Leading Causes of Death By Age in the U.S. (Post-COVID Data)
- Updated: July 23, 2022
Note: The data below is as of 2020 and has been sourced primarily from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Wonder Database. This is the most current data available, as there is a two-year lag — e.g., the 2021 figures will not be published until March 2023.)
What are the leading causes of death in the United States? The top two — heart disease and cancer — won’t surprise you, but others may. In this article, we’ll take a deeper, more nuanced look at the leading causes of death in the U.S. and how these vary by age.
We’ll look at four age groups:
- Infants (0-1 year old)
- Children & teenagers (1-18 years old)
- Adults under 50 years old
- Adults over 50 years old
Let’s dig in.
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Leading Causes Of Death In The U.S.
Let’s first take a look at the aggregate U.S. picture of:
- When people die
- What accounts for their death
Table: Number and Frequency Of Deaths By Age Group
The table above breaks down the U.S. population by age group and shows the corresponding number of deaths and the death rate (deaths per 1,000 individuals) for 2020.
As you might have guessed, the likelihood of dying increases almost uniformly as you age, with the date rate going from less than one person per 1,000 for children and teenagers to over 240 deaths per 1,000 for individuals over the age of 90. Said another way, over one-fourth of the population over 90 dies every year.
Table: Leading Causes Of Death In 2020 In The U.S.
Now for the main attraction. The table below shows the total number of deaths by cause.
| Cause of Death | Total Deaths | % of Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart Diseases | 928,713 | 27.4% |
| Cancer | 618,576 | 18.3% |
| Other | 350,917 | 10.4% |
| External Causes | 283,676 | 8.4% |
| Lung Diseases | 270,499 | 8.0% |
| Nervous System Disorders | 262,343 | 7.8% |
| Nutritional & Metabolic Diseases | 164,124 | 4.8% |
| Mental & Behavioral Disorders | 148,431 | 4.4% |
| Digestive System Diseases | 123,938 | 3.7% |
| Urinary System Diseases | 76,771 | 2.3% |
| Infectious Diseases | 68,314 | 2.0% |
| Abnormal Symptoms & Findings | 34,067 | 1.0% |
| Bone Diseases | 15,421 | 0.5% |
| Blood Diseases | 11,466 | 0.3% |
| Perinatal Period Conditions | 9,669 | 0.3% |
| Congenital Malformations | 9,573 | 0.3% |
| Skin & Tissue Diseases | 5,689 | 0.2% |
| Pregnancy & Childbirth | 1,288 | 0.0% |
| Ear Diseases | 86 | 0.0% |
| Eye Diseases | 52 | 0.0% |
| Total | 3,384,952 | 100.0% |
As you can see, deaths from natural causes (those caused solely by disease or natural processes) dominate the list.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death, accounting for 27% of total U.S. deaths in 2020. Cancer is the second-leading cause of death (18%). Together, these two accounted for more than 1.5 million deaths in 2020. That’s almost half (46%) of the total 3.4 million deaths nationwide.
Heart disease accounted for 1 in 4 U.S. deaths in 2020 while cancer, the second-leading cause, took 619K lives (1 in 5 deaths).
After these, there’s a sharp drop-off. Deaths from external causes (e.g., accidents) came in third (8.4%), while lung disease (8.0%) was the fourth-leading cause of death. Note that deaths caused by lung disease include chronic lower respiratory disease and lower respiratory infections, but do NOT include lung cancer.
Nervous system disorders, such as Alzheimer’s Disease, rounded out the top five, representing 7.8% of U.S. deaths in 2020.
In total, these five causes take the lives of approximately 70%, or 7 in 10, Americans.
The biggest mystery in this list is the “External Causes” line. We’ll start with that one when describing each of these categories:
External Causes
External causes of death are those from unintentional injuries, accidents (e.g., drowning, falls, traffic accidents), homicide, suicide, and undetermined.
External causes are those not caused by an internal or an infectious agent.
For example, major external causes include suicide, motor vehicle accidents, and drug overdoses. Less prevalent ones are homicide, falls, suffocation, and drowning. These are sometimes referred to as “preventable causes of death.”
Heart (Cardiovascular) Diseases
Cardiovascular diseases cause heart attacks and strokes, which are among the top causes of death for Americans over 65 years old. These diseases can be further broken down into types as well. For example, coronary artery disease accounts for 47% of cardiovascular-related deaths in the United States.
