State mortality · CDC NCHS 2017
Kentucky - Mortality Statistics
35,247 deaths in 2017 across 10 tracked causes, at a state average age-adjusted rate of 67.6 per 100,000.
Data updated 2026-05-19
- 35,247
- Deaths, 2017
- Heart disease
- Leading cause
- +22%
- vs national avg
- 67.6
- Avg age-adj /100K
The verdict
Kentucky's leading killer is heart disease at 195.9 per 100K (age-adjusted); the state's average age-adjusted rate across tracked causes runs 22% above the national figure.
- 195.9
- Heart disease /100K, leading
- +22%
- vs national avg rate
- -17.4%
- rate, 1999–2017
- 35,247
- total deaths, 2017
Source: CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death (CDC NCHS / NVSS), 2017. Age-adjusted rates allow fair comparison across states.
Where Kentucky sits among all 51 states
Average age-adjusted death rate across the leading causes, 2017
67.6 Lower than 8% lower than 8% 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
Kentucky recorded 35,247 deaths in 2017 across 10 tracked causes (CDC WONDER · methodology). Total annual deaths rose from 32,004 in 1999 to 35,247 in 2017 (10.1%) - a modest trend over 18 years.
Key Statistics
Top 5 Causes of Death
The five leading causes account for 29,282 deaths (83.1% of all deaths) in Kentucky.
All Causes of Death in Kentucky (2017)
| # | Cause of death | Deaths | % of total | Age-adj /100K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heart disease | 10,343 | 29.3% | 195.9 |
| 2 | Cancer | 10,145 | 28.8% | 185.7 |
| 3 | CLRD | 3,480 | 9.9% | 64.5 |
| 4 | Unintentional injuries | 3,264 | 9.3% | 72.9 |
| 5 | Stroke | 2,050 | 5.8% | 39.4 |
| 6 | Alzheimer's disease | 1,765 | 5.0% | 35.0 |
| 7 | Diabetes | 1,474 | 4.2% | 27.7 |
| 8 | Kidney disease | 1,024 | 2.9% | 19.4 |
| 9 | Influenza and pneumonia | 932 | 2.6% | 18.1 |
| 10 | Suicide | 770 | 2.2% | 16.9 |
Mortality Trends Over Time
Show the full 19-year data table (deaths, rate, year-over-year change)
| Year | Total Deaths | Avg Age-Adj Rate | Deaths YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 32,004 | 81.7 | - |
| 2000 | 32,174 | 81.3 | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 32,459 | 81.1 | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 33,046 | 81.9 | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 32,606 | 79.8 | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 31,017 | 74.9 | -4.9% |
| 2005 | 32,271 | 76.4 | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 31,562 | 73.1 | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 31,582 | 71.9 | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 32,185 | 71.9 | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 31,922 | 70.1 | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 32,324 | 70.2 | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 32,664 | 69.5 | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 33,248 | 69.4 | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 33,006 | 67.5 | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 33,572 | 67.5 | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 34,625 | 68.4 | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 35,504 | 69.2 | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 35,247 | 67.5 | -0.7% |
National Comparison
How Kentucky compares to the national average in 2017.
Ranked against every other state on Heart disease, Kentucky lands at #9 out of 51 (age-adjusted rate 195.9 per 100,000) -- higher ranks reflect higher mortality.
Nearby States & Comparisons
Compare mortality data with states bordering Kentucky (2017).
| State | Deaths (Top Cause) | Leading Cause | Age-Adj Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky (this state) | 10,343 | Heart disease | 195.9 |
| Illinois | 25,394 | Heart disease | 163.3 |
| Indiana | 14,445 | Heart disease | 183.2 |
| Missouri | 14,820 | Heart disease | 191.1 |
| Ohio | 28,008 | Heart disease | 186.2 |
| Tennessee | 16,019 | Heart disease | 202.2 |
| Virginia | 15,064 | Cancer | 152.6 |
| West Virginia | 4,849 | Heart disease | 192.0 |
Dig deeper into Kentucky's mortality data
What the 2017 Kentucky Mortality Record Shows
CDC WONDER's 2017 file shows 35,247 deaths across 10 tracked categories for Kentucky, with Heart disease topping the list at 10,343 deaths and an age-adjusted rate of 195.9 per 100,000 -- ranking the state at #9 of 51 states for this cause, where a higher rank corresponds to a higher rate. The five leading causes combined account for 83.1% of the total (29,282 deaths).
Kentucky's average age-adjusted rate across all tracked causes was 67.6 per 100,000 - 22% above the national average of 55.5. Few states post a gap this large above the national rate by chance -- it usually reflects a combination of higher chronic-disease prevalence, weaker healthcare access, and regional socioeconomic pressure working together. Over the 1999–2017 window, total deaths increased by 10.1%, and the state-wide average age-adjusted rate declined by 17.4%.
How to read this record & data notes
For planners, clinicians, and individual readers, the practical read of the 2017 Kentucky 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 Kentucky? ▼
How many people died in Kentucky in 2017? ▼
What are the top 3 causes of death in Kentucky? ▼
How does Kentucky's mortality rate compare to the national average? ▼
Has the death rate in Kentucky increased or decreased over time? ▼
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Where does Kentucky rank nationally for Heart disease? ▼
What the Kentucky record means
Kentucky's average age-adjusted rate runs 22% above the national figure, read the leading cause, the spread, and the trend together, not any single number.
- Heart disease is the leading cause at 195.9/100K, see how every state compares. Heart disease by state
- Put Kentucky side by side with another state before drawing conclusions. Compare states
- The state-wide rate fell 17.4% 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.