Leading Causes of Death in the U.S.

Updated August 5, 2020 | Infoplease Staff
 

Rank

Cause of Death

Deaths in 1980

Deaths in 2015

1

Heart diseases

761,085

633,842

2

Malignant neoplasms (cancers)

416,509

595,930

3

Chronic lower respiratory diseases

56,050

155,041

4

Unintentional injuries

105,718

146,571

5

Cerebrovascular diseases

170,225

140,323

6

Alzheimer's disease

~1,600

110,561

7

Diabetes mellitus

34,851

79,535

8

Influenza and Pneumonia

54,619

57,062

9

Nephritis/Nephrosis

16,753

49,959

10

Suicide

26,869

44,193

Total Deaths

1,989,841

2,712,630

Source: Center for Disease Control (CDC)

 

 

See also Malaria, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Tropical Diseases, Rare and Deadly Diseases, Food-Borne Diseases, Mosquito and Tick-Borne Diseases, Childhood Diseases.

 

U.S. Mortality Statistics

 

 
Mortality
Sources +