Overview

• The provisional age-adjusted death rate fell 3.8% from 2023 to 722 per 100,000, totaling nearly 3.1 million deaths.
• COVID-19 dropped out of the top 10 causes for the first time since 2020 as suicide moved into the tenth spot with nearly 49,000 deaths.
• Heart disease and cancer remained the leading causes, with unintentional injuries—including drug overdoses—holding third place.
• A separate CDC analysis found overdose deaths declined by nearly 27% in 2024, contributing to the overall mortality drop.
• Rates decreased across demographic groups but remained highest among Black Americans, and infant mortality stayed elevated with nearly 20,000 deaths.