U.S. Death Rates From Major Causes, 2012-2013

 

    Age-adjusted death rate (1)
Cause of death Number of deaths, 2013 2012 2013 Percent change
Heart disease 611,105 170.5 169.8 -0.4%
Malignant neoplasms (tumors) 584,881 166.5 163.2 -2.0
Chronic lower respiratory diseases 149,205 41.5 42.1 1.4
Accidents (unintentional injuries) 130,557 39.1 39.4 0.8
Cerebrovascular diseases (stroke) 128,978 36.9 36.2 -1.9
Alzheimer's disease 84,797 23.8 23.5 -1.3
Diabetes 75,578 21.2 21.2 (2)
Influenza and pneumonia 56,979 14.4 15.9 10.4
Kidney disease 47,112 13.1 13.2 0.8
Intentional self-harm (suicide) 41,149 12.6 12.6 (2)
Septicemia 38,156 10.3 10.7 3.9
Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis 36,427 9.9 10.2 3.0
Hypertension (3) 30,770 8.2 8.5 3.7
Parkinson's disease 25,196 7.0 7.3 4.3
All deaths 2,596,993 732.8 731.9 -0.1%
(1) Per 100,000 population; factors out differences based on age. (2) Less than 0.1 percent. (3) Essential (primary) hypertension and hypertensive renal disease. Source: National Center for Health Statistics.