What Kills Us
These are the leading causes of death and the estimated number of people who die from them. Death rates are from 1991, the most recent year for which figures are available. Population figures are current.
MALE:
BIRTH--12 months
Population: 1,853,070
Death Rate: 1,023.8
Leading causes:
1. Birth defectsand complications: 12,328
2. Accidents: 500
3. Heart problems: 445
4. Infections: 195
*
1-4 years
Population: 7,900,000
Death Rate: 52
Leading causes:
1. Accidents: 1,588
2. Birth defects: 474
3. Cancer: 292
4. Homicide: 237
*
5-14 years
Population: 19,854,000
Death rate: 28.7
Leading causes:
1. Accidents: 2,700
2. Cancer: 694
3. Homicide: 357
4. Pneumonia: 218
*
15-24 years
Population: 18,782,000
Death rate: 149
Leading causes
1. Accidents: 11,643
2. Homicide: 6,986
3. Suicide: 4,112
4. Cancer: 1,089
*
25-34 years
Population: 19,858,000
Death rate: 204
Leading causes
1. Accidents: 10,724
2. Infections: 7,983
3. Homicide: 5,739
4. Suicide: 4,965
*
35-44 years
Population: 21,880,000
Death rate: 311.6
Leading causes
1. Infections: 13,150
2. Heart/stroke: 12,384
3. Accidents: 10,109
4. Cancer: 8,489
5. Suicide: 5,032
*
45-54 years
Population: 16,426,000
Death rate: 603.2
Leading causes
1. Heart/stroke: 33,944
2. Cancer: 26,124
3. Accidents: 6,802
4. Infections: 6,194
5. Liver disease: 4,157
*
55-64 years
Population: 10,347,000
Death rate: 1,524.7 Leading causes
1. Heart/stroke: 62,224
2. Cancer: 54,410
3. Lung disease: 5,951
4. Accidents: 4,730
5. Liver disease: 4,305
*
65-74 years
Population: 8,269,000
Death rate: 3,438.7
Leading causes
1. Heart/stroke: 121,627
2. Cancer: 92,657
3. Lung disease: 16,738
4. Diabetes: 6,583
5. Pneumonia and influenza: 6,128
*
75-84
Population: 4,618,000
Death rate: 7,689
Leading causes
1. Heart/stroke: 166,306
2. Cancer: 87,688
3. Lung disease: 22,8695
4. Pneumonia and influenza: 14,968
5. Diabetes: 7,068
*
85 AND OLDER
Population: 1,110,000
Death rate: 17,800
Leading causes
1. Heart/stroke: 103,896
2. Cancer: 30,558
3. Pneumonia and influenza: 15,184
4. Lung disease: 9,222
5. Accidents: 3,885
Sources: National Center for Health Statistics; Bureau of the Census.
*
FEMALE:
BIRTH--12 months
Population: 1,767,950
Death Rate: 804.4
Leading Causes
1. Birth defects and complications: 9,587
2. Accidents: 366
3. Heart problems: 350
4. Infections: 161
*
1-4 years
Population: 7,537,000
Death Rate: 42.7
Leading Causes
1. Accidents: 1,116
2. Birth defects: 407
3. Cancer: 241
4. Homicide: 196
*
5-14 years
Population: 18,911,000
Death rate: 18.3
Leading causes
1. Accidents: 1,266
2. Cancer: 492
3. Pneumonia: 208
4. Homicide: 189
*
15-24 years
Population: 17,742,000
Death rate: 50
Leading causes
1. Accidents: 3,725
2. Homicide: 1,224
3. Cancer: 727
4. Suicide: 674
*
25-34 years
Population: 19,846,000
Death rate: 74.2
Leading causes
1. Accidents: 2,958
2. Cancer: 2,501
3. Heart/stroke: 1,548
4. Homicide: 1,488
*
35-44 years
Population: 22,108,000
Death rate: 139
Leading causes
1. Cancer: 10,436
2. Heart/stroke: 5,107
3. Accidents: 3,073
4. Infections: 1,614
5. Suicide: 1,437
*
45-54 years
Population: 17,140,000
Death rate: 338
Leading causes
1. Cancer: 25,933
2. Heart/stroke: 13,678
3. Accidents: 2,502
4. Diabetes: 1,783
5. Liver disease: 1,663
*
55-64 years
Population: 11,372,000
Death rate: 872.8
Leading causes
1. Cancer: 43,104
2. Heart/stroke: 29,903
3. Lung disease: 4,855
4. Diabetes: 3,638
5. Accidents: 2,069
*
65-74 years
Population:10,235,000
Death rate: 1,976.8
Leading causes
1. Heart/stroke: 78,223
2. Cancer: 69,315
3. Lung disease: 12,333
4. Diabetes: 7,434
5. Pneumonia and influenza: 4,239
*
75-84
Population: 7,064,000
Death rate: 4,801
Leading causes
1. Heart/stroke: 170,598
2. Cancer: 72,012
3. Lung disease: 15,885
4. Pneumonia and influenza: 12,863
5. Diabetes: 9,580
*
85 AND OLDER
Population: 2,748,000
Death rate: 14,066
Leading causes
1. Heart/stroke: 233,860
2. Cancer: 38,363
3. Pneumonia and influenza: 26,648
4. Lung disease: 8,212
5. Diabetes: 7,205
Sources: National Center for Health Statistics; Bureau of the Census.