Death rate fallingUpdated 4 October 2026
Trend summary
- The common long-term diseases still do most of the killing in the US, but death rates from them are falling.
- Provisional data show 3,094,593 deaths in 2025 and an age-adjusted death rate of 689.2 per 100,000, down 4.6% and a record low (NCHS).
- Heart disease (694,708 deaths) and cancer (622,832) remain the top two causes by a wide margin.
- Three in four American adults live with at least one chronic condition, and more than half have two or more (CDC).
689.2deaths per 100,000, 2025 (age-adjusted)
−4.6%change from 2024
694,708heart disease deaths, 2025
622,832cancer deaths, 2025
What the numbers show
The NCHS provisional report published in July 2026 found that death rates fell for every age group and for both men and women in 2025. Heart disease and cancer stayed first and second; unintentional injuries were third (184,265 deaths).
Behind the deaths is a much larger burden of illness. The CDC says three in four adults have at least one chronic condition, rising to more than 90% of those aged 65 and over, and that chronic diseases are leading drivers of the nation’s $5.3 trillion annual health spending.
What is driving it
The long fall in heart disease deaths reflects better control of blood pressure and cholesterol, less smoking and faster treatment of heart attacks. The pressure in the other direction comes from obesity and diabetes, and from an ageing population. CDC lists four behaviours behind most preventable chronic disease: smoking, poor diet, physical inactivity and excessive drinking.
Recent cases
- July 2026: NCHS reports the lowest US death rate on record, while influenza and pneumonia move up to eighth place.
Press releases and official reports, 2023–2026
Five key releases a year for the last four years, newest first. Most are from federal agencies; a few news reports are included where they are the clearest public record of an event. Releases from 2007–2022 are in the expandable list after 2023.
2026
- 2 Jul 2026NCHSProvisional Data: U.S. Death Rate Fell to a Record Low in 2025
- Jul 2026NCHSVital Statistics Rapid Release Report No. 44 (PDF)
- 25 Mar 2026NCIChronic inflammation leaves long-lasting impression on gut stem cells, increasing colorectal cancer risk
- 30 Jan 2026NCIResearchers identify new blood markers that may detect early pancreatic cancer
- 29 Jan 2026NCHSMortality in the United States, 2024 (Data Brief No. 548)
2025
- Sep 2025NCHSPrevalence of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Adults: United States, August 2021–August 2023 (Data Brief No. 540)
- 10 Sep 2025NCHSMortality in the United States: Provisional Data, 2024
- 10 Jun 2025NCHSDeaths: Final Data for 2022 (National Vital Statistics Reports, PDF)
- 21 Apr 2025NIH / NCIAnnual Report to the Nation: Cancer deaths continue to decline
- 17 Apr 2025CDC (Preventing Chronic Disease)Trends in Multiple Chronic Conditions Among US Adults, By Life Stage, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2013–2023
2024
- 19 Dec 2024NCHSNew Reports Confirm U.S. Life Expectancy Increased While Drug Overdose Deaths Decreased in 2023
- 19 Dec 2024NCHSMortality in the United States, 2023 (Data Brief No. 521)
- 24 Sep 2024NCHSObesity and Severe Obesity Prevalence in Adults: United States, August 2021–August 2023 (Data Brief No. 508)
- 12 Sep 2024CDCNew CDC Data Show Adult Obesity Prevalence Remains High
- 21 Mar 2024NCHSMortality in the United States, 2022 (Data Brief No. 492)
2023
- 29 Nov 2023NCHSLife Expectancy Increases, However Suicides Up in 2022
- 14 Nov 2023CDCMore Than One in Three Americans are at Increased Risk for Type 2 Diabetes, but Changing the Outcome is Possible
- 26 Oct 2023CDC (Preventing Chronic Disease)Up-to-Date Breast, Cervical, and Colorectal Cancer Screening Test Use in the United States, 2021
- 27 Sep 2023NCIAnnual Report to the Nation Part 2: New cancer diagnoses fell abruptly early in the COVID-19 pandemic
- 22 Sep 2023CDCAdult Obesity Prevalence Remains High; Support for Prevention and Treatment Needed
