By Ethan Covey

The U.S. age-adjusted death rate dropped nearly 4% in 2024, falling to its lowest recorded level since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In addition, for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, COVID-19 is no longer in the top 10 causes of death in the United States.

Changing Causes of Death

The report was based on provisional data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) National Vital Statistics System, and features 99.9% of all 2024 death records received and processed by the NCHS as of June 1, 2025.

During 2024, a total of 3,072,039 deaths occurred in the United States, resulting in an age-adjusted rate of 722.0 deaths per 100,000 U.S. standard population, a decrease of 3.8% from 2023.

“The death rate went down due to declines in COVID-19 deaths and drug overdose deaths,” said Gabriel Alvarado, a CDC spokesperson. "COVID-19 is no longer among the leading 10 causes of death.”

The three leading causes of death during 2024 were heart disease (683,037 deaths), cancer (619,812), and unintentional injury (196,488). Both the number of deaths from heart disease and deaths from cancer increased 2024 compared with 2023. Death by suicide replaced COVID-19 as the country’s 10th leading cause of death.

Racial Differences

Death rates for all demographic groups, except for infants younger than 1 year of age, decreased from 2023 to 2024. Although death rates decreased for all race and ethnic groups, disparities remain, with rates for Black individuals remaining higher than those for all other groups.

What to Do With These Data

“Provisional death estimates can give researchers and policymakers an early signal about shifts in mortality trends and provide actionable information sooner than final mortality data,” the authors wrote. “These data can inform public health policies and interventions aimed at reducing mortality.”

The sources reported no relevant financial disclosures.