State mortality · CDC NCHS 2017
South Dakota - Mortality Statistics
6,071 deaths in 2017 across 10 tracked causes, at a state average age-adjusted rate of 55.5 per 100,000.
- 6,071
- Deaths, 2017
- Cancer
- Leading cause
- −0%
- vs national avg
- 55.5
- Avg age-adj /100K
The verdict
South Dakota's leading killer is cancer at 156.9 per 100K (age-adjusted); the state's average age-adjusted rate across tracked causes runs 0% below the national figure.
- 156.9
- Cancer /100K, leading
- −0%
- vs national avg rate
- -16.2%
- rate, 1999–2017
- 6,071
- total deaths, 2017
Source: CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death (CDC NCHS / NVSS), 2017. Age-adjusted rates allow fair comparison across states.
Where South Dakota sits among all 51 states
Average age-adjusted death rate across the leading causes, 2017
55.5 Lower than 37% lower than 37% 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
South Dakota recorded 6,071 deaths in 2017 across 10 tracked causes (CDC WONDER · methodology). Total annual deaths rose from 5,704 in 1999 to 6,071 in 2017 (6.4%) — a modest trend over 18 years.
Leading cause: Cancer with 1,715 deaths at 156.9 per 100,000 (age-adjusted). State avg age-adjusted rate 55.5 sits 0% below the 55.5 national figure.
Key Statistics
Top 5 Causes of Death
The five leading causes account for 4,911 deaths (80.9% of all deaths) in South Dakota.
All Causes of Death in South Dakota (2017)
| # | Cause of death | Deaths | % of total | Age-adj /100K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cancer | 1,715 | 28.2% | 156.9 |
| 2 | Heart disease | 1,710 | 28.2% | 150.1 |
| 3 | Unintentional injuries | 537 | 8.8% | 56.1 |
| 4 | CLRD | 505 | 8.3% | 45.3 |
| 5 | Alzheimer's disease | 444 | 7.3% | 36.9 |
| 6 | Stroke | 414 | 6.8% | 36.7 |
| 7 | Diabetes | 263 | 4.3% | 24.9 |
| 8 | Influenza and pneumonia | 217 | 3.6% | 19.0 |
| 9 | Suicide | 191 | 3.1% | 22.5 |
| 10 | Kidney disease | 75 | 1.2% | 6.8 |
Mortality Trends Over Time
Total deaths and average age-adjusted rate across all causes, 1999–2017. Total deaths increased by 6.4% over this period.
South Dakota — average age-adjusted death rate across all leading causes. Source: CDC WONDER (CDC NCHS / NVSS), 1999–2017.
| Year | Total Deaths | Avg Age-Adj Rate | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 5,704 | 66.2 | — |
| 2000 | 5,762 | 66.1 | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 5,573 | 63.6 | -3.3% |
| 2002 | 5,572 | 62.8 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 5,670 | 63.5 | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 5,469 | 60.1 | -3.5% |
| 2005 | 5,689 | 61.8 | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 5,548 | 58.9 | -2.5% |
| 2007 | 5,439 | 56.7 | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 5,527 | 57.0 | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 5,458 | 55.5 | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 5,552 | 55.8 | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 5,673 | 55.8 | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 5,675 | 54.9 | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 5,516 | 52.6 | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 5,796 | 54.4 | +5.1% |
| 2015 | 5,873 | 54.0 | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 5,924 | 54.3 | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 6,071 | 55.5 | +2.5% |
National Comparison
How South Dakota compares to the national average in 2017.
For Cancer, South Dakota ranks #22 out of 51 states (age-adjusted rate: 156.9 per 100,000). A higher rank indicates a higher mortality rate.
Nearby States & Comparisons
Similar and neighboring states most frequently compared with South Dakota. Regional clusters tend to share environmental, economic, and healthcare-delivery conditions that drive correlated mortality patterns.
