State mortality · CDC NCHS 2017
West Virginia - Mortality Statistics
17,055 deaths in 2017 across 10 tracked causes, at a state average age-adjusted rate of 69.9 per 100,000.
Data updated 2026-05-19
- 17,055
- Deaths, 2017
- Heart disease
- Leading cause
- +26%
- vs national avg
- 69.9
- Avg age-adj /100K
The verdict
West Virginia's leading killer is heart disease at 192.0 per 100K (age-adjusted); the state's average age-adjusted rate across tracked causes runs 26% above the national figure.
- 192.0
- Heart disease /100K, leading
- +26%
- vs national avg rate
- -14.4%
- rate, 1999–2017
- 17,055
- total deaths, 2017
Source: CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death (CDC NCHS / NVSS), 2017. Age-adjusted rates allow fair comparison across states.
Where West Virginia sits among all 51 states
Average age-adjusted death rate across the leading causes, 2017
69.9 Lower than 2% lower than 2% of 51 states
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Source CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death (CDC NCHS / NVSS) · 2017
West Virginia recorded 17,055 deaths in 2017 across 10 tracked causes (CDC WONDER · methodology). Total annual deaths fell from 17,083 in 1999 to 17,055 in 2017 (-0.2%) - a modest trend over 18 years.
Key Statistics
Top 5 Causes of Death
The five leading causes account for 14,134 deaths (82.9% of all deaths) in West Virginia.
All Causes of Death in West Virginia (2017)
| # | Cause of death | Deaths | % of total | Age-adj /100K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heart disease | 4,849 | 28.4% | 192.0 |
| 2 | Cancer | 4,654 | 27.3% | 179.4 |
| 3 | Unintentional injuries | 1,892 | 11.1% | 100.3 |
| 4 | CLRD | 1,681 | 9.9% | 64.3 |
| 5 | Stroke | 1,058 | 6.2% | 41.8 |
| 6 | Diabetes | 864 | 5.1% | 34.0 |
| 7 | Alzheimer's disease | 770 | 4.5% | 30.6 |
| 8 | Influenza and pneumonia | 458 | 2.7% | 18.2 |
| 9 | Kidney disease | 436 | 2.6% | 17.1 |
| 10 | Suicide | 393 | 2.3% | 21.1 |
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 | 17,083 | 81.7 | - |
| 2000 | 16,845 | 80.2 | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 16,749 | 79.5 | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 16,701 | 78.9 | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 16,942 | 79.4 | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 16,423 | 76.5 | -3.1% |
| 2005 | 16,021 | 73.7 | -2.4% |
| 2006 | 15,875 | 72.3 | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 16,105 | 72.5 | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 16,454 | 73.3 | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 15,838 | 69.4 | -3.7% |
| 2010 | 15,962 | 69.6 | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 16,354 | 71.0 | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 16,222 | 69.2 | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 16,037 | 67.5 | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 16,382 | 68.3 | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 16,687 | 68.9 | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 16,681 | 68.9 | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 17,055 | 69.9 | +2.2% |
National Comparison
How West Virginia compares to the national average in 2017.
Among 51 states tracked for Heart disease, West Virginia sits at #10, with an age-adjusted rate of 192.0 per 100,000 -- a higher position on this list means a higher rate.
Nearby States & Comparisons
Compare mortality data with states bordering West Virginia (2017).
| State | Deaths (Top Cause) | Leading Cause | Age-Adj Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia (this state) | 4,849 | Heart disease | 192.0 |
| Kentucky | 10,343 | Heart disease | 195.9 |
| Maryland | 11,653 | Heart disease | 164.5 |
| Ohio | 28,008 | Heart disease | 186.2 |
| Pennsylvania | 32,312 | Heart disease | 176.0 |
| Virginia | 15,064 | Cancer | 152.6 |
Dig deeper into West Virginia's mortality data
What the 2017 West Virginia Mortality Record Shows
Across 10 tracked cause-of-death categories, CDC WONDER logged 17,055 deaths in West Virginia during 2017. Heart disease led with 4,849 deaths (192.0 per 100,000, age-adjusted), putting the state at #10 of 51 states for this cause, where a higher rank corresponds to a higher rate nationally. The five biggest causes account for 14,134 deaths, or 82.9% of the state total.
West Virginia's average age-adjusted rate across all tracked causes was 69.9 per 100,000 - 26% above the national average of 55.5. Few states post a gap this large above the national rate by chance -- it usually reflects a combination of higher chronic-disease prevalence, weaker healthcare access, and regional socioeconomic pressure working together. Over the 1999–2017 window, total deaths decreased by 0.2%, and the state-wide average age-adjusted rate declined by 14.4%.
How to read this record & data notes
For planners, clinicians, and individual readers, the practical read of the 2017 West Virginia 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 West Virginia? ▼
How many people died in West Virginia in 2017? ▼
What are the top 3 causes of death in West Virginia? ▼
How does West Virginia's mortality rate compare to the national average? ▼
Has the death rate in West Virginia increased or decreased over time? ▼
What years of mortality data are available for West Virginia? ▼
Where does West Virginia rank nationally for Heart disease? ▼
What the West Virginia record means
West Virginia's average age-adjusted rate runs 26% 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 192.0/100K, see how every state compares. Heart disease by state
- Put West Virginia side by side with another state before drawing conclusions. Compare states
- The state-wide rate fell 14.4% 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.