View 20 years of major chronic disease press releases (2007–2026)80 more from 2007–2022, five a year, newest first
2022
- 22 Dec 2022NCHSMortality in the United States, 2021
- 27 Oct 2022NCIAnnual Report to the Nation: Cancer deaths continue downward trend; modest improvements in survival for pancreatic cancer
- Aug 2022NCHSProvisional Life Expectancy Estimates for 2021
- 5 Jul 2022NCICOVID-19 was third leading cause of death in the United States in both 2020 and 2021
- 19 May 2022NCICancer death rates among Black people declined over time, but remain higher than other racial and ethnic groups
2021
- 22 Dec 2021NCHSMortality in the United States, 2020
- 26 Jul 2021NCHSDeaths: Leading Causes for 2019
- 26 Jul 2021NCHSDeaths: Final Data for 2019
- Jul 2021NCHSProvisional Life Expectancy Estimates for 2020
- 8 Jul 2021NCIAnnual Report to the Nation: Rapid decrease in lung cancer and melanoma deaths lead overall continued decline in cancer death rate
2020
- 12 Aug 2020NCINew treatments spur sharp reduction in lung cancer mortality rate
- 24 Apr 2020NCHSHypertension Prevalence Among Adults Aged 18 and Over: United States, 2017–2018
- 12 Mar 2020NCIAnnual Report to the Nation: Cancer death rates continue to decline
- Feb 2020NCHSPrevalence of Obesity and Severe Obesity Among Adults: United States, 2017–2018
- 30 Jan 2020NCHSMortality in the United States, 2018
2019
- 24 Jun 2019NCHSDeaths: Leading Causes for 2017
- 11 Jun 2019American Cancer SocietyCancer Survivors Predicted to Number over 22 Million in U.S. by 2030
- 30 May 2019NCIAnnual Report to the Nation: Overall cancer mortality continues to decline; Special section on adults ages 20 to 49 shows higher cancer incidence and mortality for women than men
- 22 May 2019NCIStudy shows incidence rates of aggressive subtypes of uterine cancer rising
- 8 Jan 2019American Cancer SocietyCancer Mortality Milestone: 25 years of Continuous Decline
2018
- 29 Nov 2018NCHSMortality in the United States, 2017
- 19 Sep 2018NCHSPrevalence of Total, Diagnosed, and Undiagnosed Diabetes Among Adults: United States, 2013–2016
- 26 Jul 2018NCHSDeaths: Leading Causes for 2016
- 22 May 2018NCIAnnual Report to the Nation: overall cancer mortality continues to decline, prostate cancer mortality has stabilized
- 4 Jan 2018American Cancer SocietyCancer Mortality in the U.S. Continues Decades-Long Drop
2017
- Dec 2017NCHSMortality in the United States, 2016
- Oct 2017NCHSPrevalence of Obesity Among Adults and Youth: United States, 2015–2016
- Oct 2017NCHSHypertension Prevalence and Control Among Adults: United States, 2015–2016
- 18 Jul 2017CDCNew CDC report: More than 100 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes
- 31 Mar 2017NCIAnnual Report to the Nation: Cancer death rates continue to decline
2016
- Dec 2016NCHSMortality in the United States, 2015
- 30 Jun 2016NCHSDeaths: Final Data for 2014
- 16 May 2016NCIIncreased Physical Activity Associated with Lower Risk of 13 Types of Cancer
- 9 Mar 2016NCIAnnual Report to the Nation: Cancer Death Rates Continue to Decline; Increase in Liver Cancer Deaths Cause For Concern
- 7 Jan 2016American Cancer SocietyCancer Death Rate Continues Steady Drop
2015
- Dec 2015NCHSMortality in the United States, 2014
- Nov 2015NCHSPrevalence of Obesity Among Adults and Youth: United States, 2011–2014
- Nov 2015NCHSHypertension Prevalence and Control Among Adults: United States, 2011–2014
- 20 Jul 2015NCIChanging patterns in survival for U.S. women with invasive breast cancer
- 30 Mar 2015NCINew analysis of breast cancer subtypes could lead to better risk stratification; Annual Report to the Nation shows that mortality and incidence for most cancers continue to decline
2014
- 30 Dec 2014American Cancer SocietyMore Than 1.5 Million Cancer Deaths Averted during Two Decades of Dropping Mortality
- Dec 2014NCHSMortality in the United States, 2013
- Oct 2014NCHSMortality in the United States, 2012
- 10 Jun 2014CDCMore than 29 million Americans have diabetes; 1 in 4 doesn’t know
