John Elflein
Research expert covering health and health care
Death in the United States - Statistics & Facts
Approximately 3.46 million people in the United States lost their lives in 2021. The most common causes of death in the U.S. are heart disease and cancer, however, COVID-19 accounted for around 12 percent of all deaths that year, making it the third leading cause of death. Due to the high number of deaths caused by COVID-19, the years 2020 and 2021 saw a substantial increase in overall deaths compared to previous years. The odds of someone dying from heart disease or cancer in the United States in 2021 were 1 in 6 and 1 in 7, respectively, while the odds of dying from COVID-19 were 1 in 10. Although heart disease and cancer currently account for the vast majority of deaths in the United States, this was not always true. In the early 1900s, pneumonia or influenza, tuberculosis, and gastrointestinal infections were the leading causes of death. Nowadays, deaths attributed to pneumonia or influenza remain common, but health issues such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and suicide are major causes of death.
Cancer deaths
Cancer caused over 602 thousand deaths in the United States in 2020. Lung and bronchus cancer is the leading cancer killer among both men and women – it is estimated that around 127 thousand people will die from lung and bronchus cancer in 2023. Breast cancer is the second deadliest form in women, while prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among men. The states with the highest cancer death rates are West Virginia, Mississippi, and Kentucky.Deaths of despair
Drug overdose, suicide, and alcohol abuse account for a large portion of preventable deaths in the United States. These diseases of despair – also known as deaths of despair – are often linked to social and economic conditions. Suicide rates have increased for both men and women over the past decade, but rates remain around 3.7 times greater among men. Drug overdose deaths in the United States have also increased over the past two decades due to the ongoing opioid epidemic. In 2021, there was a record number of drug overdose deaths, with most of these deaths involving opioids. Fentanyl, an extremely potent synthetic opioid, accounted for around 70,600 deaths in 2021. Addressing these issues remains a challenge, but it is essential to provide affordable access to mental health treatment and substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation.After death
According to forecast data, the burial rate in the U.S. fell to 38 percent in 2020. The cremation rate has steadily increased in recent decades, and it is projected that 65 percent of people will be cremated after their death in 2027. This change in burial preference is due to various factors, but cost has most likely played a role. In 2021, the median cost of an adult funeral with a viewing and a burial without a vault was 7,848 U.S. dollars. In comparison, the median cost of an adult funeral with a viewing and a cremation was 6,971 U.S. dollars.
