State mortality · CDC NCHS 2017

Delaware - Mortality Statistics

6,902 deaths in 2017 across 10 tracked causes, at a state average age-adjusted rate of 56.0 per 100,000.

Compiled by PlainHealth Editorial, Causes of Death Editorial Team

Data updated 2026-05-19

6,902
Deaths, 2017: Cancer
Leading cause: +1%
vs national avg: 56.0
Avg age-adj /100K

The verdict

Delaware's leading killer is cancer at 160.4 per 100K (age-adjusted); the state's average age-adjusted rate across tracked causes runs 1% above the national figure.

160.4
Cancer /100K, leading: +1%
vs national avg rate: -20.5%
rate, 1999–2017: 6,902
total deaths, 2017

Source: CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death (CDC NCHS / NVSS), 2017. Age-adjusted rates allow fair comparison across states.

Where Delaware sits among all 51 states

Average age-adjusted death rate across the leading causes, 2017

56.0 Lower than 35% lower than 35% 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

Delaware recorded 6,902 deaths in 2017 across 10 tracked causes (CDC WONDER · methodology). Total annual deaths rose from 5,334 in 1999 to 6,902 in 2017 (29.4%) - a meaningful change over 18 years.

Key Statistics

State avg age-adjusted rate

56.0 /100K

national avg 55.5

Leading Cause

Cancer

2,085 deaths

Top 5 Causes of Death

The five leading causes account for 5,780 deaths (83.7% of all deaths) in Delaware.

1. Cancer 2,085 (30.2%)

2. Heart disease 1,990 (28.8%)

3. Unintentional injuries 608 (8.8%)

4. Stroke 571 (8.3%)

5. CLRD 526 (7.6%)

All Causes of Death in Delaware (2017)

#	Cause of death	Deaths	% of total	Age-adj /100K
1	Cancer	2,085	30.2%	160.4
2	Heart disease	1,990	28.8%	158.4
3	Unintentional injuries	608	8.8%	61.9
4	Stroke	571	8.3%	46.2
5	CLRD	526	7.6%	40.8
6	Alzheimer's disease	377	5.5%	30.6
7	Diabetes	244	3.5%	19.1
8	Kidney disease	205	3.0%	16.1
9	Influenza and pneumonia	184	2.7%	14.9
10	Suicide	112	1.6%	11.6

Mortality Trends Over Time

Delaware - average age-adjusted death rate across all leading causes.

Show the full 19-year data table (deaths, rate, year-over-year change)

Year	Total Deaths	Avg Age-Adj Rate	Deaths YoY
1999	5,334	70.4	-
2000	5,378	70.0	+0.8%
2001	5,548	70.4	+3.2%
2002	5,288	65.4	-4.7%
2003	5,516	66.4	+4.3%
2004	5,562	65.1	+0.8%
2005	5,704	64.8	+2.6%
2006	5,464	60.0	-4.2%
2007	5,628	60.1	+3.0%
2008	5,732	59.4	+1.8%
2009	5,569	56.4	-2.8%
2010	5,703	56.7	+2.4%
2011	5,745	55.6	+0.7%
2012	5,762	54.2	+0.3%
2013	5,929	53.8	+2.9%
2014	6,084	53.7	+2.6%
2015	6,339	54.3	+4.2%
2016	6,655	55.5	+5.0%
2017	6,902	56.0	+3.7%

National Comparison

How Delaware compares to the national average in 2017.

Delaware Total Deaths

6,902

Delaware Avg Rate

56.0

per 100,000 (age-adjusted)

National Avg Rate

55.5

State is above national average

Among 51 states tracked for Cancer, Delaware sits at #17, with an age-adjusted rate of 160.4 per 100,000 -- a higher position on this list means a higher rate.

Nearby States & Comparisons

Compare mortality data with states bordering Delaware (2017).

State	Deaths (Top Cause)	Leading Cause	Age-Adj Rate
Delaware (this state)	2,085	Cancer	160.4
Maryland	11,653	Heart disease	164.5
New Jersey	18,840	Heart disease	162.3
Pennsylvania	32,312	Heart disease	176.0

Compare leading causes of death in Delaware →

Dig deeper into Delaware's mortality data

All causes in Delaware → Compare Delaware →

What the 2017 Delaware Mortality Record Shows

Across 10 tracked cause-of-death categories, CDC WONDER logged 6,902 deaths in Delaware during 2017. Cancer led with 2,085 deaths (160.4 per 100,000, age-adjusted), putting the state at #17 of 51 states for this cause, where a higher rank corresponds to a higher rate nationally. The five biggest causes account for 5,780 deaths, or 83.7% of the state total.

Delaware's average age-adjusted rate across all tracked causes was 56.0 per 100,000 - 1% above the national average of 55.5. Running above the national figure, even modestly, is worth tracking over time -- small persistent gaps often trace back to the same access and chronic-disease factors that drive larger ones. Over the 1999–2017 window, total deaths increased by 29.4%, and the state-wide average age-adjusted rate declined by 20.5%.

How to read this record & data notes

For planners, clinicians, and individual readers, the practical read of the 2017 Delaware record is layered: the state-wide average frames overall burden, the top-causes ranking identifies where the mortality load concentrates, and the multi-year trend indicates whether conditions are improving or worsening. Because age-adjusted rates use the year 2000 US standard population, differences between states and across years are not driven by demographic aging alone, they reflect real variation in exposure, prevention, and care delivery. These figures describe population-level mortality statistics 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, covering 1999–2017.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the leading cause of death in Delaware? ▼

Of the 10 tracked categories, Cancer claimed the most lives in Delaware during 2017: 2,085 deaths, 160.4 per 100,000 age-adjusted.

How many people died in Delaware in 2017? ▼

In 2017, there were 6,902 recorded deaths in Delaware across 10 tracked causes of death.

What are the top 3 causes of death in Delaware? ▼

The top 3 causes of death in Delaware (2017) are: 1) Cancer (2,085 deaths), 2) Heart disease (1,990 deaths), and 3) Unintentional injuries (608 deaths).

How does Delaware's mortality rate compare to the national average? ▼

Delaware's average age-adjusted mortality rate is 56.0 per 100,000, which is above the national average of 55.5 per 100,000.

Has the death rate in Delaware increased or decreased over time? ▼

From 1999 to 2017, total deaths in Delaware changed by 29.4%. The average age-adjusted rate decreased by 20.5%.

What years of mortality data are available for Delaware? ▼

Mortality data for Delaware is available from 1999 to 2017, covering 19 years of CDC WONDER data.

Where does Delaware rank nationally for Cancer? ▼

Delaware places #17 nationally (out of 51 states) for Cancer, with an age-adjusted mortality rate of 160.4 per 100,000.

What the Delaware record means

Delaware's average age-adjusted rate runs 1% above the national figure, read the leading cause, the spread, and the trend together, not any single number.

Cancer is the leading cause at 160.4/100K, see how every state compares. Cancer by state
Put Delaware side by side with another state before drawing conclusions. Compare states
The state-wide rate fell 20.5% from 1999 to 2017 - trends matter more than a single year. Mortality trends

Rates are age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population; the state average summarizes the leading causes, not all-cause mortality. Population statistics, not personal risk.

Data source & methodology

Rates are per 100,000 population. Age-adjusted rates use the year 2000 US standard population. Data covers 1999–2017. Source: CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death (CDC NCHS / NVSS).

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.