State mortality · CDC NCHS 2017

Maine - Mortality Statistics

10,774 deaths in 2017 across 10 tracked causes, at a state average age-adjusted rate of 56.6 per 100,000.

Compiled by PlainHealth Editorial, Causes of Death Editorial Team

Data updated 2026-05-19

10,774
Deaths, 2017: Cancer
Leading cause: +2%
vs national avg: 56.6
Avg age-adj /100K

The verdict

Maine's leading killer is cancer at 170.8 per 100K (age-adjusted); the state's average age-adjusted rate across tracked causes runs 2% above the national figure.

170.8
Cancer /100K, leading: +2%
vs national avg rate: -19.5%
rate, 1999–2017: 10,774
total deaths, 2017

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

Where Maine sits among all 51 states

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

56.6 Lower than 33% lower than 33% 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

Maine recorded 10,774 deaths in 2017 across 10 tracked causes (CDC WONDER · methodology). Total annual deaths rose from 9,971 in 1999 to 10,774 in 2017 (8.1%) - a modest trend over 18 years.

Key Statistics

State avg age-adjusted rate

56.6 /100K

national avg 55.5

Leading Cause

Cancer

3,391 deaths

Top 5 Causes of Death

The five leading causes account for 8,943 deaths (83.0% of all deaths) in Maine.

1. Cancer 3,391 (31.5%)

2. Heart disease 2,844 (26.4%)

3. Unintentional injuries 990 (9.2%)

4. CLRD 982 (9.1%)

5. Stroke 736 (6.8%)

All Causes of Death in Maine (2017)

#	Cause of death	Deaths	% of total	Age-adj /100K
1	Cancer	3,391	31.5%	170.8
2	Heart disease	2,844	26.4%	143.5
3	Unintentional injuries	990	9.2%	68.0
4	CLRD	982	9.1%	48.7
5	Stroke	736	6.8%	37.5
6	Alzheimer's disease	601	5.6%	30.4
7	Diabetes	395	3.7%	19.8
8	Influenza and pneumonia	301	2.8%	15.2
9	Suicide	274	2.5%	18.9
10	Kidney disease	260	2.4%	13.0

Mortality Trends Over Time

Maine - 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	9,971	70.3	-
2000	9,966	69.2	-0.1%
2001	9,936	67.7	-0.3%
2002	10,133	68.0	+2.0%
2003	9,920	65.5	-2.1%
2004	9,756	63.6	-1.7%
2005	9,899	63.5	+1.5%
2006	9,428	59.3	-4.8%
2007	9,461	58.4	+0.4%
2008	9,472	57.2	+0.1%
2009	9,413	56.2	-0.6%
2010	9,397	55.0	-0.2%
2011	9,523	54.9	+1.3%
2012	9,370	53.0	-1.6%
2013	9,729	54.0	+3.8%
2014	9,748	53.1	+0.2%
2015	10,580	57.1	+8.5%
2016	10,418	55.6	-1.5%
2017	10,774	56.6	+3.4%

National Comparison

How Maine compares to the national average in 2017.

Maine Total Deaths

10,774

Maine Avg Rate

56.6

per 100,000 (age-adjusted)

National Avg Rate

55.5

State is above national average

Out of 51 states, Maine places #9 for Cancer mortality, with an age-adjusted rate of 170.8 per 100,000.

Nearby States & Comparisons

Compare mortality data with states bordering Maine (2017).

State	Deaths (Top Cause)	Leading Cause	Age-Adj Rate
Maine (this state)	3,391	Cancer	170.8
New Hampshire	2,760	Cancer	153.5

Compare leading causes of death in Maine →

Dig deeper into Maine's mortality data

All causes in Maine → Compare Maine →

What the 2017 Maine Mortality Record Shows

10,774 deaths were recorded in Maine for 2017 across 10 CDC WONDER categories. Leading the record is Cancer, with 3,391 deaths at 170.8 per 100,000 (age-adjusted) -- nationally Maine sits at #9 of 51 states for this cause, where a higher rank corresponds to a higher rate. The top five causes together represent 83.0% of the state's total (8,943 deaths).

Maine's average age-adjusted rate across all tracked causes was 56.6 per 100,000 - 2% above the national average of 55.5. A modest gap above the national rate is common and not necessarily alarming on its own, but it's worth pairing with the trend below to see whether the state is closing the gap or widening it. Over the 1999–2017 window, total deaths increased by 8.1%, and the state-wide average age-adjusted rate declined by 19.5%.

How to read this record & data notes

For planners, clinicians, and individual readers, the practical read of the 2017 Maine 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 Maine? ▼

Cancer tops the 2017 record for Maine, accounting for 3,391 deaths at 170.8 per 100,000 (age-adjusted).

How many people died in Maine in 2017? ▼

In 2017, there were 10,774 recorded deaths in Maine across 10 tracked causes of death.

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

The top 3 causes of death in Maine (2017) are: 1) Cancer (3,391 deaths), 2) Heart disease (2,844 deaths), and 3) Unintentional injuries (990 deaths).

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

Maine's average age-adjusted mortality rate is 56.6 per 100,000, which is above the national average of 55.5 per 100,000.

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

From 1999 to 2017, total deaths in Maine changed by 8.1%. The average age-adjusted rate decreased by 19.5%.

What years of mortality data are available for Maine? ▼

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

Where does Maine rank nationally for Cancer? ▼

Out of 51 states tracked for Cancer, Maine sits at #9, with an age-adjusted rate of 170.8 per 100,000 -- higher rank means a higher mortality rate.

What the Maine record means

Maine's average age-adjusted rate runs 2% above the national figure, read the leading cause, the spread, and the trend together, not any single number.

Cancer is the leading cause at 170.8/100K, see how every state compares. Cancer by state
Put Maine side by side with another state before drawing conclusions. Compare states
The state-wide rate fell 19.5% 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.