State mortality · CDC NCHS 2017
North Carolina - Mortality Statistics
67,734 deaths in 2017 across 10 tracked causes, at a state average age-adjusted rate of 56.8 per 100,000.
Data updated 2026-05-19
- 67,734
- Deaths, 2017
- Cancer
- Leading cause
- +2%
- vs national avg
- 56.8
- Avg age-adj /100K
The verdict
North Carolina's leading killer is cancer at 157.1 per 100K (age-adjusted); the state's average age-adjusted rate across tracked causes runs 2% above the national figure.
- 157.1
- Cancer /100K, leading
- +2%
- vs national avg rate
- -22.9%
- rate, 1999–2017
- 67,734
- total deaths, 2017
Source: CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death (CDC NCHS / NVSS), 2017. Age-adjusted rates allow fair comparison across states.
Where North Carolina sits among all 51 states
Average age-adjusted death rate across the leading causes, 2017
56.8 Lower than 31% lower than 31% 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
North Carolina recorded 67,734 deaths in 2017 across 10 tracked causes (CDC WONDER · methodology). Total annual deaths rose from 54,932 in 1999 to 67,734 in 2017 (23.3%) - a meaningful change over 18 years.
Key Statistics
Top 5 Causes of Death
The five leading causes account for 54,905 deaths (81.1% of all deaths) in North Carolina.
All Causes of Death in North Carolina (2017)
| # | Cause of death | Deaths | % of total | Age-adj /100K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cancer | 19,474 | 28.8% | 157.1 |
| 2 | Heart disease | 18,808 | 27.8% | 156.5 |
| 3 | Unintentional injuries | 5,985 | 8.8% | 56.3 |
| 4 | CLRD | 5,540 | 8.2% | 45.3 |
| 5 | Stroke | 5,098 | 7.5% | 43.0 |
| 6 | Alzheimer's disease | 4,289 | 6.3% | 37.3 |
| 7 | Diabetes | 2,903 | 4.3% | 23.6 |
| 8 | Influenza and pneumonia | 2,076 | 3.1% | 17.5 |
| 9 | Kidney disease | 2,040 | 3.0% | 17.1 |
| 10 | Suicide | 1,521 | 2.2% | 14.3 |
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 | 54,932 | 73.7 | - |
| 2000 | 56,522 | 74.9 | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 55,286 | 71.5 | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 55,855 | 70.8 | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 56,609 | 70.0 | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 55,307 | 66.9 | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 56,700 | 66.8 | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 56,305 | 63.9 | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 57,084 | 62.8 | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 57,732 | 61.7 | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 57,137 | 59.4 | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 57,777 | 58.8 | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 58,234 | 57.4 | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 59,388 | 56.7 | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 60,502 | 56.1 | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 62,166 | 56.1 | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 64,932 | 57.2 | +4.4% |
| 2016 | 65,751 | 56.5 | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 67,734 | 56.8 | +3.0% |
National Comparison
How North Carolina compares to the national average in 2017.
For Cancer, North Carolina ranks #21 out of 51 states (age-adjusted rate: 157.1 per 100,000). A higher rank indicates a higher mortality rate.
Nearby States & Comparisons
Compare mortality data with states bordering North Carolina (2017).
| State | Deaths (Top Cause) | Leading Cause | Age-Adj Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina (this state) | 19,474 | Cancer | 157.1 |
| Georgia | 18,389 | Heart disease | 175.8 |
| South Carolina | 10,418 | Heart disease | 172.0 |
| Tennessee | 16,019 | Heart disease | 202.2 |
| Virginia | 15,064 | Cancer | 152.6 |
Dig deeper into North Carolina's mortality data
What the 2017 North Carolina Mortality Record Shows
CDC WONDER's 2017 file shows 67,734 deaths across 10 tracked categories for North Carolina, with Cancer topping the list at 19,474 deaths and an age-adjusted rate of 157.1 per 100,000 -- ranking the state at #21 of 51 states for this cause, where a higher rank corresponds to a higher rate. The five leading causes combined account for 81.1% of the total (54,905 deaths).
North Carolina's average age-adjusted rate across all tracked causes was 56.8 per 100,000 - 2% 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 23.3%, and the state-wide average age-adjusted rate declined by 22.9%.
How to read this record & data notes
For planners, clinicians, and individual readers, the practical read of the 2017 North Carolina 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 North Carolina? ▼
How many people died in North Carolina in 2017? ▼
What are the top 3 causes of death in North Carolina? ▼
How does North Carolina's mortality rate compare to the national average? ▼
Has the death rate in North Carolina increased or decreased over time? ▼
What years of mortality data are available for North Carolina? ▼
Where does North Carolina rank nationally for Cancer? ▼
What the North Carolina record means
North Carolina'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 157.1/100K, see how every state compares. Cancer by state
- Put North Carolina side by side with another state before drawing conclusions. Compare states
- The state-wide rate fell 22.9% 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.