Death index: Top 59 ways Americans die
Every year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracks the number of deaths in the United States and the causes of those deaths. In 2017, the latest year available, there were more than 2.8 million.
This, of course, was before the coronavirus pandemic made COVID-19 one of the leading causes of death in 2020. The CDC reported it ranked third, after heart disease and cancer, for the year.
The CDC provides data for selected causes of death, though it does not break out details on rarer diseases and accidents.
We ranked the top 59 causes of death in America, as of 2017, from the CDC's selected causes.
59. Accidental discharge of firearms
In 2017, statistics show that 486 people died after accidentally being shot with a gun.
58. Killings by law enforcement officers
This category includes any fatal injuries inflicted by the police or other law-enforcing agents.
In 2017, 616 Americans were killed by law enforcement.
57. Childbirth and pregnancy
Health care providers said complications from childbirth and pregnancy caused 1,208 deaths in 2017.
56. Accidental exposure to smoke, fire and flames
In 2017, 2,812 accidental deaths were due to fires.
55. Accidental drowning
In 2017, doctors said 3,709 deaths were caused by accidental drowning.
54. Gallbladder disorders
In 2017, 3,793 people died from gallstones or other gallbladder disorders.
Seen here: a vial of 838 gallstones removed from a patient in India.
53. Cervical and uterine cancers
4,208 deaths were due to cervical and uterine cancers.
In this photo, a nurse presents a syringe of Gardasil, the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine that can reduce a woman's risk for cervical cancer.
52. Complications of medical or surgical care
Statistics show 4,459 people died from complications from medical care in 2017.
Comedian Rodney Dangerfield died in 2004 from complications after heart-valve replacement surgery.
51. Homicide not related to guns
Health care providers blamed 4,968 deaths on assaults that did not involve the discharge of firearms in 2017.
Here, two Los Angeles defense attorneys visit the site of a stabbing homicide in Santa Monica, California.
50. Anemia
Health care providers reported 5,382 people died from anemia in 2017.
Seen here: Sisters Sam and Alex Kimura spent 2015 on a cross-country road trip with a lofty goal — to add 50,000 donors to the National Bone Marrow registry. Sam Kimura (left) suffers from a blood disorder called aplastic anemia and needs a bone marrow transplant.
49. Hardening and narrowing of the arteries
In 2017, 5,547 people in the U.S. died from hardening of the arteries.
This billboard outside San Francisco urges people to lower their high blood pressure. High blood pressure increases the risk for heart disease.
48. Viral hepatitis
Doctors blamed viral hepatitis for 5,611 deaths in 2017.
Karen McKenzie of the Orange County, Florida Health Department prepares to administer the hepatitis A vaccine at an inoculation event on August 1, 2019.
47. HIV
Health care providers listed HIV as the cause of death for 5,698 Americans in 2017.
Activists marched in support of people with HIV during the Queer Liberation March on June 30, 2019 in New York City.
46. Clostridium difficile bacterial infection
In 2017, 6,118 people died from inflammation of the colon and small intestine caused by infection with the Clostridium difficile, or C. diff, bacteria, which is often resistant to antibiotics.
This micrograph film scan shows an up-close view of C. diff bacteria in a stool sample.
45. Suicide by poisoning
In 2017, 6,554 people died by deliberately ingesting or inhaling toxic substances. The CDC includes drug overdoses in this category.
According to the CDC, oxycodone is one of the drugs most associated with suicide by drug overdose.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, representatives are available 24 hours a day at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
44. Accidental suffocation
Statistics showed 6,946 people died from accidental strangulation or suffocation.
Many unexpected infant deaths are attributed to accidental suffocation during sleep.
43. Obesity
Doctors blamed 7,740 deaths on complications related to obesity.
42. Nutritional deficiencies
Nutritional deficiencies -- disorders that prevent people from absorbing nutrients -- killed 7,846 people in 2017.
41. Skin cancer
In 2017, 8,056 people died from skin cancer.
Lizzie Tenney, who suffers from a severe sun allergy, shows her latest scar from skin cancer surgery.
