Deaths and Mortality

Data are for the U.S.

  • Number of deaths: 3,464,231
  • Death rate: 1,043.8 deaths per 100,000 population

Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality Data (2021) via CDC WONDER

  • Life expectancy: 76.4 years
  • Infant Mortality rate: 5.44 deaths per 1,000 live births

Source: Mortality in the United States, 2021, data tables for figures 1, 5

Number of deaths for leading causes of death:

  • Heart disease: 695,547
  • Cancer: 605,213
  • COVID-19: 416,893
  • Accidents (unintentional injuries): 224,935
  • Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 162,890
  • Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 142,342
  • Alzheimer’s disease: 119,399
  • Diabetes: 103,294
  • Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis: 56,585
  • Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis: 54,358

Source: Mortality in the United States, 2021, data table for figure 4