Key Takeaways
- The 10 leading causes of death account for 71% of all deaths occurring in the United States.
- Accidents are the #3 cause of death in the U.S. (222,698 deaths, 7.2%).
- Unintentional injuries rank #3 for men (9.2% of deaths), but only #6 for women (5.0%).
This infographic shows the leading causes of death in the U.S., based on recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Heart disease was responsible for 680,981 deaths (22% of the total), making it the leading cause of death. Cancer followed closely with 613,352 deaths (nearly 20%).
Unintentional injuries, often tied to traffic accidents, falls, or overdoses, caused 222,698 deaths. This makes them the third-leading cause of death overall, and a major outlier compared to other chronic or age-related conditions. Notably, accidents impact men more heavily, ranking third for them, while they fall to sixth among women.
Read more: The Top Causes of Death in the United States, Ranked