40. Birth defects
Congenital malformations and chromosomal abnormalities killed 9,902 people in 2017.
Abby Eveson died in 2018, at age 5, of a congenital heart defect.
39. Aortic aneurysm and ripping
In 2017, 9,928 people in the U.S. died from aneurysms and ruptures of the main blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart.
This image from 1971 shows a ruptured aortic aneurysm due to syphilis.
38. Oral cancer
Cancers of the lips, mouth and throat accounted for 10,126 deaths.
37. Perinatal conditions
Perinatal conditions such as birth injuries, prematurity, neonatal jaundice and neonatal drug withdrawal caused 11,108 deaths in 2017.
This 2-week-old West Virginia boy was treated for opioid withdrawal in June 2019.
36. Stomach cancer
In 2017, 11,158 people died from stomach cancer.
35. Cancer of the plasma cells in blood
In 2017, 12,809 people died from blood cancers, such as multiple myeloma, a disease that causes cancer cells to build up in the bone marrow.
This multiple myeloma sufferer takes an array of medications to treat his condition.
34. Suicide by strangulation or suffocation
Statistics showed 13,075 people died from suicide by strangulation or suffocation in 2017.
Star chef Anthony Bourdain was found dead from hanging in his hotel room in France in June 2018.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, representatives are available 24 hours a day at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
33. Kidney cancer
In 2017, 13,960 people died from cancers of the kidney and renal pelvis.
Here, a health care worker reviews scans as doctors treat a patient with kidney cancer.
32. Ovarian cancer
Doctors blamed 14,193 deaths on ovarian cancer in 2017.
"Saturday Night Live" comic Gilda Radner died from ovarian cancer in 1989.
31. Homicide by gunshot
According to CDC statistics, 14,542 people in the U.S. died from homicides by gunshot.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting survivor Anthony Borges showed his scars during an interview in Coral Springs, Florida, in August 2019.
30. Esophageal cancer
Cancer of the esophagus was listed as the cause of death for 15,321 Americans in 2017.
Televangelist Robert Schuller died in 2015, at age 88, from esophageal cancer.
29. Benign tumors
Doctors blamed benign and other non-malignant tumors for 15,824 deaths in 2017. Such tumors can block intestines, cause bleeding or otherwise prevent systems from functioning.
This scan shows a benign brain tumor on the auditory nerve.
28. Bladder cancer
In 2017, 16,657 deaths were caused by bladder cancer.
Andrew Archuleta of Morrison, Colorado, takes an immunotherapy drug called BCG to help treat his bladder cancer, but there is a global shortage of the drug.
27. Brain cancer
Doctors blamed brain cancer and cancer of the tissue around the brain for 16,804 deaths in 2017.
Brain cancer survivor Isaija Pantic met Sacramento Kings forward Harry Giles before a game in January 2019.
26. Chronic liver disease (non-alcoholic)
According to statistics, 19,497 deaths were caused by non-alcoholic chronic liver diseases.
The NASH Education Program works to spread awareness of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, an advanced form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This plush, named Mac'Liver, is a mascot.
25. Pneumonitis
Doctors blamed pneumonitis -- blockage of the air sacs in one or both lungs -- for 20,108 deaths in 2017.
Studies have linked one form of pneumonitis to vaping oils with vitamin E acetate. Here, Gregory Rodriguez show scars on his neck from where oxygen tubes were inserted. He became seriously ill after vaping THC.
24. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
In 2017, 20,460 people died from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a form of cancer.
23. Alcoholic liver disease
Doctors blamed alcohol-related liver diseases for 22,246 deaths in 2017.
These Minnesota fifth graders observe the visual differences between normal human liver tissue and that of a liver damaged by alcohol-related cirrhosis.
22. Leukemia
In 2017, 23,359 people died from leukemia.
Sports commentator Craig Sager died of leukemia in December 2016.
21. Suicide by gunshot
According to CDC statistics, 23,854 people died of suicide by gunshot in 2017.