Keep in mind that while heart disease may be the end outcome, the underlying driver of these deaths are our poor eating and exercise habits.
Cancer
Cancer is a malignant growth of abnormal cells in any part of the body. Causes of death from cancer are more formally referred to as “malignant neoplasms.” There are more than 100 types of cancers, and causes can include viruses or exposure to cancer-causing agents such as:
- Radiation (x-rays)
- Chemicals (including tobacco smoke and arsenic)
Lung (Respiratory) Diseases
Lung diseases are most common in older Americans and include:
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Pneumonia
- Bronchitis
- Influenza
Endocrine Diseases
Problems with the endocrine system include diabetes and thyroid disorders.
Digestive System Diseases
Digestive system-related deaths include liver cirrhosis/failure (12%), chronic lower gastroenteritis & colitis (11%), as well as gallbladder & biliary tract disease (13%). Malnutrition can also be a cause of death (12%).
Bone Diseases
Musculoskeletal causes refer to various conditions, including arthritis, osteoporosis, and rheumatoid disorders. These causes account for about 11% of deaths across all age groups.
Causes of Death: Infants
Infant mortality is the death of a child before his/her first birthday. The infant mortality rate in the United States is 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births (or ~21,000 deaths).
The five leading causes of infant death were:
- Birth defects
- Preterm birth and low birth weight
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- Injuries (e.g., suffocation)
- Maternal pregnancy complications
Common birth defects include heart defects, cleft lip and palate, and neural tube defects (e.g., spina bifida). These diseases affect about one of every 33 babies born in the U.S.
Low birth weight can affect babies born at full term, but weighing less than five pounds eight ounces. Low birth weight results from poor nutrition and prenatal care, accounting for 11% of total infant deaths in the U.S.
Sudden infant death syndrome (or SIDS) is when an infant dies suddenly while sleeping without any signs of suffering or distress.
For more detailed mortality data for infants, check out this dedicated page from the CDC.
Infant Mortality Rates By State
The five states with the highest infant mortality rates in 2020 were:
- Mississippi (293 deaths; 8.3 rate)
- Louisiana (430 deaths; 7.5 rate)
- West Virginia (130 deaths; 7.5 rate)
- Arkansas (264 deaths; 7.3 rate)
- Alabama (404 deaths; 7.2 rate)
Note: Infant mortality rates are calculated per 1,000. A mortality rate of 10.0 means that there were ten deaths per 1,000 infants.
Infant Mortality By State
Source: CDC Wonder Database
Causes Of Death: Children & Teenagers
Deaths among teenagers most often result from:
- Accidents (48%)
- Homicide (13%)
- Suicide (11%)
- Cancer (6%)
- Heart disease (3%)
Accidents account for nearly 50% of all teenage deaths. Among these, motor vehicle fatalities are the leading cause of teenagers’ deaths.
Leading Causes Of Death In Teenagers
The chart below shows the leading causes of death for the teenage population as well as a breakdown of accidental deaths by “mechanism of injury”:
- Motor vehicle traffic accidents (73%)
- Accidental poisonings (7%)
- Unintentional drownings (5%)
- Other land transport accidents (3%)
- Accidental discharge of a firearm (2%)
(Note: “Other unintentional deaths” make up the final 10%.)
Chart: Accidental Deaths In Teenagers
Causes Of Death: Adults Over 50
It’s no surprise that the mortality rate for Americans goes up significantly as they pass 50 years old, from 6 deaths per 1,000 individuals for people in their 50s up to 207 deaths per 1,000 people for those ages 90 and above.
Deaths By Cause & Death Rates: Ages 50+
The leading causes of death among adults over 50 are heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease (such as bronchitis and emphysema), stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes mellitus (including both type 1 and type 2 diabetes), influenza, and pneumonia.
Drug Overdose Deaths
According to the CDC, in 2020, there were more than 70,00 overdose deaths, which equates to nearly 200 overdoses every day.
These 200 daily overdose deaths are made up of:
- 142 deaths per day were from heroin
- 33 deaths per day from misuse of prescription opioids
- Six due to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl
- Four overdose deaths each day from cocaine or methamphetamine use
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Causes Of Death: Adults Under 50
The top causes of death for men and women in the under 50 age group are mainly preventable.
