State mortality · CDC NCHS 2017

Texas - Mortality Statistics

144,582 deaths in 2017 across 10 tracked causes, at a state average age-adjusted rate of 53.7 per 100,000.

Compiled by PlainHealth Editorial, Causes of Death Editorial Team

Data updated 2026-05-19

144,582
Deaths, 2017: Heart disease
Leading cause: −3%
vs national avg: 53.7
Avg age-adj /100K

The verdict

Texas's leading killer is heart disease at 169.2 per 100K (age-adjusted); the state's average age-adjusted rate across tracked causes runs 3% below the national figure.

169.2
Heart disease /100K, leading: −3%
vs national avg rate: -24.2%
rate, 1999–2017: 144,582
total deaths, 2017

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

Where Texas sits among all 51 states

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

53.7 Lower than 49% lower than 49% 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

Texas recorded 144,582 deaths in 2017 across 10 tracked causes (CDC WONDER · methodology). Total annual deaths rose from 116,304 in 1999 to 144,582 in 2017 (24.3%) - a meaningful change over 18 years.

Key Statistics

State avg age-adjusted rate

53.7 /100K

national avg 55.5

Leading Cause

Heart disease

45,346 deaths

Top 5 Causes of Death

The five leading causes account for 118,217 deaths (81.8% of all deaths) in Texas.

1. Heart disease 45,346 (31.4%)

2. Cancer 40,668 (28.1%)

3. Stroke 10,790 (7.5%)

4. Unintentional injuries 10,763 (7.4%)

5. CLRD 10,650 (7.4%)

All Causes of Death in Texas (2017)

#	Cause of death	Deaths	% of total	Age-adj /100K
1	Heart disease	45,346	31.4%	169.2
2	Cancer	40,668	28.1%	146.5
3	Stroke	10,790	7.5%	41.3
4	Unintentional injuries	10,763	7.4%	38.8
5	CLRD	10,650	7.4%	40.5
6	Alzheimer's disease	9,545	6.6%	38.5
7	Diabetes	5,832	4.0%	21.2
8	Kidney disease	4,256	2.9%	16.0
9	Suicide	3,778	2.6%	13.4
10	Influenza and pneumonia	2,954	2.0%	11.2

Mortality Trends Over Time

Texas - 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	116,304	70.8	-
2000	117,706	70.5	+1.2%
2001	119,955	70.4	+1.9%
2002	121,713	70.0	+1.5%
2003	120,278	67.7	-1.2%
2004	117,552	64.7	-2.3%
2005	119,430	64.0	+1.6%
2006	118,638	61.3	-0.7%
2007	120,158	60.4	+1.3%
2008	121,866	59.6	+1.4%
2009	120,630	57.2	-1.0%
2010	122,027	56.7	+1.2%
2011	122,871	54.8	+0.7%
2012	125,192	54.1	+1.9%
2013	127,779	53.5	+2.1%
2014	132,449	53.6	+3.7%
2015	138,204	54.3	+4.3%
2016	140,361	53.4	+1.6%
2017	144,582	53.7	+3.0%

National Comparison

How Texas compares to the national average in 2017.

Texas Total Deaths

144,582

Texas Avg Rate

53.7

per 100,000 (age-adjusted)

National Avg Rate

55.5

State is below national average

For Heart disease, Texas ranks #19 out of 51 states (age-adjusted rate: 169.2 per 100,000). A higher rank indicates a higher mortality rate.

Nearby States & Comparisons

Compare mortality data with states bordering Texas (2017).

State	Deaths (Top Cause)	Leading Cause	Age-Adj Rate
Texas (this state)	45,346	Heart disease	169.2
Arkansas	8,270	Heart disease	223.8
Louisiana	11,260	Heart disease	214.4
New Mexico	3,896	Heart disease	151.4
Oklahoma	10,772	Heart disease	237.2

Compare leading causes of death in Texas →

Dig deeper into Texas's mortality data

All causes in Texas → Compare Texas →

What the 2017 Texas Mortality Record Shows

Texas recorded 144,582 total deaths in 2017 across 10 CDC WONDER cause-of-death categories. The single largest contributor was Heart disease (45,346 deaths, 169.2 per 100,000 age-adjusted) -- nationally, that puts the state at #19 of 51 states for this cause, where a higher rank corresponds to a higher rate. Together, the top five causes made up 81.8% of all deaths recorded (118,217).

Texas's average age-adjusted rate across all tracked causes was 53.7 per 100,000 - 3% 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 24.3%, and the state-wide average age-adjusted rate declined by 24.2%.

How to read this record & data notes

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

Heart disease tops the 2017 record for Texas, accounting for 45,346 deaths at 169.2 per 100,000 (age-adjusted).

How many people died in Texas in 2017? ▼

In 2017, there were 144,582 recorded deaths in Texas across 10 tracked causes of death.

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

The top 3 causes of death in Texas (2017) are: 1) Heart disease (45,346 deaths), 2) Cancer (40,668 deaths), and 3) Stroke (10,790 deaths).

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

Texas's average age-adjusted mortality rate is 53.7 per 100,000, which is below the national average of 55.5 per 100,000.

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

From 1999 to 2017, total deaths in Texas changed by 24.3%. The average age-adjusted rate decreased by 24.2%.

What years of mortality data are available for Texas? ▼

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

Where does Texas rank nationally for Heart disease? ▼

For Heart disease, Texas's national position is #19 of 51 states, at 169.2 deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted).

What the Texas record means

Texas's average age-adjusted rate runs 3% 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 169.2/100K, see how every state compares. Heart disease by state
Put Texas side by side with another state before drawing conclusions. Compare states
The state-wide rate fell 24.2% 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.

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.