In the United States, the leading causes of death among women are heart disease and cancer. Heart disease and cancer are similarly the leading causes of death among U.S. men. In 2022, heart disease accounted for **** percent of all deaths among women in the United States, while cancer accounted for **** percent of deaths. COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death among both men and women in 2020 and 2021, and the fourth leading cause in 2022. Cancer among women in the U.S. The most common types of cancer among U.S. women are breast, lung and bronchus, and colon and rectum. In 2025, there were around ******* new breast cancer cases among women, compared to ******* new cases of lung and bronchus cancer. Although breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women in the United States, lung and bronchus cancer causes the highest number of cancer deaths. In 2025, around ****** women were expected to die from lung and bronchus cancer, compared to ****** from breast cancer. Breast cancer Although breast cancer is the second most deadly form of cancer among women, rates of death have decreased over the past few decades. This decrease is possibly due to early detection, progress in therapy, and increasing awareness of risk factors. In 2023, the death rate due to breast cancer was **** per 100,000 population, compared to a rate of **** per 100,000 in the year 1990. The state with the highest rate of deaths due to breast cancer is Oklahoma, while South Dakota had the lowest rates.

In 2019, there were some 204.8 male deaths by heart disease per 100,000 inhabitants in the United States. This statistic shows the death rate from diseases of the heart in the U.S. from 1950 to 2019, by gender.

United States US: Prevalence of Wasting: Weight for Height: Female: % of Children Under 5 data was reported at 0.700 % in 2012. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.500 % for 2009. United States US: Prevalence of Wasting: Weight for Height: Female: % of Children Under 5 data is updated yearly, averaging 0.550 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2012, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.800 % in 2005 and a record low of 0.100 % in 2001. United States US: Prevalence of Wasting: Weight for Height: Female: % of Children Under 5 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Prevalence of wasting, female, is the proportion of girls under age 5 whose weight for height is more than two standard deviations below the median for the international reference population ages 0-59.; ; World Health Organization, Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition. Country-level data are unadjusted data from national surveys, and thus may not be comparable across countries.; Linear mixed-effect model estimates; Undernourished children have lower resistance to infection and are more likely to die from common childhood ailments such as diarrheal diseases and respiratory infections. Frequent illness saps the nutritional status of those who survive, locking them into a vicious cycle of recurring sickness and faltering growth (UNICEF, www.childinfo.org). Estimates of child malnutrition, based on prevalence of underweight and stunting, are from national survey data. The proportion of underweight children is the most common malnutrition indicator. Being even mildly underweight increases the risk of death and inhibits cognitive development in children. And it perpetuates the problem across generations, as malnourished women are more likely to have low-birth-weight babies. Stunting, or being below median height for age, is often used as a proxy for multifaceted deprivation and as an indicator of long-term changes in malnutrition.

In 2025, it is estimated that ****** women in the United States would develop uterine cancer. This statistic depicts the estimated number of new cancer cases among women in the U.S. in 2009 and 2025, by cancer type.

United States US: Prevalence of Underweight: Weight for Age: Female: % of Children Under 5 data was reported at 0.400 % in 2012. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.700 % for 2009. United States US: Prevalence of Underweight: Weight for Age: Female: % of Children Under 5 data is updated yearly, averaging 0.800 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2012, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.200 % in 1991 and a record low of 0.400 % in 2012. United States US: Prevalence of Underweight: Weight for Age: Female: % of Children Under 5 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Health Statistics. Prevalence of underweight, female, is the percentage of girls under age 5 whose weight for age is more than two standard deviations below the median for the international reference population ages 0-59 months. The data are based on the WHO's new child growth standards released in 2006.; ; World Health Organization, Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition. Country-level data are unadjusted data from national surveys, and thus may not be comparable across countries.; Linear mixed-effect model estimates; Undernourished children have lower resistance to infection and are more likely to die from common childhood ailments such as diarrheal diseases and respiratory infections. Frequent illness saps the nutritional status of those who survive, locking them into a vicious cycle of recurring sickness and faltering growth (UNICEF, www.childinfo.org). Estimates of child malnutrition, based on prevalence of underweight and stunting, are from national survey data. The proportion of underweight children is the most common malnutrition indicator. Being even mildly underweight increases the risk of death and inhibits cognitive development in children. And it perpetuates the problem across generations, as malnourished women are more likely to have low-birth-weight babies. Stunting, or being below median height for age, is often used as a proxy for multifaceted deprivation and as an indicator of long-term changes in malnutrition.

