, stronger primary-care networks, and earlier detection pathways. Because rates are age-adjusted to the year 2000 US standard population, the gap is not an artifact of older populations in higher-rate states, it reflects real differences in underlying exposure, healthcare delivery, and socioeconomic conditions that persist across the 19-year CDC WONDER record (1999–2017).
For researchers, public-health planners, and individual readers, the practical read of the 2017 Alzheimer's disease record is comparative: states above the 32.1 national average face elevated mortality burden relative to the country overall, while those below it show better outcomes on this specific cause, though a single-cause ranking does not capture a state's total health picture. These figures describe population-level mortality rates from a specific ICD-10 classification and are not a substitute for medical advice; individual risk depends on personal health history, behaviors, and access to care. Consult a qualified healthcare professional about diagnosis, treatment, or prevention decisions. Data source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, CDC WONDER Underlying Cause of Death (ICD-10 code G30).
Related Causes & Comparisons
Related causes of death frequently reviewed alongside alzheimer's disease. Use the side-by-side comparison to see how rates, trends, and state rankings differ between causes.
Heart disease
647,457 deaths nationally · avg rate 166.0/100K
Cancer
599,108 deaths nationally · avg rate 155.0/100K
Unintentional injuries
169,936 deaths nationally · avg rate 54.0/100K
CLRD
160,201 deaths nationally · avg rate 43.8/100K
Stroke
146,383 deaths nationally · avg rate 37.4/100K
Compare Alzheimer's disease vs Heart disease →
All figures sourced from CDC NCHS via CDC WONDER Underlying Cause of Death (ICD-10). See the methodology page for file-by-file provenance.
Explore alzheimer's disease further
Look up alzheimer's disease by state, compare states, or see how it fits the national picture.
Rank every state
Use the lookup tool to rank all 50 states and DC on alzheimer's disease rates.
Open lookup →Compare states
Put up to four states side by side on alzheimer's disease deaths and rates.
Compare states →All leading causes
Browse all 10 CDC NCHS leading causes of death and how they rank nationally.
All causes →National trends
See how alzheimer's disease and the other leading causes changed, 1999-2017.
See trends →Related Guides
Leading Causes of Death in America
How the 10 leading causes rank, and what drives differences between states
Understanding Mortality Data
What CDC mortality statistics measure and how to interpret age-adjusted death rates
Regional Health Disparities
Why mortality rates vary dramatically by region and the drivers behind these gaps
Frequently Asked Questions
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What the alzheimer's disease data shows
Mississippi carries the heaviest alzheimer's disease burden - 3.8× the age-adjusted rate of New York. Read the geography and the age adjustment together before drawing conclusions.
- Mississippi leads at 49.6/100K; see every state ranked by mortality rate. State rankings
- See how Alzheimer's disease stacks up against Heart disease. Compare causes
- Heart disease is another leading cause worth examining alongside this one. View Heart disease
Age-adjusted rates use the 2000 U.S. standard population for fair cross-state comparison; figures are population statistics, not individual risk.
Rates are per 100,000 population. Age-adjusted rates use the year 2000 US standard population. ICD-10 code: G30. Data covers 1999–2017. Source: CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death (CDC NCHS / NVSS).
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the CDC WONDER database. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.