Iowa
Leading cause: Heart disease · 167.4/100K
Minnesota
Leading cause: Cancer · 146.8/100K
Montana
Leading cause: Heart disease · 155.0/100K
Nebraska
Leading cause: Heart disease · 149.3/100K
North Dakota
Leading cause: Heart disease · 137.8/100K
Compare leading causes of death in South Dakota →
Mortality figures drawn from CDC NCHS via CDC WONDER Underlying Cause of Death (NVSS). See methodology for data-vintage notes.
Neighboring States Comparison
Compare mortality data with states bordering South Dakota (2017).
Dig deeper into South Dakota's mortality data
Explore South Dakota's causes of death, where it ranks nationally, and how it compares to other states.
All causes in South Dakota
See every tracked cause of death in South Dakota, ranked by deaths and age-adjusted rate.
Open the finder →Compare South Dakota
Put South Dakota side by side with up to three other states on any cause of death.
Compare states →National rankings
See where South Dakota falls among all 50 states and DC on overall mortality.
View rankings →Heart disease by state
The leading cause nationwide — see how every state ranks on heart-disease deaths.
Heart disease →National trends, 1999-2017
How the leading causes of death shifted across the 19-year series.
See trends →Methodology & sources
How this CDC NCHS data is sourced, age-adjusted, and computed.
Read methodology →Related Guides
How to Read State Health Statistics
What age-adjusted death rates mean and why they matter for fair comparisons
Regional Health Disparities
Why mortality rates vary dramatically by region and the drivers behind these gaps
How Mortality Rates Have Changed
19-year analysis of which causes improved, which worsened, and what drove the shifts
Interpreting Mortality Trends in South Dakota
Mortality data from the CDC WONDER database reveals how leading causes of death affect South Dakota residents over time. Cancer remains the leading cause, accounting for 1,715 deaths in 2017. Age-adjusted rates allow meaningful comparison between states and over time by accounting for differences in population age structure.
South Dakota's average age-adjusted mortality rate of 55.5 per 100,000 is below the national average of 55.5, indicating relatively better health outcomes. However, individual causes of death may still exceed national benchmarks. From 1999 to 2017, total deaths increased by 6.4%, a trend influenced by population growth, aging demographics, and shifts in disease patterns.
What the 2017 South Dakota Mortality Record Shows
In 2017, CDC WONDER tallied 6,071 deaths in South Dakota across 10 tracked cause-of-death categories. Cancer led the record with 1,715 deaths at an age-adjusted rate of 156.9 per 100,000 — placing South Dakota at #22 of 51 states for this cause, where a higher rank corresponds to a higher rate. The top five causes accounted for 4,911 deaths (80.9% of the state total), a concentration pattern consistent with national mortality profiles where a small number of chronic-disease categories dominate the annual record.
South Dakota's average age-adjusted rate across all tracked causes was 55.5 per 100,000 — 0% 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 6.4%, and the state-wide average age-adjusted rate declined by 16.2% — a directional signal that integrates population growth, aging demographics, and shifts in disease patterns across the CDC WONDER record. Neighboring-state comparisons in the table above provide regional context, since states sharing geography often share environmental, economic, and healthcare-delivery conditions that drive correlated mortality patterns.
For planners, clinicians, and individual readers, the practical read of the 2017 South Dakota 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 Dakota? ▼
How many people died in South Dakota in 2017? ▼
What are the top 3 causes of death in South Dakota? ▼
How does South Dakota's mortality rate compare to the national average? ▼
Has the death rate in South Dakota increased or decreased over time? ▼
What years of mortality data are available for South Dakota? ▼
Where does South Dakota rank nationally for Cancer? ▼
What the South Dakota record means
South Dakota's average age-adjusted rate runs 0% below the national figure — read the leading cause, the spread, and the trend together, not any single number.
- Cancer is the leading cause at 156.9/100K — see how every state compares. Cancer by state
- Put South Dakota side by side with another state before drawing conclusions. Compare states
- The state-wide rate fell 16.2% 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.
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.