How Many People Die Every Day in the US? Key Insights For 2025

What Are the Leading Causes of Death In the US?

1. Heart Disease

Heart disease remains the top cause of death in the U.S., claiming 702,880 lives in 2022—that’s one out of every five, according to the CDC.

The adjusted death rate stood at 210.9 per 100,000 people that year.

Coronary heart disease, the most prevalent form, took 371,506 lives.

The financial toll is staggering, with combined direct and indirect costs reaching an estimated $252.2 billion between 2019 and 2020.

2. Cancer

While cancer deaths in the U.S. have decreased in recent years, experts say one group has seen an overall rise in cancer rates: younger Americans.https://t.co/gpcPF5K6ep

— PBS News (@NewsHour) September 2, 2024

Cancer remains a leading cause of death, with an estimated 611,720 lives lost in 2024—roughly 1,676 each day.

Medical progress has improved treatment and early detection, yet the national cancer mortality rate still stands at 146.0 per 100,000 people annually, according to data from 2018–2022, as reported by Advisory.

3. Accidents (Unintentional Injuries)

Accidents—car crashes, falls, and other mishaps—claimed 227,039 lives in 2022, ranking as the third leading cause of death, according to the CDC.

Out of those, motor vehicle crashes were responsible for 44,534 fatalities, as reported by Reuters.

Early data for the first half of 2024 shows a drop in traffic-related deaths. A total of 18,720 fatalities were recorded, marking a 3.2% decrease from the same period in 2023.

4. COVID-19

In 2022, COVID-19 was linked to 186,552 deaths across the United States, making up about 6% of total fatalities that year.

A sharp decline compared to the staggering 416,893 lives lost to the virus in 2021.

By 2023, COVID-19 had slipped to the tenth leading cause of death nationwide, with 49,928 reported cases, as cited by The New York Post.

5. Stroke (Cerebrovascular Diseases)

In 2022, strokes took 165,393 lives, according to data.

Heart Newsroom highlights that this means about 453 people die from strokes every single day.

A significant number of these deaths could be avoided with better control of high blood pressure and other risk factors.

6. Chronic Respiratory Diseases

Long-term lung diseases like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) take a serious toll on public health across the United States.

By 2022, such conditions were responsible for 147,382 deaths, making them the sixth most common cause of mortality in the country.

An estimated 11.7 million adults nationwide live with COPD, driving up healthcare expenses every year, as reported by the American Lung Association.

7. Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease remains a major cause of death, especially in older adults.

By 2021, it ranked fifth among leading causes of death for those aged 65 and above.

From 2000 to 2021, deaths linked to Alzheimer’s surged by 141%.

The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that by 2025, the total cost of care for those affected in the U.S. will hit $360 billion.

8. Diabetes

Diabetes is a major health issue, taking far too many lives every year.

In 2021, it was the primary cause of death on 103,294 certificates, ranking as the eighth leading cause in the country.

The numbers keep climbing. That same year, about 38.4 million Americans—11.6% of the population—were living with a diagnosis. The trend isn’t promising.

9. Kidney Disease

In 2022, kidney disease ranked as the ninth leading cause of death in the U.S., claiming 57,937 lives.

According to NDDK, nearly 90% of adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) don’t realize they have it.

Among those with diabetes, roughly one in three may be affected, while for adults with high blood pressure, the figure is about one in five.

10. Liver Disease and Cirrhosis

Liver disease and cirrhosis remain serious health threats, frequently linked to excessive alcohol intake and hepatitis infections.

In 2022, they were responsible for 54,803 deaths, making them the tenth most common cause of mortality nationwide.

The age-adjusted death rate for alcohol-related conditions, including cirrhosis, stood at 10.4 per 100,000 people in 2022, as reported by Statista.

Seasonal Trends in Mortality

Cold months come with an unfortunate side effect—higher mortality rates.

A mix of factors fuels this spike, most notably a surge in respiratory infections and the harsh effects of low temperatures on those with existing health issues.

Key contributors include:

• Winter Mortality Trends – A study published by Oxford Academic reveals that in developed nations with temperate climates, fatalities during winter contribute to 3–18% of yearly deaths.
• Respiratory Diseases – Cold weather brings an uptick in illnesses like influenza, posing a greater risk for older adults and individuals with chronic conditions.
• Cold-Weather Impacts – According to the Environmental Protection Agency, winter consistently sees an 8–12% uptick in mortality rates compared to other seasons. The drop in temperature aggravates cardiovascular and respiratory issues, playing a significant role in the seasonal surge in fatalities.

Drug As Death

*Note: The 2024 figure is based on provisional data for the 12-month period ending June 2024.

• Total Overdose Deaths: Early estimates from the CDC suggest that drug overdose deaths reached around 107,543 in 2023, reflecting a slight 3% drop from the 111,029 recorded the previous year.
• Year-Over-Year Reduction: Overdose fatalities dropped by 14.5% in the 12 months leading up to June 2024, marking the most significant decline ever reported, according to official data.
• Daily Average: That amounts to roughly 294 overdose deaths each day over the 12 months leading up to August 31, 2022.

The decrease in overdose deaths is attributed to several factors:

• Wider access to addiction treatments like buprenorphine has been instrumental in lowering death rates, as reported by AP News.
• Making naloxone more accessible has played a crucial role in preventing fatal opioid overdoses.
• Funds from opioid lawsuit settlements are being funneled into local drug prevention programs, strengthening efforts within communities to address substance abuse.

Life Expectancy

In 2025, life expectancy in the United States has inched up ever so slightly. The average now sits at 79.25 years, reflecting a modest 0.18% increase from 2023’s 79.11 years, as reported by MacroTrends.

Gender Disparities according to CDC:

Back in 2019, before the world turned upside down, life expectancy in the U.S. stood at 78.8 years.

Then came COVID-19, and that number took a hit, dropping to 76.4 years by 2021.

Now, it has climbed back up to 79.25 years, even surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

Encouraging? Sure. But compared to many other developed countries, the U.S. is still trailing behind.

Countries like Japan and Switzerland boast average life expectancies surpassing 83 years, as reported by Worldometers.

Methodology

The information here comes from reputable sources like the CDC, Oxford Academic, and major outlets such as The New York Post and Reuters.

Latest figures—including 2022 data and provisional estimates for 2025—help paint an accurate picture of current trends.

Key patterns were examined, covering leading causes of death, seasonal mortality fluctuations, and drug overdose rates.

Demographic changes and healthcare interventions were factored in to provide a broader perspective on mortality patterns.

The goal? A straightforward, data-backed summary that makes public health trends easier to grasp.

References

1. World Population Review – Deaths Per Day in the U.S.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Heart Disease Facts and Statistics
3. Advisory – Causes of Death in the U.S.
4. Reuters – U.S. Public Health Crisis Over Traffic Deaths
5. The New York Post – COVID-19 No Longer a Top Cause of Death
6. Heart Newsroom – Stroke-Related Deaths Statistics
7. American Lung Association – COPD Trends Brief
8. Alzheimer’s Association – Alzheimer’s Facts and Figures
9. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) – Diabetes Statistics
10. Statista – Leading Causes of Death in the U.S.
11. Oxford Academic – Winter Mortality Trends
12. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Cold-Related Deaths
13. MacroTrends – U.S. Life Expectancy in 2024
14. Retirement Living – Life Expectancy Statistics
15. Associated Press – Addiction Treatments and Overdose Prevention
16. Worldometers – Global Life Expectancy