In 2022, the leading causes of death among children and adolescents in the United States aged 10 to 14 were unintentional injuries, intentional self-harm (suicide), and cancer. That year, unintentional injuries accounted for around 25 percent of all deaths among this age group.
Leading causes of death among older teens
Like those aged 10 to 14 years, the leading cause of death among older teenagers in the U.S. aged 15 to 19 years is unintentional injuries. In 2022, unintentional injuries accounted for around 37 percent of all deaths among older teens. However, unlike those aged 10 to 14, the second leading cause of death among teens aged 15 to 19 is assault or homicide. Sadly, the third leading cause of death among this age group is suicide, making suicide among the leading three causes of death for both age groups.
Distribution of the 10 leading causes of death among children and adolescents aged 10 to 14 years in the United States from 2020 to 2022
Characteristic
2020
2021
2022
Unintentional injuries
25.8%
25.6%
25.2%
Intentional self-harm (suicide)
17%
16.8%
13.4%
Cancer (malignant neoplasms)
12%
12.6%
12%
Assault (homicide)
8.4%
8.3%
10%
Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities
4.4%
5%
5.6%
Heart disease
3.3%
3.7%
3.9%
COVID-19
-
2.2%
1.9%
Chronic lower respiratory diseases (CLRD)
2.7%
1.3%
1.6%
Cerebrovascular diseases
1.3%
1.5%
1.5%
Influenza and pneumonia
1.5%
-
1.5%
Diabetes mellitus
1.5%
1.1%
-
All other causes
22.2%
21.9%
23.4%
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Percentage of all death causes25.2%25.2%13.4%13.4%12%12%10%10%5.6%5.6%3.9%3.9%1.9%1.9%1.6%1.6%1.5%1.5%1.5%1.5%23.4%23.4%25.6%25.6%16.8%16.8%12.6%12.6%8.3%8.3%5%5%3.7%3.7%2.2%2.2%1.3%1.3%1.5%1.5%1.1%1.1%21.9%21.9%25.8%25.8%17%17%12%12%8.4%8.4%4.4%4.4%3.3%3.3%2.7%2.7%1.3%1.3%1.5%1.5%1.5%1.5%22.2%22.2%202020212022Unintentional injuriesIntentional self-harm (suicide)Cancer (malignant neoplasms)Assault (homicide)Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomalabnormalitiesHeart diseaseCOVID-19Chronic lower respiratory diseases (CLRD)Cerebrovascular diseasesInfluenza and pneumoniaDiabetes mellitusAll other causes
0%10%20%30%2.5%5%7.5%12.5%15%17.5%22.5%25%27.5%
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CDC, & NCHS. (December 9, 2024). Distribution of the 10 leading causes of death among children and adolescents aged 10 to 14 years in the United States from 2020 to 2022 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved February 20, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1017954/distribution-of-the-10-leading-causes-of-death-among-children-ten-to-fourteen/
CDC, und NCHS. "Distribution of the 10 leading causes of death among children and adolescents aged 10 to 14 years in the United States from 2020 to 2022." Chart. December 9, 2024. Statista. Accessed February 20, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1017954/distribution-of-the-10-leading-causes-of-death-among-children-ten-to-fourteen/
CDC, NCHS. (2024). Distribution of the 10 leading causes of death among children and adolescents aged 10 to 14 years in the United States from 2020 to 2022. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: February 20, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1017954/distribution-of-the-10-leading-causes-of-death-among-children-ten-to-fourteen/
CDC, and NCHS. "Distribution of The 10 Leading Causes of Death among Children and Adolescents Aged 10 to 14 Years in The United States from 2020 to 2022." Statista, Statista Inc., 9 Dec 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1017954/distribution-of-the-10-leading-causes-of-death-among-children-ten-to-fourteen/
CDC & NCHS, Distribution of the 10 leading causes of death among children and adolescents aged 10 to 14 years in the United States from 2020 to 2022 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1017954/distribution-of-the-10-leading-causes-of-death-among-children-ten-to-fourteen/ (last visited February 20, 2025)
Distribution of the 10 leading causes of death among children and adolescents aged 10 to 14 years in the United States from 2020 to 2022 [Graph], CDC, & NCHS, December 9, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1017954/distribution-of-the-10-leading-causes-of-death-among-children-ten-to-fourteen/
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