Number of deaths in United States
United States: Number of deaths was 2.98 million in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
2.98 million
Change on year
down 6.6%
World rank
3rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
3.49 million
in 2021
All-time low
1.48 million
in 1954
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Number of deaths in United States, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of deaths in United States is 2.98 million, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.6% on the previous year and up 14.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of deaths in United States peaked at 3.49 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.48 million, in 1954.
United States ranks 3rd of 236 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Number of deaths in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.48 million | — |
| 1951 | 1.50 million | +1.6% |
| 1952 | 1.51 million | +0.5% |
| 1953 | 1.52 million | +0.7% |
| 1954 | 1.48 million | -2.9% |
| 1955 | 1.51 million | +2.4% |
| 1956 | 1.54 million | +1.9% |
| 1957 | 1.60 million | +3.8% |
| 1958 | 1.61 million | +0.4% |
| 1959 | 1.61 million | +0.1% |
| 1960 | 1.66 million | +3.5% |
| 1961 | 1.66 million | -0.3% |
| 1962 | 1.72 million | +3.9% |
| 1963 | 1.79 million | +3.9% |
| 1964 | 1.79 million | -0.2% |
| 1965 | 1.83 million | +2.2% |
| 1966 | 1.87 million | +2.5% |
| 1967 | 1.87 million | -0.1% |
| 1968 | 1.96 million | +4.7% |
| 1969 | 1.96 million | -0.1% |
| 1970 | 1.96 million | +0.1% |
| 1971 | 1.97 million | +0.5% |
| 1972 | 2.00 million | +1.6% |
| 1973 | 2.01 million | +0.3% |
| 1974 | 1.97 million | -2.0% |
| 1975 | 1.92 million | -2.3% |
| 1976 | 1.94 million | +0.7% |
| 1977 | 1.92 million | -0.7% |
| 1978 | 1.95 million | +1.2% |
| 1979 | 1.93 million | -0.9% |
| 1980 | 2.00 million | +4.0% |
| 1981 | 1.99 million | -0.5% |
| 1982 | 1.99 million | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 2.04 million | +2.3% |
| 1984 | 2.06 million | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 2.11 million | +2.5% |
| 1986 | 2.13 million | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 2.15 million | +0.9% |
| 1988 | 2.20 million | +2.2% |
| 1989 | 2.18 million | -0.9% |
| 1990 | 2.18 million | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 2.20 million | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 2.20 million | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 2.30 million | +4.2% |
| 1994 | 2.31 million | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 2.34 million | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 2.34 million | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 2.34 million | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 2.36 million | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 2.41 million | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 2.42 million | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 2.43 million | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 2.46 million | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 2.47 million | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 2.42 million | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 2.47 million | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 2.45 million | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 2.45 million | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 2.50 million | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 2.47 million | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 2.50 million | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 2.55 million | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 2.57 million | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 2.61 million | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 2.63 million | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 2.71 million | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 2.73 million | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 2.80 million | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 2.82 million | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 2.84 million | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 3.38 million | +19.1% |
| 2021 | 3.49 million | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 3.19 million | -8.7% |
| 2023 | 2.98 million | -6.6% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 2.98 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 16,691, 178.3× the median. (85 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.54 million | 1.48 million | 1.61 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.81 million | 1.66 million | 1.96 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.96 million | 1.92 million | 2.01 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.09 million | 1.99 million | 2.20 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.30 million | 2.18 million | 2.41 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.46 million | 2.42 million | 2.50 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.68 million | 2.50 million | 2.84 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.26 million | 2.98 million | 3.49 million | 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 number of deaths in United States?
- Number of deaths in United States was 2.98 million in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of deaths recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 3.49 million in 2021.
- What is the lowest number of deaths recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.48 million in 1954.
- How does United States rank for number of deaths?
- United States ranks 3rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of deaths rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Number of deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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