Leading causes of death for Americans under 30
Older people are more likely to die from illnesses, while younger people from accidents or violence.
- Alex Greer, HealthGrove.com
- Updated
The leading causes of death for Americans are predominantly non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's. Given the average life expectancy in the U.S. of 78.8 years, it makes sense that these types of illnesses would rank so high, since they typically occur in the later stages of life.
When focusing on a younger demographic, however, the list changes significantly. HealthGrove, a health research site powered by Graphiq, decided to take a closer look at the leading causes of death for young Americans.
Using the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the team found the major causes of death in 2014 for people aged 6 to 29 years of age.* For reference, we've included the total number of deaths in 2014 and the crude death rate (the number of deaths per 100,000 Americans in 2014) on each slide.
Instead of diseases, people under the age of 30 are disproportionately affected by injury- and violence-related deaths. Two of the top five causes of death include accidental events such as traffic fatalities and poisoning (typically exposure to noxious substances), while suicide and homicide also rank in the top 10.
*Note: We focused on this age range to prevent the results from skewing toward problems related to very young children.
Compiled by Alex Greer, HealthGrove.com
- Updated
Total Deaths: 22
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.02
CDC Description: Diseases of appendix
- Updated
Total Deaths: 24
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.02
CDC Description: Enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile
- Updated
Total Deaths: 39
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.04
CDC Description: Meningitis
- Updated
Total Deaths: 62
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.06
CDC Description: Complications of medical and surgical care
- Updated
Total Deaths: 69
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.07
CDC Description: Aortic aneurysm and dissection
- Updated
Total Deaths: 72
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.07
CDC Description: Hodgkin's disease
- Updated
Total Deaths: 86
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.08
CDC Description: Discharge of firearms, undetermined intent
- Updated
Total Deaths: 102
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.1
CDC Description: Pneumonitis due to solids and liquids
- Updated
Total Deaths: 162
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.16
CDC Description: Influenza
- Updated
Total Deaths: 169
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.16
CDC Description: Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis
- Updated
Total Deaths: 184
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.18
CDC Description: Legal intervention
- Updated
Total Deaths: 186
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.18
CDC Description: Anemias
- Updated
Total Deaths: 187
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.18
CDC Description: Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
- Updated
Total Deaths: 195
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.19
CDC Description: Alcoholic liver disease
- Updated
Total Deaths: 197
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.19
CDC Description: In situ neoplasms, benign neoplasms and neoplasms of uncertain or unknown behavior
- Updated
Total Deaths: 200
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.19
CDC Description: Land transport accidents (unrelated to motor vehicles)
- Updated
Total Deaths: 225
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.22
CDC Description: Accidental discharge of firearms
- Updated
Total Deaths: 249
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.24
CDC Description: Water, air and space, and other and unspecified transport accidents and their sequelae
- Updated
Total Deaths: 307
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.3
CDC Description: Accidental exposure to smoke, fire and flames
- Updated
Total Deaths: 325
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.32
CDC Description: Septicemia
- Updated
Total Deaths: 336
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.33
CDC Description: Falls
- Updated
Total Deaths: 344
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.33
CDC Description: Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
- Updated
Total Deaths: 345
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.33
CDC Description: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease
- Updated
Total Deaths: 354
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.34
CDC Description: Pneumonia
- Updated
Total Deaths: 458
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.44
CDC Description: Diabetes Mellitus
- Updated
Total Deaths: 476
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.46
CDC Description: Chronic lower respiratory diseases
- Updated
Total Deaths: 481
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.47
CDC Description: Cerebrovascular diseases
- Updated
Total Deaths: 725
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.7
CDC Description: Leukemia
- Updated
Total Deaths: 892
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.86
CDC Description: Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities
- Updated
Total Deaths: 909
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 0.88
CDC Description: Accidental drowning and submersion
- Updated
Total Deaths: 1,098
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 1.06
CDC Description: Assault (homicide) other than firearms
- Updated
Total Deaths: 2,708
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 2.63
CDC Description: Malignant neoplasms (excluding Hodgkin's, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and leukemia)
- Updated
Total Deaths: 2,955
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 2.86
CDC Description: Major cardiovascular diseases
- Updated
Total Deaths: 3,891
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 3.77
CDC Description: Intentional self-harm (suicide) by discharge of firearms
- Updated
Total Deaths: 4,899
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 4.75
CDC Description: Intentional self-harm (suicide) by means other than firearm
- Updated
Total Deaths: 5,596
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 5.42
CDC Description: Assault (homicide) by discharge of firearms
- Updated
Total Deaths: 7,904
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 7.66
CDC Description: Accidental poisoning and exposure to noxious substances
- Updated
#1. Car Accidents 
Total Deaths: 10,821
Crude Rate (Deaths per 100,000 in 2014): 10.49
CDC Description: Motor vehicle accidents
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- Alex Greer, HealthGrove.com
The leading causes of death for Americans are predominantly non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's. Given the average life expectancy in the U.S. of 78.8 years, it makes sense that these types of illnesses would rank so high, since they typically occur in the later stages of life.
When focusing on a younger demographic, however, the list changes significantly. HealthGrove, a health research site powered by Graphiq, decided to take a closer look at the leading causes of death for young Americans.
Using the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the team found the major causes of death in 2014 for people aged 6 to 29 years of age.* For reference, we've included the total number of deaths in 2014 and the crude death rate (the number of deaths per 100,000 Americans in 2014) on each slide.
Instead of diseases, people under the age of 30 are disproportionately affected by injury- and violence-related deaths. Two of the top five causes of death include accidental events such as traffic fatalities and poisoning (typically exposure to noxious substances), while suicide and homicide also rank in the top 10.
*Note: We focused on this age range to prevent the results from skewing toward problems related to very young children.
Compiled by Alex Greer, HealthGrove.com
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