United States US: Prevalence of Severe Wasting: Weight for Height: Female: % of Children under 5 data was reported at 0.000 % in 2012. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.000 % for 2009. United States US: Prevalence of Severe Wasting: Weight for Height: Female: % of Children under 5 data is updated yearly, averaging 0.000 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2012, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.100 % in 2002 and a record low of 0.000 % in 2012. United States US: Prevalence of Severe Wasting: Weight for Height: Female: % of Children under 5 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Prevalence of severe wasting, female, is the proportion of girls under age 5 whose weight for height is more than three standard deviations below the median for the international reference population ages 0-59.; ; World Health Organization, Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition. Country-level data are unadjusted data from national surveys, and thus may not be comparable across countries.; Linear mixed-effect model estimates; Undernourished children have lower resistance to infection and are more likely to die from common childhood ailments such as diarrheal diseases and respiratory infections. Frequent illness saps the nutritional status of those who survive, locking them into a vicious cycle of recurring sickness and faltering growth (UNICEF, www.childinfo.org). Estimates of child malnutrition, based on prevalence of underweight and stunting, are from national survey data. The proportion of underweight children is the most common malnutrition indicator. Being even mildly underweight increases the risk of death and inhibits cognitive development in children. And it perpetuates the problem across generations, as malnourished women are more likely to have low-birth-weight babies. Stunting, or being below median height for age, is often used as a proxy for multifaceted deprivation and as an indicator of long-term changes in malnutrition.

United States US: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: Female: % of Children Under 5 data was reported at 1.200 % in 2012. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.200 % for 2009. United States US: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: Female: % of Children Under 5 data is updated yearly, averaging 2.400 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2012, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.200 % in 2002 and a record low of 1.200 % in 2012. United States US: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: Female: % of Children Under 5 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Health Statistics. Prevalence of stunting, female, is the percentage of girls under age 5 whose height for age is more than two standard deviations below the median for the international reference population ages 0-59 months. For children up to two years old height is measured by recumbent length. For older children height is measured by stature while standing. The data are based on the WHO's new child growth standards released in 2006.; ; World Health Organization, Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition. Country-level data are unadjusted data from national surveys, and thus may not be comparable across countries.; Linear mixed-effect model estimates; Undernourished children have lower resistance to infection and are more likely to die from common childhood ailments such as diarrheal diseases and respiratory infections. Frequent illness saps the nutritional status of those who survive, locking them into a vicious cycle of recurring sickness and faltering growth (UNICEF, www.childinfo.org). Estimates of child malnutrition, based on prevalence of underweight and stunting, are from national survey data. The proportion of underweight children is the most common malnutrition indicator. Being even mildly underweight increases the risk of death and inhibits cognitive development in children. And it perpetuates the problem across generations, as malnourished women are more likely to have low-birth-weight babies. Stunting, or being below median height for age, is often used as a proxy for multifaceted deprivation and as an indicator of long-term changes in malnutrition.

The leading causes of death in the United States are heart disease and cancer. However, in 2022, COVID-19 was the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for around six percent of all deaths that year. In 2022, there were around 45 deaths from COVID-19 per 100,000 population.

Cardiovascular disease

Deaths from cardiovascular disease are more common among men than women but have decreased for both sexes over the past few decades. Coronary heart disease accounts for the highest portion of cardiovascular disease deaths in the United States, followed by stroke and high blood pressure. The states with the highest death rates from cardiovascular disease include Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Alabama. Smoking tobacco, physical inactivity, poor diet, stress, and being overweight or obese are all risk factors for developing heart disease.

Cancer

Although cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, like deaths from cardiovascular disease, deaths from cancer have decreased over the last few decades. The highest death rates from cancer come from lung cancer for both men and women. Breast cancer is the second deadliest cancer for women, while prostate cancer is the second deadliest cancer for men. West Virginia, Mississippi, and Kentucky lead the nation with the highest cancer death rates.

