Lifetime odds of dying from select causes in the U.S. in 2022

In the United States, the average person has a 1 in 6 chance of dying from heart disease and a 1 in 7 chance of dying from cancer. In comparison, the odds of dying from a dog attack are 1 in 43,882. Sadly, the odds of dying from an opioid overdose in the U.S. are 1 in 55, making death from an opioid overdose more likely than dying from a motor vehicle accident. Opioid overdose death rates have increased insignificantly in the U.S. over the past decade.

Leading causes of death in the United States

Given the high lifetime odds of dying from heart disease or cancer, it is unsurprising that heart disease and cancer are the leading causes of death in the United States. Together, heart disease and cancer account for around 40 percent of all deaths. Other leading causes of death include accidents, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes. However, in 2020 and 2021, COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death in the United States and remained the fourth leading cause of death in 2022, with around 44.5 deaths per 100,000 population. 

Heart disease in the U.S.

Although heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, death rates due to heart disease have decreased steadily over the last two decades. In 2019, there were around 162 deaths due to heart disease per 100,000 population. Coronary heart disease is the most common form of heart disease in the United States. Common risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, excessive drinking, and being overweight or obese. The states with the highest rates of death from heart disease are Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Alabama.