- 7 Jan 2014American Cancer SocietyCancer Statistics 2014: Deaths Continue to Drop
2013
- Oct 2013NCHSPrevalence of Obesity Among Adults: United States, 2011–2012
- 6 Sep 2013CDCVital Signs: Avoidable Deaths from Heart Disease, Stroke, and Hypertensive Disease — United States, 2001–2010
- Mar 2013NCHSDeath in the United States, 2011
- 17 Jan 2013American Cancer SocietyCancer Mortality Down 20% from 1991 Peak
- 7 Jan 2013American Cancer SocietyReport to the Nation Shows U.S. Cancer Death Rates Continue to Drop
2012
- 7 Sep 2012CDCVital Signs: Awareness and Treatment of Uncontrolled Hypertension Among Adults — United States, 2003–2010
- Jul 2012NCHSDeath in the United States, 2010
- 28 Mar 2012American Cancer SocietyReport to the nation finds continuing declines in cancer death rates since the early 1990s
- Jan 2012NCHSPrevalence of Obesity in the United States, 2009–2010
- 4 Jan 2012American Cancer SocietyAmerican Cancer Society Report Finds Continued Progress in Reducing Cancer Mortality
2011
- 16 Sep 2011CDCMillion Hearts: Strategies to Reduce the Prevalence of Leading Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors — United States, 2011
- Jul 2011NCHSDeath in the United States, 2009
- 17 Jun 2011American Cancer SocietyAmerican Cancer Society Report Finds Continued Progress in Reducing Cancer Mortality
- 4 Feb 2011CDCVital Signs: Prevalence, Treatment, and Control of Hypertension — United States, 1999–2002 and 2005–2008
- 26 Jan 2011CDCNumber of Americans with Diabetes Rises to Nearly 26 Million
2010
- Dec 2010NCHSObesity and Socioeconomic Status in Adults: United States, 2005–2008
- 22 Oct 2010CDCNumber of Americans with Diabetes Projected to Double or Triple by 2050
- 3 Aug 2010CDCMore U.S. Adults Report Being Obese
- 7 Jul 2010American Cancer SocietyContinuing Drop in Death Rate Means More than Three-Quarters of a Million Cancer Deaths Averted Since Early 1990s
- 9 Mar 2010American Cancer SocietyStudy Finds Cancer Mortality Has Declined Since Initiation of ‘War on Cancer’
2009
- Dec 2009NCHSDeath in the United States, 2007
- 19 Nov 2009CDCHighest Rates of Obesity, Diabetes in the South, Appalachia, and Some Tribal Lands
- 27 Jul 2009CDCStudy Estimates Medical Cost of Obesity May Be As High as $147 Billion Annually
- 27 May 2009American Cancer SocietyNew American Cancer Society Report Says 650,000 Cancer Deaths Avoided between 1990 and 2005
- 18 Feb 2009American Cancer SocietyCancer Death Rates Dropping among African Americans but Survival Rates Still Low
2008
- 25 Nov 2008CDCAnnual Report to the Nation Finds Declines in Cancer Incidence and Death Rates; Special Feature Reveals Wide Variations in Lung Cancer Trends across States
- 30 Oct 2008CDCNew Cases of Diagnosed Diabetes on the Rise
- 24 Jun 2008CDCNumber of People with Diabetes Increases to 24 Million
- 20 Feb 2008American Cancer SocietyReport Says Half a Million Cancer Deaths Have Been Averted Since Death Rate Drop
- Jan 2008NCHSHypertension Awareness, Treatment, and Control — Continued Disparities in Adults: United States, 2005–2006
2007
- Dec 2007NCHSHigh Serum Total Cholesterol – An Indicator for Monitoring Cholesterol Lowering Efforts: U.S. Adults, 2005–2006
- Nov 2007NCHSObesity Among Adults in the United States—No Statistically Significant Change Since 2003-2004
- 7 Nov 2007American Cancer SocietyCancer Incidence in the United States: A Progress Report
- 15 Oct 2007CDCAnnual Report to the Nation Finds Cancer Death Rate Decline Doubling
- 17 Jan 2007American Cancer SocietyCancer Deaths Drop for Second Consecutive Year
Photo list
How this page is built. Figures come from the official statistical releases linked above; where agencies publish preliminary numbers we say so, because they are revised. Photos are public-domain or Creative Commons images credited in each caption; file photos are illustrative and are not from the events described unless the caption says so. This page tracks trends and is not personal safety, medical, legal or financial advice.