Key figures · CDC NCHS · 2017
U.S. mortality statistics
The headline numbers from the CDC NCHS leading-cause mortality record — 2,081,531 deaths across the ten leading causes in 2017. Every figure is read live from the data and free to cite.
- 2,081,531
- Deaths, 2017
- 60%
- Heart + Cancer share
- 55.5
- Avg age-adj /100K
- 1999–2017
- Coverage
Leading causes of death, 2017
In 2017, Heart disease and Cancer together accounted for 60% of the 2,081,531 deaths across the ten leading causes. Exact figures from the CDC NCHS Underlying Cause of Death dataset:
| # | Cause | Deaths (2017) | Avg rate /100K | Trend (1999–2017) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heart disease | 166.0 | Rate down 35% | |
| 2 | Cancer | 155.0 | Rate down 23% | |
| 3 | Unintentional injuries | 54.0 | Rate up 41% | |
| 4 | CLRD | 43.8 | Rate down 7% | |
| 5 | Stroke | 37.4 | Rate down 41% | |
| 6 | Alzheimer's disease | 32.1 | Rate up 83% | |
| 7 | Diabetes | 22.0 | Rate down 14% | |
| 8 | Influenza and pneumonia | 14.9 | Rate down 39% | |
| 9 | Kidney disease | 12.8 | Rate ~flat | |
| 10 | Suicide | 16.5 | Rate up 40% |
Using these figures
Every number on this page is read directly from the CDC WONDER Underlying Cause of Death dataset at the data vintage shown above — nothing is estimated or hand-entered. Age-adjusted rates use the 2000 U.S. standard population. The dataset covers 19 years (1999–2017) across all 50 states and DC. PlainHealth is an independent project and is not affiliated with the CDC. See our methodology for full detail.
