Cause of death · ICD-10 J09-J18 · 2017
Influenza and pneumonia - Death Rates by State
55,672 deaths in 2017 across 51 US states, with age-adjusted rates spanning 9.6–29.6 per 100,000.
Data updated 2026-05-19
- 55,672
- Deaths, 2017
- 14.9
- Avg age-adj /100K
- 14.0
- Median /100K
- 51
- States + DC
The verdict
Hawaii carries the nation's heaviest influenza and pneumonia burden at 29.6 per 100,000 - 3.1× the age-adjusted rate in Florida, the lowest.
- 29.6
- Hawaii - highest, well above average
- 9.6
- Florida - lowest, well below average
- #8 of 10
- national rank by death toll
- 20.0
- point spread, age-adjusted
ICD-10 J09-J18. Source: CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death (CDC NCHS / NVSS), 2017.
Influenza and pneumonia accounted for 55,672 deaths across 51 US states in 2017. Age-adjusted rates range from 9.6 per 100,000 in Florida to 29.6 in Hawaii - a 20.0-point spread that reflects regional differences in healthcare access, lifestyle factors, and public health infrastructure. ICD-10 code: J09-J18. Source: CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death (CDC NCHS / NVSS).
Nationally, influenza and pneumonia is the #8 leading cause of death - just behind diabetes.
States with Lowest Influenza and pneumonia Rates
Bottom 5The five states with the lowest age-adjusted death rates for influenza and pneumonia in 2017.
These 5 states average 9.9/100K, 34% below the 14.9/100K national average. Source: CDC WONDER, 2017
How influenza and pneumonia mortality changed, 1999–2017
Between 1999 and 2017, US influenza and pneumonia deaths fell −13% from 63,730 to 55,672, while the average state age-adjusted rate fell −39% (24.3→14.9/100K).
The line tracks the average state age-adjusted rate (unweighted across states), not a single national rate.
How the 51 states are spread on influenza and pneumonia
Hawaii (29.6) and Florida (9.6) sit at the extremes; the marker shows where the national average (14.9/100K) falls in the distribution.
Influenza and pneumonia age-adjusted rate distribution, 2017
All 51 states bucketed by rate, most cluster near the average, with a tail toward the high end
14.9 Lower than 57% lower than 57% 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
All State Rankings - Influenza and pneumonia (2017)
| # | State | Deaths | Age-Adjusted | vs Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | 637 | +99% | |
| 2 | Mississippi | 782 | +54% | |
| 3 | Tennessee | 1,656 | +43% | |
| 4 | Alabama | 1,176 | +36% | |
| 5 | Arkansas | 720 | +33% | |
| 6 | Nevada | 636 | +32% | |
| 7 | South Dakota | 217 | +28% | |
| 8 | West Virginia | 458 | +22% | |
| 9 | Kentucky | 932 | +21% | |
| 10 | New York | 4,517 | +19% | |
| 11 | Wyoming | 115 | +17% | |
| 12 | North Carolina | 2,076 | +17% | |
| 13 | Missouri | 1,281 | +12% | |
| 14 | Nebraska | 393 | +9% | |
| 15 | Massachusetts | 1,433 | +7% | |
| 16 | Illinois | 2,402 | +5% | |
| 17 | North Dakota | 147 | +3% | |
| 18 | Maine | 301 | +2% | |
| 19 | Louisiana | 785 | +1% | |
| 20 | Kansas | 546 | +1% | |
| 21 | Ohio | 2,243 | +0% | |
| 22 | Delaware | 184 | +0% | |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | 2,718 | -2% | |
| 24 | California | 6,340 | -2% | |
| 25 | Michigan | 1,798 | -5% | |
| 26 | Maryland | 990 | -6% | |
| 27 | Rhode Island | 206 | -7% | |
| 28 | Oklahoma | 625 | -7% | |
| 29 | Indiana | 1,078 | -7% | |
| 30 | Georgia | 1,400 | -7% | |
| 31 | Idaho | 255 | -8% | |
| 32 | New Mexico | 338 | -9% | |
| 33 | Utah | 334 | -11% | |
| 34 | Montana | 185 | -11% | |
| 35 | Iowa | 578 | -11% | |
| 36 | Virginia | 1,245 | -12% | |
| 37 | New Hampshire | 230 | -12% | |
| 38 | Connecticut | 675 | -12% | |
| 39 | Wisconsin | 974 | -13% | |
| 40 | Washington | 1,041 | -15% | |
| 41 | South Carolina | 723 | -17% | |
| 42 | New Jersey | 1,337 | -21% | |
| 43 | Alaska | 66 | -21% | |
| 44 | District of Columbia | 79 | -23% | |
| 45 | Texas | 2,954 | -25% | |
| 46 | Oregon | 573 | -25% | |
| 47 | Colorado | 577 | -32% | |
| 48 | Arizona | 876 | -32% | |
| 49 | Minnesota | 697 | -34% | |
| 50 | Vermont | 86 | -35% | |
| 51 | Florida | 3,057 | -36% |
How do influenza and pneumonia death rates vary across states?
Influenza and pneumonia mortality data from the CDC WONDER database tracks deaths classified under ICD-10 code J09-J18 across all US states and territories. In 2017, this cause accounted for 55,672 deaths nationally.
The 20.0-point spread between the highest-rate state (Hawaii, 29.6/100K) and the lowest (Florida, 9.6/100K) 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 14.9 per 100,000 may face higher risk factors related to healthcare access, environmental conditions, or socioeconomic disparities.
What the 2017 Influenza and pneumonia Record Shows
In 2017, CDC WONDER classified 55,672 deaths under ICD-10 code J09-J18 (Influenza and pneumonia) across 51 US states and territories, with age-adjusted rates ranging from 9.6 per 100,000 in Florida to 29.6 per 100,000 in Hawaii - a 20.0-point spread. The national average settled at 14.9 per 100,000 with a median of 14.0, and the 3.1x gap between extremes reflects how influenza and pneumonia mortality concentrates geographically rather than distributing evenly across the population.
The top-rate cluster, led by Hawaii, Mississippi, Tennessee - 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 - Florida, Vermont, Minnesota - 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 Influenza and pneumonia record is comparative: states above the 14.9 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 J09-J18).
Related Causes & Comparisons
Related causes of death frequently reviewed alongside influenza and pneumonia. 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 Influenza and pneumonia 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 influenza and pneumonia further
Look up influenza and pneumonia 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 influenza and pneumonia rates.
Open lookup →Compare states
Put up to four states side by side on influenza and pneumonia 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 influenza and pneumonia and the other leading causes changed, 1999-2017.
See trends →For background on reading influenza and pneumonia data correctly, see the full guides library.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people die from influenza and pneumonia each year in the US? ▼
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What is the age-adjusted death rate and why does it matter? ▼
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What the influenza and pneumonia data shows
Hawaii carries the heaviest influenza and pneumonia burden - 3.1× the age-adjusted rate of Florida. Read the geography and the age adjustment together before drawing conclusions.
- Hawaii leads at 29.6/100K; see every state ranked by mortality rate. State rankings
- See how Influenza and pneumonia 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: J09-J18. 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.
According to the CDC National Center for Health Statistics, PlainHealthData's mortality figures are rendered directly from 9,690 official state-year-cause records (NCHS Leading Causes of Death, 1999-2017, finalized data verified June 2026) -- no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-19.