Causes of death
What Kills People Your Age?
Pick an age and see the leading causes of death for Americans in that age group, with counts and your odds each year. From CDC mortality data, 1999 to today.
For Americans 35 to 44, the leading cause of death is accidents.
In 2025, accidents caused 25,899 deaths in this age group (33% of deaths from the ranked causes), followed by cancer (11,655) and heart disease (11,347). In a given year, about 1 in 1,757 people this age die of accidents.
| Cause | Deaths | Yearly odds |
|---|---|---|
| Accidents | 25,899 | 1 in 1,757 |
| Cancer | 11,655 | 1 in 3,906 |
| Heart disease | 11,347 | 1 in 4,016 |
| Suicide | 8,012 | 1 in 5,682 |
| Liver disease | 4,991 | 1 in 9,091 |
| Homicide | 3,492 | 1 in 12,987 |
| Diabetes | 2,590 | 1 in 17,544 |
| Stroke | 2,161 | 1 in 21,277 |
| Flu & pneumonia | 1,193 | 1 in 38,462 |
| Kidney disease | 869 | 1 in 52,632 |
Odds are the chance that someone in this age group dies of that cause in one year, from CDC crude death rates for 2025 (provisional). They describe a whole age group, not your own risk, which depends on health, sex, where you live and more. CDC hides counts of 1 to 9, so a cause with very few deaths in a group can be missing.
Leading cause of death by age group
| Age | Leading cause | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1 | Newborn conditions9,668 | Birth defects3,908 | Accidents1,202 |
| 1 to 4 | Accidents1,134 | Birth defects401 | Cancer240 |
| 5 to 14 | Accidents1,513 | Cancer805 | Suicide591 |
| 15 to 24 | Accidents10,219 | Suicide6,086 | Homicide4,098 |
| 25 to 34 | Accidents19,154 | Suicide7,840 | Homicide3,927 |
| 35 to 44 | Accidents25,899 | Cancer11,655 | Heart disease11,347 |
| 45 to 54 | Cancer31,814 | Heart disease29,098 | Accidents23,094 |
| 55 to 64 | Cancer94,694 | Heart disease75,163 | Accidents26,830 |
| 65 to 74 | Cancer183,089 | Heart disease139,438 | Chronic lung disease40,647 |
| 75 to 84 | Heart disease189,845 | Cancer188,380 | Chronic lung disease52,556 |
| 85 and over | Heart disease246,270 | Cancer107,587 | Stroke70,255 |
Common questions
What is the leading cause of death for people aged under 1?
Newborn conditions was the leading cause of death for Americans under 1 in 2025, with 9,668 deaths. Next were birth defects (3,908) and accidents (1,202).
What is the leading cause of death for people aged 1 to 4?
Accidents was the leading cause of death for Americans aged 1 to 4 in 2025, with 1,134 deaths. Next were birth defects (401) and cancer (240).
What is the leading cause of death for people aged 5 to 14?
Accidents was the leading cause of death for Americans aged 5 to 14 in 2025, with 1,513 deaths. Next were cancer (805) and suicide (591).
What is the leading cause of death for people aged 15 to 24?
Accidents was the leading cause of death for Americans aged 15 to 24 in 2025, with 10,219 deaths. Next were suicide (6,086) and homicide (4,098).
What is the leading cause of death for people aged 25 to 34?
Accidents was the leading cause of death for Americans aged 25 to 34 in 2025, with 19,154 deaths. Next were suicide (7,840) and homicide (3,927).
What is the leading cause of death for people aged 35 to 44?
Accidents was the leading cause of death for Americans aged 35 to 44 in 2025, with 25,899 deaths. Next were cancer (11,655) and heart disease (11,347).
What is the leading cause of death for people aged 45 to 54?
Cancer was the leading cause of death for Americans aged 45 to 54 in 2025, with 31,814 deaths. Next were heart disease (29,098) and accidents (23,094).
What is the leading cause of death for people aged 55 to 64?
Cancer was the leading cause of death for Americans aged 55 to 64 in 2025, with 94,694 deaths. Next were heart disease (75,163) and accidents (26,830).
What is the leading cause of death for people aged 65 to 74?
Cancer was the leading cause of death for Americans aged 65 to 74 in 2025, with 183,089 deaths. Next were heart disease (139,438) and chronic lung disease (40,647).
What is the leading cause of death for people aged 75 to 84?
Heart disease was the leading cause of death for Americans aged 75 to 84 in 2025, with 189,845 deaths. Next were cancer (188,380) and chronic lung disease (52,556).
What is the leading cause of death for people aged 85 and over?
Heart disease was the leading cause of death for Americans aged 85 and over in 2025, with 246,270 deaths. Next were cancer (107,587) and stroke (70,255).
Source: CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death, NCHS 113 selected causes, 2025 (provisional). See every cause on the leading causes page.