The leading causes of death in the United States have changed significantly from the year 1900 to the present. Leading causes of death in 1900, such as tuberculosis, gastrointestinal infections, and diphtheria have seen huge decreases in death rates and are no longer among the leading causes of death in the United States. However, other diseases such as heart disease and cancer have seen increased death rates. Vaccinations One major factor contributing to the decrease in death rates for many diseases since the year 1900 is the introduction of vaccinations. The decrease seen in the rates of death due to pneumonia and influenza is a prime example of this. In 1900, pneumonia and influenza were the leading causes of death, with around *** deaths per 100,000 population. However, in 2023 pneumonia and influenza were not even among the ten leading causes of death. Cancer One disease that has seen a large increase in death rates since 1900 is cancer. Cancer currently accounts for almost ** percent of all deaths in the United States, with death rates among men higher than those for women. The deadliest form of cancer for both men and women is cancer of the lung and bronchus. Some of the most common avoidable risk factors for cancer include smoking, drinking alcohol, sun exposure, and obesity.

In the United States in 2021, the death rate was highest among those aged 85 and over, with about 17,190.5 men and 14,914.5 women per 100,000 of the population passing away. For all ages, the death rate was at 1,118.2 per 100,000 of the population for males, and 970.8 per 100,000 of the population for women. The death rate Death rates generally are counted as the number of deaths per 1,000 or 100,000 of the population and include both deaths of natural and unnatural causes. The death rate in the United States had pretty much held steady since 1990 until it started to increase over the last decade, with the highest death rates recorded in recent years. While the birth rate in the United States has been decreasing, it is still currently higher than the death rate. Causes of death There are a myriad number of causes of death in the United States, but the most recent data shows the top three leading causes of death to be heart disease, cancers, and accidents. Heart disease was also the leading cause of death worldwide.

The leading causes of death among Black residents in the United States in 2022 included diseases of the heart, cancer, unintentional injuries, and stroke. The leading causes of death for African Americans generally reflects the leading causes of death for the entire United States population. However, a major exception is that death from assault or homicide is the seventh leading cause of death among African Americans, but is not among the ten leading causes for the general population. Homicide among African Americans The homicide rate among African Americans has been higher than that of other races and ethnicities for many years. In 2023, around 9,284 Black people were murdered in the United States, compared to 7,289 white people. A majority of these homicides are committed with firearms, which are easily accessible in the United States. In 2022, around 14,189 Black people died by firearms. However, suicide deaths account for over half of all deaths from firearms in the United States. Cancer disparities There are also major disparities in access to health care and the impact of various diseases. For example, the incidence rate of cancer among African American males is the greatest among all ethnicities and races. Furthermore, although the incidence rate of cancer is lower among African American women than it is among white women, cancer death rates are still higher among African American women.

In 2023, there were an estimated 1.03 million cases of chlamydia among women in the United States and around 610,445 cases among men. Furthermore, that year, there were around 378,428 cases of gonorrhea among men and 221,176 cases among women. Despite the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) being more commonplace and testing and contraception, for the most part, widely accessible in the United States, rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, have all risen in recent years. Chlamydia in the United States According to the CDC, chlamydia is the most commonly reported bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States. In 2023, there were around 492 cases of chlamydia per 100,000 population, a substantial increase from a rate of 289 per 100,000 population in the year 2002. Those aged 20 to 24 had the highest rates of chlamydia in the U.S. in 2023. Although chlamydia often has no symptoms, it can cause serious health problems if left untreated, one of the reasons those who are sexually active should be regularly tested for STDs. Once diagnosed, chlamydia can be easily cured with antibiotics. Gonorrhea Rates of gonorrhea in the United States decreased after reaching a peak in the 1980s but began to rise again over the past decade. In 2023, there were 179.5 cases of gonorrhea per 100,000 population in the United States, compared to 98 cases per 100,000 population in the year 2009. While rates of chlamydia in the U.S. tend to be higher among women than men, rates of gonorrhea are higher among men, with those aged 20 to 24 the most affected. Like chlamydia, gonorrhea can be cured with medicine but can cause serious and permanent health problems if left untreated.

