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State mortality · CDC NCHS 2017

New Hampshire - Mortality Statistics

9,097 deaths in 2017 across 10 tracked causes, at a state average age-adjusted rate of 52.3 per 100,000.

Data updated 2026-05-19

9,097
Deaths, 2017
Cancer
Leading cause
−6%
vs national avg
52.3
Avg age-adj /100K

The verdict

New Hampshire's leading killer is cancer at 153.5 per 100K (age-adjusted); the state's average age-adjusted rate across tracked causes runs 6% below the national figure.

153.5
Cancer /100K, leading
−6%
vs national avg rate
-20.8%
rate, 1999–2017
9,097
total deaths, 2017

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

Where New Hampshire sits among all 51 states

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

52.3 Lower than 61% lower than 61% of 51 states

44.0–48.0: 7 states (14%). Below this entry. 48.0–52.0: 12 states (24%). Below this entry. 52.0–56.0: 13 states (25%). This entry sits in this band. 56.0–60.0: 7 states (14%). Above this entry. 60.0–64.0: 4 states (8%). Above this entry. 64.0–68.0: 4 states (8%). Above this entry. 68.0–72.0: 3 states (6%). Above this entry. 72.0–76.0: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. NH 44.0 76.0 every US state, bucketed by value

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

New Hampshire recorded 9,097 deaths in 2017 across 10 tracked causes (CDC WONDER · methodology). Total annual deaths rose from 7,726 in 1999 to 9,097 in 2017 (17.7%) - a meaningful change over 18 years.

Key Statistics

State avg age-adjusted rate
52.3 /100K
national avg 55.5
Leading Cause
Cancer
2,760 deaths

Top 5 Causes of Death

The five leading causes account for 7,657 deaths (84.2% of all deaths) in New Hampshire.

1. Cancer 2,760 (30.3%)
2. Heart disease 2,721 (29.9%)
4. CLRD 755 (8.3%)
5. Stroke 514 (5.7%)

All Causes of Death in New Hampshire (2017)

# Cause of death Deaths% of totalAge-adj /100K
1 Cancer 2,760 30.3% 153.5
2 Heart disease 2,721 29.9% 149.7
3 Unintentional injuries 907 10.0% 62.9
4 CLRD 755 8.3% 43.0
5 Stroke 514 5.7% 28.9
6 Alzheimer's disease 436 4.8% 24.8
7 Diabetes 340 3.7% 19.2
8 Suicide 265 2.9% 18.9
9 Influenza and pneumonia 230 2.5% 13.1
10 Kidney disease 169 1.9% 9.4
455055606570 1999200220052008201120142017 52.3
New Hampshire - 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 7,726 66.0 -
2000 7,860 66.1 +1.7%
2001 7,971 65.7 +1.4%
2002 7,998 64.6 +0.3%
2003 7,780 61.5 -2.7%
2004 8,035 61.8 +3.3%
2005 7,977 59.9 -0.7%
2006 7,783 56.7 -2.4%
2007 7,959 56.6 +2.3%
2008 7,899 55.0 -0.8%
2009 7,631 52.1 -3.4%
2010 7,666 51.7 +0.5%
2011 8,031 52.5 +4.8%
2012 7,922 50.6 -1.4%
2013 7,993 49.7 +0.9%
2014 8,336 51.0 +4.3%
2015 8,758 52.5 +5.1%
2016 8,958 53.0 +2.3%
2017 9,097 52.3 +1.6%

National Comparison

How New Hampshire compares to the national average in 2017.

New Hampshire Total Deaths
9,097
New Hampshire Avg Rate
52.3
per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
National Avg Rate
55.5
State is below national average

Ranked against every other state on Cancer, New Hampshire lands at #27 out of 51 (age-adjusted rate 153.5 per 100,000) -- higher ranks reflect higher mortality.

Nearby States & Comparisons

Compare mortality data with states bordering New Hampshire (2017).

State Deaths (Top Cause) Leading Cause Age-Adj Rate
New Hampshire (this state) 2,760 Cancer 153.5
Maine 3,391 Cancer 170.8
Massachusetts 12,934 Cancer 149.3
Vermont 1,434 Cancer 164.5

Compare leading causes of death in New Hampshire →

What the 2017 New Hampshire Mortality Record Shows

New Hampshire recorded 9,097 total deaths in 2017 across 10 CDC WONDER cause-of-death categories. The single largest contributor was Cancer (2,760 deaths, 153.5 per 100,000 age-adjusted) -- nationally, that puts the state at #27 of 51 states for this cause, where a higher rank corresponds to a higher rate. Together, the top five causes made up 84.2% of all deaths recorded (7,657).

New Hampshire's average age-adjusted rate across all tracked causes was 52.3 per 100,000 - 6% below the national average of 55.5. A rate below the national average is a positive aggregate sign, though it summarizes every tracked cause into one number, so it's worth scanning the individual causes for outliers. Over the 1999–2017 window, total deaths increased by 17.7%, and the state-wide average age-adjusted rate declined by 20.8%.

How to read this record & data notes

For planners, clinicians, and individual readers, the practical read of the 2017 New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire?
New Hampshire recorded 2,760 deaths from Cancer in 2017 (age-adjusted rate 153.5 per 100,000), the state's leading cause.
How many people died in New Hampshire in 2017?
In 2017, there were 9,097 recorded deaths in New Hampshire across 10 tracked causes of death.
What are the top 3 causes of death in New Hampshire?
The top 3 causes of death in New Hampshire (2017) are: 1) Cancer (2,760 deaths), 2) Heart disease (2,721 deaths), and 3) Unintentional injuries (907 deaths).
How does New Hampshire's mortality rate compare to the national average?
New Hampshire's average age-adjusted mortality rate is 52.3 per 100,000, which is below the national average of 55.5 per 100,000.
Has the death rate in New Hampshire increased or decreased over time?
From 1999 to 2017, total deaths in New Hampshire changed by 17.7%. The average age-adjusted rate decreased by 20.8%.
What years of mortality data are available for New Hampshire?
Mortality data for New Hampshire is available from 1999 to 2017, covering 19 years of CDC WONDER data.
Where does New Hampshire rank nationally for Cancer?
For Cancer, New Hampshire's national position is #27 of 51 states, at 153.5 deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted).

What the New Hampshire record means

New Hampshire's average age-adjusted rate runs 6% below the national figure, read the leading cause, the spread, and the trend together, not any single number.

  • Cancer is the leading cause at 153.5/100K, see how every state compares. Cancer by state
  • Put New Hampshire side by side with another state before drawing conclusions. Compare states
  • The state-wide rate fell 20.8% 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).

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.