The 15 Leading Causes of Death in US Over Last 5 Years

Ben Franklin once said, “Nothing is certain except death and taxes.” Those are wise words from a man who outlived many.

While people around him died closer to the life expectancy at the time, Franklin reached the impressive age of 84 when he died in 1790. This is impressive as experts at the time put the life expectancy for men in the 1790s in the range of 43 to 49 years, depending on which expert you look at, as there were many.

From the moment you’re born, every day is one day closer to your death. It’s scary yet inevitable. Some people shudder at the thought and do everything possible to try to beat the odds. There’s even a name for death anxiety: thanatophobia.

If you worry about death, know you’re not alone. There are even some treatments that help ease your fears. Others live life to the fullest and embrace every day like it’s their last. Which side of this equation fits you best? We say you should embrace every day!

In 2021, the life expectancy rate in the U.S. dropped to 76.4 years. The good news is that that number is going back up, increasing to 77.5 years in 2022. For men, the average life expectancy is 74.8 years, but it’s 80.2 years for women. We’re going to take a closer look at what health conditions or diseases were listed as the leading causes of death in the past five years in the United States. (Also, read about the 12 biggest public health conspiracies of all time .)

To determine the fastest-growing causes of death over the last five years, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on mortality rates for over 100 selected causes of death from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Major causes of death were ranked based on the crude mortality rate – annual deaths per 100,000 Americans – from 2018 to June 1, 2024.

15. Parkinson’s disease

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• Mortality rate, 2018 to June 2024: 10.6 per 100,000 Americans
• Age-adjusted mortality rate: 8.6 per 100,000 people
• Total deaths: 244,732

14. Essential hypertension and hypertensive renal disease

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• Mortality rate, 2018 to June 2024: 11.2 per 100,000 Americans
• Age-adjusted mortality rate: 9 per 100,000 people
• Total deaths: 260,349

13. Septicemia

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• Mortality rate, 2018 to June 2024: 11.3 per 100,000 Americans
• Age-adjusted mortality rate: 9.1 per 100,000 people
• Total deaths: 261,209

12. Intentional self-harm (suicide)

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• Mortality rate, 2018 to June 2024: 12.3 per 100,000 Americans
• Age-adjusted mortality rate: 11.9 per 100,000 people
• Total deaths: 285,949

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which has trained listeners standing by and ready to help. Visit 988lifeline.org for crisis chat services or more information.

11. Influenza and pneumonia

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• Mortality rate, 2018 to June 2024: 13.8 per 100,000 Americans
• Age-adjusted mortality rate: 11.2 per 100,000 people
• Total deaths: 319,844

10. Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis

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• Mortality rate, 2018 to June 2024: 13.9 per 100,000 Americans
• Age-adjusted mortality rate: 11.8 per 100,000 people
• Total deaths: 323,019

9. Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis

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• Mortality rate, 2018 to June 2024: 14.9 per 100,000 Americans
• Age-adjusted mortality rate: 12 per 100,000 people
• Total deaths: 345,974

8. Diabetes mellitus

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• Mortality rate, 2018 to June 2024: 26.5 per 100,000 Americans
• Age-adjusted mortality rate: 21.2 per 100,000 people
• Total deaths: 612,908

7. Alzheimer’s disease

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• Mortality rate, 2018 to June 2024: 33.6 per 100,000 Americans
• Age-adjusted mortality rate: 27.3 per 100,000 people
• Total deaths: 779,432

6. Chronic lower respiratory diseases

Source: Egor Kulinich / Getty Images

• Mortality rate, 2018 to June 2024: 41.7 per 100,000 Americans
• Age-adjusted mortality rate: 33 per 100,000 people
• Total deaths: 966,849

5. Cerebrovascular diseases

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• Mortality rate, 2018 to June 2024: 43.9 per 100,000 Americans
• Age-adjusted mortality rate: 35.5 per 100,000 people
• Total deaths: 1,017,850

4. COVID-19

Source: Brian Davidson / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

• Mortality rate, 2018 to June 2024: 44 per 100,000 Americans
• Age-adjusted mortality rate: 35.6 per 100,000 people
• Total deaths: 1,019,651

3. Accidents (unintentional injuries)

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• Mortality rate, 2018 to June 2024: 51.9 per 100,000 Americans
• Age-adjusted mortality rate: 48.8 per 100,000 people
• Total deaths: 1,201,506

2. Malignant neoplasms (cancer)

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• Mortality rate, 2018 to June 2024: 167.4 per 100,000 Americans
• Age-adjusted mortality rate: 132.5 per 100,000 people
• Total deaths: 3,877,440

1. Diseases of heart

Heart disease diagnosis and treatment concept. Doctor shows heart on blurred background. ( Shutterstock.com ) by Natali _ Mis

• Mortality rate, 2018 to June 2024: 188.5 per 100,000 Americans
• Age-adjusted mortality rate: 151.5 per 100,000 people
• Total deaths: 4,367,569

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