In April 2015, the U.S. Capitol building was placed on lockdown after a person committed suicide with a gun.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, representatives are available 24 hours a day at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
20. Liver cancer
Doctors blamed 27,106 deaths on liver and bile duct cancer in 2017.
In August 2018, the American Liver Foundation awarded Congressman Jerry Nadler their Distinguished Public Service Award for his work on the Living Donor Protection Act.
19. Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer caused 30,488 deaths in 2017.
Los Angeles-based hot sauce store and subscription club Fuego Box raises money for prostate cancer research with their spicy chocolate challenge.
18. Parkinson's disease
Doctors blamed Parkinson's disease for 31,963 deaths in 2017.
Former President George H.W. Bush, who died in November 2018, suffered from vascular parkinsonism, a condition similar to Parkinson's disease.
17. Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings
This catch-all category includes deaths related to seizures, hyperglycemia and sudden infant death syndrome. These disorders accounted for 32,750 deaths in 2017.
Seen here: Actor Greg Grunberg hosted the 2019 End Epilepsy Live benefit.
16. High blood pressure
In 2017, 35,316 people died from hypertension and hypertensive renal disease.
15. Accidental falls
Accidental falls accounted for 36,338 deaths in 2017.
14. Motor vehicle accidents
According to CDC statistics, there were 40,231 deaths caused by motor vehicle accidents in 2017.
13. Blood poisoning
Doctors blamed sepsis in the blood — also known as septicemia — for 40,922 deaths in 2017.
Judith, a septicemia survivor, shows off her Sepsis Alliance T-shirt.
12. Breast cancer
Breast cancer claimed 42,510 lives in 2017.
Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman died from breast cancer in 1982.
11. Pancreatic cancer
In 2017, 44,012 people died from pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of the disease.
Steve Jobs died of pancreatic cancer in 2011.
10. Inflammation of the kidney
In 2017, doctors blamed 50,633 deaths on nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis. These disorders involve inflammation of the kidneys and surrounding tissue.
9. Colon, rectal and anal cancers
Doctors blame colon, rectal and anal cancers for 53,447 deaths in 2017.
Colon cancer survivor Heather Matson designs her own ostomy bags. This one features images from the Wonder Woman comic. The bags — which connect to her large intestine though a port called a stoma — collect food waste.
8. Pneumonia and influenza
In 2017, 55,672 people died from pneumonia and influenza (the flu).
Actress Brittany Murphy, seen here, died of pneumonia in December 2009.
7. Accidental poisoning
Accidental poisoning accounted for 64,795 deaths in 2017. Accidental drug overdoses are also included in this category.
Nearly a quarter of a million people in the U.S. died of drug overdoses between 1999 and 2017.
6. Diabetes
In 2017, 83,564 people died from complications related to diabetes.
Activists protested the price of insulin at a rally on Wall Street in New York City in November 2019.
5. Alzheimers disease
Doctors blamed Alzheimer's disease for 121,404 deaths in 2017.
Helene Oppenheimer wheeled her husband, Martin Oppenheimer, a 91-year-old Alzheimer's patient, around a senior living facility In Dedham, Massachusetts, in April 2019.
4. Lung cancer
Doctors blamed cancers of the trachea, bronchus and lungs for 145,932 deaths in 2017.
Dr. John Maurice and Dr. Raymond Casciari pose with a CT scanning machine at a cancer treatment hospital in Orange County, California. CT scans are used to detect lung cancer.
3. Stroke and other cerebrovascular diseases
In 2017, brain-related blood circulation problems, such as stroke, claimed 146,383 lives.
An occupational therapist works with a stroke patient using a computer system called Pablo, which uses machine learning to help patients regain hand and arm function.
2. Chronic lower respiratory diseases
Chronic lower respiratory disease, including chronic bronchitis, asthma and emphysema, killed 160,201 people in 2017.
In 2005, longtime "Tonight Show" host Johnny Carson died from respiratory failure caused by emphysema.
1. Heart disease
Doctors blamed heart disease for 647,457 deaths in 2017 — more than four times the number of deaths caused by the next most common cause, chronic lower respiratory diseases.