Rates of syphilis in the United States are higher among men than women. This is true for every race and ethnicity, although the difference varies greatly. For example, among the Black population, there were around 62.3 cases of syphilis among men per 100,000 population in 2023 and only 18.8 cases per 100,000 population among women. On the other hand, rates of syphilis among American Indians/Alaska Natives were similarly high for both men and women with rates of 63.6 and 52.9 per 100,000 population, respectively. What is syphilis? Syphilis is a common and treatable sexually transmitted disease (STD). Anyone who is sexually active can contract syphilis, however men who have sex with only men accounted for slightly more cases than other groups in 2022. There are four stages of syphilis, and each stage has different signs and symptoms. The stages are primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary. Syphilis can be cured with antibiotics. How many people get syphilis each year? In 2022, there were around 207,255 cases of syphilis in the United States. This was the highest number of cases recorded since the 1950s. In comparison, in the year 2000, there were only around 31,618 cases. Like chlamydia and gonorrhea, rates of syphilis in the United States have increased over the past couple decades reaching 62 per 100,000 population in 2022. However, this rate is still far below the rate of 146 cases per 100,000 population recorded in 1950. Rates of syphilis in the U.S. are highest among people in their twenties and early thirties.

New Hampshire is currently the state with the highest per capita alcohol consumption in the United States. Per capita alcohol consumption has increased since the mid-1990s, with beer as the most commonly consumed alcoholic beverage. The beer market in the U.S. was estimated to amount to over 145 billion dollars by 2027. Binge drinking Although New Hampshire consumes the highest amount of alcohol per capita, it reports lower rates of binge drinking than other states. The states with the highest binge drinking rates include the District of Columbia, North Dakota, and Montana. Binge drinking is typically defined as the consumption of 5 or more drinks within 2 hours for men and 4 or more drinks within 2 hours for women. Binge drinking is the most common form of excessive alcohol use and is associated with serious risks. Binge drinking risks Health risks associated with binge drinking include cancer, chronic diseases such as liver disease and heart disease, alcohol dependence, and unintentional injury such as from car crashes. Although the dangers of drinking and driving are clear, it remains a problem across the United States. In 2022, around 8.5 percent of those aged 21 to 25 reported driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol in the preceding year.

It was estimated that as of 2023, around **** million people in the United States had been diagnosed with diabetes. The number of people diagnosed with diabetes in the U.S. has increased in recent years and the disease is now a major health issue. Diabetes is now the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for ******percent of all deaths. What is prediabetes? A person is considered to have prediabetes if their blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. As of 2021, it was estimated that around ** million men and ** million women in the United States had prediabetes. However, according to the CDC, around ** percent of these people do not know they have this condition. Not only does prediabetes increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but also increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. The states with the highest share of adults who had ever been told they have prediabetes are California, Hawaii, and New Mexico. The prevalence of diabetes in the United States As of 2023, around *** percent of adults in the United States had been diagnosed with diabetes, an increase from ****percent in the year 2000. Diabetes is much more common among older adults, with around ** percent of those aged 60 years and older diagnosed with diabetes, compared to just ****percent of those aged 20 to 39 years. The states with the highest prevalence of diabetes among adults are West Virginia, Mississippi, and Louisiana, while Utah and Colorado report the lowest rates. In West Virginia, around ** percent of adults have been diagnosed with diabetes.

In 2022, the states with the highest death rates due to heart disease were Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Alabama. That year, there were around 257 deaths due to heart disease per 100,000 population in the state of Oklahoma. In comparison, the overall death rate from heart disease in the United States was 167 per 100,000 population. The leading cause of death in the United States Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for 21 percent of all deaths in 2022. That year, cancer was the second leading cause of death, followed by unintentional injuries and COVID-19. In the United States, a person has a one in six chance of dying from heart disease. Death rates for heart disease are higher among men than women, but both have seen steady decreases in heart disease death rates since the 1950s. What are risk factors for heart disease? Although heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, the risk of heart disease can be decreased by avoiding known risk factors. Some of the leading preventable risk factors for heart disease include smoking, heavy alcohol use, physical inactivity, an unhealthy diet, and being overweight or obese. It is no surprise that the states with the highest rates of death from heart disease are also the states with the highest rates of heart disease risk factors. For example, Oklahoma, the state with the highest heart disease death rate, is also the state with the third-highest rate of obesity. Furthermore, Mississippi is the state with the highest levels of physical inactivity, and it has the second-highest heart disease death rate in the United States.

