State mortality · CDC NCHS 2017
South Carolina - Mortality Statistics
36,190 deaths in 2017 across 10 tracked causes, at a state average age-adjusted rate of 60.1 per 100,000.
Data updated 2026-05-19
- 36,190
- Deaths, 2017
- Heart disease
- Leading cause
- +8%
- vs national avg
- 60.1
- Avg age-adj /100K
The verdict
South Carolina's leading killer is heart disease at 172.0 per 100K (age-adjusted); the state's average age-adjusted rate across tracked causes runs 8% above the national figure.
- 172.0
- Heart disease /100K, leading
- +8%
- vs national avg rate
- -21.1%
- rate, 1999–2017
- 36,190
- total deaths, 2017
Source: CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death (CDC NCHS / NVSS), 2017. Age-adjusted rates allow fair comparison across states.
Where South Carolina sits among all 51 states
Average age-adjusted death rate across the leading causes, 2017
60.1 Lower than 22% lower than 22% of 51 states
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Source CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death (CDC NCHS / NVSS) · 2017
South Carolina recorded 36,190 deaths in 2017 across 10 tracked causes (CDC WONDER · methodology). Total annual deaths rose from 28,240 in 1999 to 36,190 in 2017 (28.2%) - a meaningful change over 18 years.
Key Statistics
Top 5 Causes of Death
The five leading causes account for 29,595 deaths (81.8% of all deaths) in South Carolina.
All Causes of Death in South Carolina (2017)
| # | Cause of death | Deaths | % of total | Age-adj /100K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heart disease | 10,418 | 28.8% | 172.0 |
| 2 | Cancer | 10,356 | 28.6% | 162.7 |
| 3 | Unintentional injuries | 3,147 | 8.7% | 60.2 |
| 4 | CLRD | 2,983 | 8.2% | 47.9 |
| 5 | Stroke | 2,691 | 7.4% | 44.9 |
| 6 | Alzheimer's disease | 2,549 | 7.0% | 45.0 |
| 7 | Diabetes | 1,535 | 4.2% | 24.5 |
| 8 | Kidney disease | 950 | 2.6% | 15.5 |
| 9 | Suicide | 838 | 2.3% | 16.3 |
| 10 | Influenza and pneumonia | 723 | 2.0% | 12.3 |
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 | 28,240 | 76.2 | - |
| 2000 | 28,564 | 75.7 | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 28,088 | 72.8 | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 28,885 | 73.7 | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 29,016 | 72.3 | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 28,539 | 69.4 | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 29,325 | 69.5 | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 29,018 | 66.1 | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 29,411 | 64.9 | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 30,002 | 64.2 | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 30,014 | 62.5 | 0.0% |
| 2010 | 30,527 | 62.3 | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 30,690 | 60.8 | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 31,334 | 60.0 | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 32,119 | 59.8 | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 32,956 | 59.6 | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 34,563 | 61.0 | +4.9% |
| 2016 | 35,312 | 60.4 | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 36,190 | 60.1 | +2.5% |
National Comparison
How South Carolina compares to the national average in 2017.
For Heart disease, South Carolina ranks #17 out of 51 states (age-adjusted rate: 172.0 per 100,000). A higher rank indicates a higher mortality rate.
Nearby States & Comparisons
Compare mortality data with states bordering South Carolina (2017).
| State | Deaths (Top Cause) | Leading Cause | Age-Adj Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina (this state) | 10,418 | Heart disease | 172.0 |
| Georgia | 18,389 | Heart disease | 175.8 |
| North Carolina | 19,474 | Cancer | 157.1 |
Dig deeper into South Carolina's mortality data
What the 2017 South Carolina Mortality Record Shows
In 2017, CDC WONDER tallied 36,190 deaths in South Carolina across 10 tracked cause-of-death categories. Heart disease led the record with 10,418 deaths at an age-adjusted rate of 172.0 per 100,000, placing South Carolina at #17 of 51 states for this cause, where a higher rank corresponds to a higher rate. The top five causes accounted for 29,595 deaths (81.8% of the state total).
South Carolina's average age-adjusted rate across all tracked causes was 60.1 per 100,000 - 8% 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 28.2%, and the state-wide average age-adjusted rate declined by 21.1%.
How to read this record & data notes
For planners, clinicians, and individual readers, the practical read of the 2017 South 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 South Carolina? ▼
How many people died in South Carolina in 2017? ▼
What are the top 3 causes of death in South Carolina? ▼
How does South Carolina's mortality rate compare to the national average? ▼
Has the death rate in South Carolina increased or decreased over time? ▼
What years of mortality data are available for South Carolina? ▼
Where does South Carolina rank nationally for Heart disease? ▼
What the South Carolina record means
South Carolina's average age-adjusted rate runs 8% above the national figure, read the leading cause, the spread, and the trend together, not any single number.
- Heart disease is the leading cause at 172.0/100K, see how every state compares. Heart disease by state
- Put South Carolina side by side with another state before drawing conclusions. Compare states
- The state-wide rate fell 21.1% 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.