State mortality · CDC NCHS 2017

Oregon - Mortality Statistics

26,123 deaths in 2017 across 10 tracked causes, at a state average age-adjusted rate of 51.0 per 100,000.

Compiled by PlainHealth Editorial, Causes of Death Editorial Team

Data updated 2026-05-19

26,123
Deaths, 2017: Cancer
Leading cause: −8%
vs national avg: 51.0
Avg age-adj /100K

The verdict

Oregon's leading killer is cancer at 154.2 per 100K (age-adjusted); the state's average age-adjusted rate across tracked causes runs 8% below the national figure.

154.2
Cancer /100K, leading: −8%
vs national avg rate: -22.4%
rate, 1999–2017: 26,123
total deaths, 2017

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

Where Oregon sits among all 51 states

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

51.0 Lower than 69% lower than 69% 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

Oregon recorded 26,123 deaths in 2017 across 10 tracked causes (CDC WONDER · methodology). Total annual deaths rose from 23,090 in 1999 to 26,123 in 2017 (13.1%) - a modest trend over 18 years.

Key Statistics

State avg age-adjusted rate

51.0 /100K

national avg 55.5

Leading Cause

Cancer

8,083 deaths

Top 5 Causes of Death

The five leading causes account for 21,255 deaths (81.4% of all deaths) in Oregon.

1. Cancer 8,083 (30.9%)

2. Heart disease 6,942 (26.6%)

3. CLRD 2,088 (8.0%)

4. Unintentional injuries 2,076 (7.9%)

5. Stroke 2,066 (7.9%)

All Causes of Death in Oregon (2017)

#	Cause of death	Deaths	% of total	Age-adj /100K
1	Cancer	8,083	30.9%	154.2
2	Heart disease	6,942	26.6%	134.0
3	CLRD	2,088	8.0%	39.7
4	Unintentional injuries	2,076	7.9%	44.8
5	Stroke	2,066	7.9%	39.9
6	Alzheimer's disease	1,850	7.1%	36.0
7	Diabetes	1,243	4.8%	23.9
8	Suicide	825	3.2%	19.0
9	Influenza and pneumonia	573	2.2%	11.1
10	Kidney disease	377	1.4%	7.3

Mortality Trends Over Time

Oregon - 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	23,090	65.7	-
2000	22,739	63.9	-1.5%
2001	23,211	63.9	+2.1%
2002	24,013	64.8	+3.5%
2003	23,774	62.8	-1.0%
2004	23,267	60.3	-2.1%
2005	23,569	59.6	+1.3%
2006	23,145	57.1	-1.8%
2007	23,231	56.0	+0.4%
2008	23,335	55.0	+0.4%
2009	23,025	53.1	-1.3%
2010	23,020	52.2	-0.0%
2011	23,525	52.0	+2.2%
2012	23,277	50.3	-1.1%
2013	23,823	50.4	+2.3%
2014	24,070	49.7	+1.0%
2015	25,367	51.2	+5.4%
2016	25,822	50.8	+1.8%
2017	26,123	51.0	+1.2%

National Comparison

How Oregon compares to the national average in 2017.

Oregon Total Deaths

26,123

Oregon Avg Rate

51.0

per 100,000 (age-adjusted)

National Avg Rate

55.5

State is below national average

Ranked against every other state on Cancer, Oregon lands at #26 out of 51 (age-adjusted rate 154.2 per 100,000) -- higher ranks reflect higher mortality.

Nearby States & Comparisons

Compare mortality data with states bordering Oregon (2017).

State	Deaths (Top Cause)	Leading Cause	Age-Adj Rate
Oregon (this state)	8,083	Cancer	154.2
California	62,797	Heart disease	142.9
Idaho	3,084	Heart disease	162.5
Nevada	6,417	Heart disease	199.3
Washington	12,664	Cancer	148.4

Compare leading causes of death in Oregon →

Dig deeper into Oregon's mortality data

All causes in Oregon → Compare Oregon →

What the 2017 Oregon Mortality Record Shows

In 2017, CDC WONDER tallied 26,123 deaths in Oregon across 10 tracked cause-of-death categories. Cancer led the record with 8,083 deaths at an age-adjusted rate of 154.2 per 100,000, placing Oregon at #26 of 51 states for this cause, where a higher rank corresponds to a higher rate. The top five causes accounted for 21,255 deaths (81.4% of the state total).

Oregon's average age-adjusted rate across all tracked causes was 51.0 per 100,000 - 8% below the national average of 55.5. A below-average state-level rate indicates relatively better mortality outcomes in aggregate, though individual causes within the state may still exceed national benchmarks and warrant separate examination. Over the 1999–2017 window, total deaths increased by 13.1%, and the state-wide average age-adjusted rate declined by 22.4%.

How to read this record & data notes

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

Cancer led Oregon in 2017, with 8,083 deaths and an age-adjusted rate of 154.2 per 100,000 population.

How many people died in Oregon in 2017? ▼

In 2017, there were 26,123 recorded deaths in Oregon across 10 tracked causes of death.

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

The top 3 causes of death in Oregon (2017) are: 1) Cancer (8,083 deaths), 2) Heart disease (6,942 deaths), and 3) CLRD (2,088 deaths).

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

Oregon's average age-adjusted mortality rate is 51.0 per 100,000, which is below the national average of 55.5 per 100,000.

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

From 1999 to 2017, total deaths in Oregon changed by 13.1%. The average age-adjusted rate decreased by 22.4%.

What years of mortality data are available for Oregon? ▼

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

Where does Oregon rank nationally for Cancer? ▼

Comparing all 51 tracked states on Cancer, Oregon's age-adjusted rate of 154.2 per 100,000 puts it at rank #26.

What the Oregon record means

Oregon's average age-adjusted rate runs 8% below the national figure, read the leading cause, the spread, and the trend together, not any single number.

Cancer is the leading cause at 154.2/100K, see how every state compares. Cancer by state
Put Oregon side by side with another state before drawing conclusions. Compare states
The state-wide rate fell 22.4% 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.