Avoidable mortality — Preventable mortality in United States
United States: Avoidable mortality — Preventable mortality was 675,942 Deaths in 2023. ▲ Rising
Avoidable mortality — Preventable mortality in United States, 2000–2023
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Deaths.
Analysis
In 2023, avoidable mortality — preventable mortality in United States stood at 675,942 Deaths.
That represents a change of down 12.1% on the previous year and up 24.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, avoidable mortality — preventable mortality in United States peaked at 934,865 Deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 493,564 Deaths, in 2000.
That places United States 1st out of 36 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Avoidable mortality — Preventable mortality in United States, year by year
| Year | Deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 493,564 Deaths | — |
| 2001 | 497,461 Deaths | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 501,442 Deaths | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 503,213 Deaths | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 498,551 Deaths | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 507,203 Deaths | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 509,197 Deaths | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 509,299 Deaths | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 513,735 Deaths | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 512,792 Deaths | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 514,522 Deaths | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 525,905 Deaths | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 533,891 Deaths | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 544,793 Deaths | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 557,339 Deaths | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 577,181 Deaths | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 596,511 Deaths | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 609,254 Deaths | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 607,005 Deaths | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 608,625 Deaths | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 811,300 Deaths | +33.3% |
| 2021 | 934,865 Deaths | +15.2% |
| 2022 | 769,016 Deaths | -17.7% |
| 2023 | 675,942 Deaths | -12.1% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 675,942 Deaths is above the median for high income countries, which is 15,975 Deaths, 42.3× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Avoidable mortality — Preventable mortality in United States changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +33.3% | 608,625 Deaths | 811,300 Deaths |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 504,646 Deaths | 493,564 Deaths | 513,735 Deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 567,503 Deaths | 514,522 Deaths | 609,254 Deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 797,781 Deaths | 675,942 Deaths | 934,865 Deaths | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States
More health data for United States
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,015 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2023)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.056 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0261 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.1919 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0274 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is avoidable mortality — preventable mortality in United States?
- Avoidable mortality — preventable mortality in United States was 675,942 Deaths in 2023, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest avoidable mortality — preventable mortality recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 934,865 Deaths in 2021.
- What is the lowest avoidable mortality — preventable mortality recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 493,564 Deaths in 2000.
- How does United States rank for avoidable mortality — preventable mortality?
- United States ranks 1st out of 36 countries with data for 2023.
- Is avoidable mortality — preventable mortality rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Avoidable mortality — Preventable mortality. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
This dataset presents data on preventable, treatable and avoidable (preventable + treatable) causes of mortality. Preventable and treatable causes of mortality are defined as follows: - Preventable mortality: Causes of death that can be mainly avoided through effective public health and primary prevention interventions (i.e. before the onset of diseases/injuries, to reduce incidence). - Treatable (or amenable) mortality: Causes of death that can be mainly avoided through timely and effective healthcare interventions, including secondary prevention such as screening, and treatment (i.e. after the onset of diseases, to reduce case-fatality). Both indicators refer to premature mortality (under age 75). Please refer to the Sources and Methods for detailed country-specific information.