The leading causes of death among the white population of the United States are cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Cardiovascular diseases and cancer accounted for a combined **** percent of all deaths among this population in 2022. In 2020 and 2021, COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death among white people. Disparities in causes of death In the United States, there exist disparities in the leading causes of death based on race and ethnicity. For example, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis is the ***** leading cause of death among the white population and the ****** among the Hispanic population, but is not among the ten leading causes for Black people. On the other hand, homicide is the ******* leading cause of death among the Black population, but is not among the 10 leading causes for whites or Hispanics. However, cardiovascular diseases and cancer by far account for the highest share of deaths for every race and ethnicity. Diseases of despair The American Indian and Alaska Native population in the United States has the highest rates of death from suicide, drug overdose, and alcohol. Together, these three behavior-related conditions are often referred to as diseases of despair. Asians have by far the lowest rates of death due to drug overdose and alcohol, as well as slightly lower rates of suicide.

The life expectancy for men aged 65 years in the U.S. has gradually increased since the 1960s. Now men in the United States aged 65 can expect to live 17 more years on average. Women aged 65 years can expect to live around 19.7 more years on average.

Life expectancy in the U.S.

As of 2021, the average life expectancy at birth in the United States was 76.33 years. Life expectancy in the U.S. had steadily increased for many years but has recently dropped slightly. Women consistently have a higher life expectancy than men but have also seen a slight decrease. As of 2019, a woman in the U.S. could be expected to live up to 79.3 years.

Leading causes of death

The leading causes of death in the United States include heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, chronic lower respiratory diseases and cerebrovascular diseases. However, heart disease and cancer account for around 38 percent of all deaths. Although heart disease and cancer are the leading causes of death for both men and women, there are slight variations in the leading causes of death. For example, unintentional injury and suicide account for a larger portion of deaths among men than they do among women.

The most common cause of death in Russia in 2023 was diseases of the circulatory system, with approximately *** deaths per 100,000 of the country's population. Furthermore, *** deaths per 100,000 population occurred due to neoplasms, which were the second leading cause of mortality in the country. The third-most common cause was diseases of the nervous system, accounting for nearly ** deaths per 100,000 residents. Are there more births or deaths in Russia per year? In recent years, the annual number of deaths was higher than the count of births in Russia. The natural decrease in the population, calculated as the difference between deaths and births, was around one million in 2021. The number of deaths per one thousand population, also known as the mortality rate, increased from **** in 2021 to **** in 2022. How long do Russians live on average? Russian residents born in 2022 were expected to live an average of ** years. The country had one of the largest gender gaps in life expectancy in the OECD, according to the World Bank's World Development Indicators in 2021. Women were expected to live for approximately ** years longer than men.

As of 2021, non-Hispanic white people in the United States had the highest incidence rates of skin cancer among all races and ethnicities. Skin cancer is one of the most commonly occurring cancers in the world. Furthermore, the United States is among the countries with the highest rates of skin cancer worldwide. Skin cancer in the U.S. There are a few different types of skin cancer and some are more deadly than others. Basal and squamous skin cancers are more common and less dangerous than melanomas. Among U.S. residents, skin cancer has been demonstrated to be more prevalent among men than women. Skin cancer is also more prevalent among older adults. With treatment and early detection, skin cancers have a high survival rate. Fortunately, in recent years the U.S. has seen a reduction in the rate of death from melanoma. Skin cancer prevention Avoiding and protecting exposed skin from the sun (and other sources of UV light) is the primary means of preventing skin cancer. However, a survey of U.S. adults from 2024 found that around ******* never used sunscreen.