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Death data

Leading causes of death by age

Across all ages, heart disease and cancer cause more than four in ten U.S. deaths: 42% in 2024. Younger adults die of different things. Between 25 and 34, the leading cause is accidents (unintentional injuries), behind 40% of deaths.

3,072,666 deaths in 2024. Each list shows the five causes with the most deaths in that age group, and each figure is that cause's share of all deaths at those ages.

Quick facts

  • 3,072,666 people died in the U.S. in 2024 (CDC WONDER, final data).
  • Heart disease was the leading cause of death in 2024, with 683,491 deaths (CDC WONDER, final data).
  • Heart disease and cancer caused 42% of U.S. deaths in 2024 (CDC WONDER, final data).
  • Between ages 25 and 34, the leading cause of death was accidents (unintentional injuries), behind 40% of deaths at those ages in 2024 (CDC WONDER, final data).

All ages

  1. Heart disease22%
  2. Cancer20%
  3. Accidents (unintentional injuries)6%
  4. Stroke5%
  5. Chronic lung disease (COPD)5%

Under 1

20,050 deaths

  1. Birth defects20%
  2. Preterm birth and low birth weight15%
  3. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)7%
  4. Accidents (unintentional injuries)6%
  5. Maternal pregnancy complications6%

Ages 1 to 4

3,843 deaths

  1. Accidents (unintentional injuries)33%
  2. Birth defects10%
  3. Cancer7%
  4. Homicide7%
  5. Heart disease3%

Ages 5 to 14

5,940 deaths

  1. Accidents (unintentional injuries)25%
  2. Cancer14%
  3. Suicide8%
  4. Homicide7%
  5. Birth defects7%

Ages 15 to 24

29,953 deaths

  1. Accidents (unintentional injuries)39%
  2. Suicide20%
  3. Homicide16%
  4. Cancer5%
  5. Heart disease3%

Ages 25 to 34

57,827 deaths

  1. Accidents (unintentional injuries)40%
  2. Suicide14%
  3. Homicide8%
  4. Cancer6%
  5. Heart disease6%

Ages 35 to 44

97,430 deaths

  1. Accidents (unintentional injuries)30%
  2. Heart disease12%
  3. Cancer12%
  4. Suicide9%
  5. Liver disease and cirrhosis5%

Ages 45 to 54

157,770 deaths

  1. Cancer21%
  2. Heart disease19%
  3. Accidents (unintentional injuries)16%
  4. Liver disease and cirrhosis5%
  5. Suicide5%

Ages 55 to 64

358,196 deaths

  1. Cancer28%
  2. Heart disease21%
  3. Accidents (unintentional injuries)8%
  4. Diabetes4%
  5. Chronic lung disease (COPD)4%

Ages 65 to 74

628,416 deaths

  1. Cancer29%
  2. Heart disease22%
  3. Chronic lung disease (COPD)6%
  4. Stroke4%
  5. Diabetes4%

Ages 75 to 84

822,944 deaths

  1. Cancer22%
  2. Heart disease22%
  3. Chronic lung disease (COPD)6%
  4. Stroke6%
  5. Alzheimer's disease5%

85 and older

890,240 deaths

  1. Heart disease27%
  2. Cancer12%
  3. Stroke8%
  4. Alzheimer's disease8%
  5. Chronic lung disease (COPD)4%

Source: CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death, 2018-2024, Single Race (final data, year 2024), CDC / National Center for Health Statistics. Final data for 2024, ranked by NCHS rankable causes. Infant causes use the separate infant list.

See how long people your age usually live with the life expectancy calculator, or compare causes with the odds of dying.

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