State mortality · CDC NCHS 2017
New Jersey - Mortality Statistics
54,747 deaths in 2017 across 10 tracked causes, at a state average age-adjusted rate of 48.7 per 100,000.
Data updated 2026-05-19
- 54,747
- Deaths, 2017
- Heart disease
- Leading cause
- −12%
- vs national avg
- 48.7
- Avg age-adj /100K
The verdict
New Jersey's leading killer is heart disease at 162.3 per 100K (age-adjusted); the state's average age-adjusted rate across tracked causes runs 12% below the national figure.
- 162.3
- Heart disease /100K, leading
- −12%
- vs national avg rate
- -28.0%
- rate, 1999–2017
- 54,747
- total deaths, 2017
Source: CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death (CDC NCHS / NVSS), 2017. Age-adjusted rates allow fair comparison across states.
Where New Jersey sits among all 51 states
Average age-adjusted death rate across the leading causes, 2017
48.7 Lower than 84% lower than 84% 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
New Jersey recorded 54,747 deaths in 2017 across 10 tracked causes (CDC WONDER · methodology). Total annual deaths fell from 58,645 in 1999 to 54,747 in 2017 (-6.6%) - a modest trend over 18 years.
Key Statistics
Top 5 Causes of Death
The five leading causes account for 46,287 deaths (84.5% of all deaths) in New Jersey.
All Causes of Death in New Jersey (2017)
| # | Cause of death | Deaths | % of total | Age-adj /100K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heart disease | 18,840 | 34.4% | 162.3 |
| 2 | Cancer | 16,264 | 29.7% | 144.6 |
| 3 | Unintentional injuries | 4,482 | 8.2% | 47.3 |
| 4 | Stroke | 3,474 | 6.3% | 30.2 |
| 5 | CLRD | 3,227 | 5.9% | 28.6 |
| 6 | Alzheimer's disease | 2,829 | 5.2% | 23.6 |
| 7 | Diabetes | 1,908 | 3.5% | 16.9 |
| 8 | Kidney disease | 1,591 | 2.9% | 13.9 |
| 9 | Influenza and pneumonia | 1,337 | 2.4% | 11.7 |
| 10 | Suicide | 795 | 1.5% | 8.3 |
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 | 58,645 | 67.6 | - |
| 2000 | 59,253 | 67.5 | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 58,100 | 65.2 | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 58,079 | 64.4 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 57,474 | 62.9 | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 55,017 | 59.7 | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 55,274 | 59.2 | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 53,296 | 56.3 | -3.6% |
| 2007 | 52,616 | 54.8 | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 52,754 | 54.0 | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 50,298 | 50.6 | -4.7% |
| 2010 | 51,942 | 51.6 | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 51,916 | 50.8 | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 51,640 | 49.6 | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 51,872 | 49.1 | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 51,891 | 48.3 | 0.0% |
| 2015 | 52,716 | 48.5 | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 53,092 | 48.4 | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 54,747 | 48.7 | +3.1% |
National Comparison
How New Jersey compares to the national average in 2017.
Out of 51 states, New Jersey places #24 for Heart disease mortality, with an age-adjusted rate of 162.3 per 100,000.
Nearby States & Comparisons
Compare mortality data with states bordering New Jersey (2017).
| State | Deaths (Top Cause) | Leading Cause | Age-Adj Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey (this state) | 18,840 | Heart disease | 162.3 |
| Delaware | 2,085 | Cancer | 160.4 |
| New York | 44,092 | Heart disease | 171.2 |
| Pennsylvania | 32,312 | Heart disease | 176.0 |
Dig deeper into New Jersey's mortality data
What the 2017 New Jersey Mortality Record Shows
CDC WONDER's 2017 file shows 54,747 deaths across 10 tracked categories for New Jersey, with Heart disease topping the list at 18,840 deaths and an age-adjusted rate of 162.3 per 100,000 -- ranking the state at #24 of 51 states for this cause, where a higher rank corresponds to a higher rate. The five leading causes combined account for 84.5% of the total (46,287 deaths).
New Jersey's average age-adjusted rate across all tracked causes was 48.7 per 100,000 - 12% below the national average of 55.5. A below-national rate like this one is a favorable aggregate read, but aggregate numbers can hide a cause or two running above benchmark even while the overall picture looks good. Over the 1999–2017 window, total deaths decreased by 6.6%, and the state-wide average age-adjusted rate declined by 28.0%.
How to read this record & data notes
For planners, clinicians, and individual readers, the practical read of the 2017 New Jersey 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 Jersey? ▼
How many people died in New Jersey in 2017? ▼
What are the top 3 causes of death in New Jersey? ▼
How does New Jersey's mortality rate compare to the national average? ▼
Has the death rate in New Jersey increased or decreased over time? ▼
What years of mortality data are available for New Jersey? ▼
Where does New Jersey rank nationally for Heart disease? ▼
What the New Jersey record means
New Jersey's average age-adjusted rate runs 12% below the national figure, read the leading cause, the spread, and the trend together, not any single number.
- Heart disease is the leading cause at 162.3/100K, see how every state compares. Heart disease by state
- Put New Jersey side by side with another state before drawing conclusions. Compare states
- The state-wide rate fell 28.0% 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.