Illnesses in this age group are primarily due to lifestyle factors such as exercise, diet, and stress. Changes to your eating habits, physical activity, and lifestyle habits can help lower your mortality rate and add years to your life.
Causes Of Death & Death Rates: Adults 50 & Under
Breakdown Of External Causes Of Death
While disease management is essential, according to the CDC’s health statistics on underlying causes of death, the number of deaths from external causes far outweighs the number of deaths from diseases, chronic conditions, and other leading causes (e.g., kidney disease).
COVID will be the #1 killer of adults under 50 in 2020 and 2021. In earlier years (e.g., 2020), the flu caused only 1.4% of deaths.
1. Drug Overdoses
Accidents are by far the leading cause of death in adults 50 and under. Of these, accidental drug overdose deaths make up the largest share.
2. Motor Vehicle Accidents
The second most significant cause of external death in this age group is deaths from auto accidents.
3. Suicide
After accidents, suicide is the third leading cause of death in this age group.
While the CDC classifies suicide (and drug overdoses) as resulting from an external cause, it could be argued that those are the proximate causes. The ultimate causes are based on brain physiology, and therefore, these deaths should be classified similarly to how they are treated, like illnesses. In other words, the ultimate causes of these “external” deaths are brain conditions, such as bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. The more we see conclusive data that treatments like Esketamine and TMS therapy work for patients with MDD and suicidal ideations, the more likely we are to see these deaths re-classified.
4. Homicide
Homicide kills more people than HIV. Protect yourself and your friends by keeping an open line of communication to resolve conflicts and report any threats or suspicions to law enforcement.
5. Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol abuse is not just destructive emotionally; prolonged and regular alcohol abuse can lead to liver disease and cirrhosis.
FAQs about Causes of Death
What are the leading causes of death by age?
Accidents are the leading cause of death for people aged 25-44, followed by suicide and cancer. For those 65 and older, the top causes of death are roughly the same as the top causes of death for the overall population (heart disease and cancer). This is because those 65 and older made up 74% of all deaths in 2018.
Which age group is the most suicidal?
The NVDRS 2015 data showed that, among men of all races, men over 65 were the most likely to die of suicides (27.67 suicides per 100,000), closely followed by men 40–64 (27.10 suicides per 100,000). Men 20–39 (23.41 per 100,000) and 15–19 (13.81 per 100,000) were less likely to die of suicides.
What are the leading causes of death in the U.S.?
The five leading causes of death in the United States are heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, stroke, and unintentional injuries. Together they accounted for 63 percent of all U.S. deaths in 2010, with rates for each cause varying greatly from state to state.
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Conclusion
As you’ve seen, Americans’ causes of death are highly dependent on their age. While accidents start as the leading cause of death in children and teenagers, heart disease and cancer rise quickly in adults until they are by far the dominant cause of death in those over 65.
Other causes specific to the senior age group include Alzheimer’s Disease and other brain conditions, including Parkinson’s Disease, strokes, and dementia.
Educating yourself about your potential causes of death in your age group can help you adopt healthy habits (e.g., a good diet, regular exercise, tobacco and alcohol avoidance, and proper firearms storage, among others) and live a long life.
We hope you have found this piece helpful! In the upcoming months we will add a new piece on the leading causes of death in Canada, so stay tuned for that. And of course, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to leave a comment and we’ll be sure to get back to you within 24 hours.
Warm Regards,
The GetSure Team
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2 thoughts on “Leading Causes of Death By Age in the U.S. (Post-COVID Data)”
I have read that Covid-19 is in the top ten deaths of children. I opened this article hoping to find how that cause was in relation to other causes of deaths, but Covid is only mentioned once and not on any table for any age group. I am in my 70s. This indicates to me that the authors of this study did not conclude that Covid-19 deaths are significant at all, even in my age group, let lone children. Is this true? If not, where on each of the summary tables should Covid -19 be listed? Will a subsequent article be written including Covid-19? Can you provie a reference to such and article?
You obviously missed this part:
“Note: The data below has been sourced primarily from the CDC Wonder Database. The 2020 figures were recently published and we are working to update this article accordingly. For the time being, however, the cause-of-death data is as off (sic) 2019.”
It’s right at the top of the article.