Fastest Growing Causes of Death (2000–2017)

By abhishek.verma75000 · April 28, 2026

The data shows fluctuations in annual death counts, with 2015 recording the highest increase (+172,424 deaths).

The analysis produced a horizontal bar chart and data table showing the top 10 causes of death ranked by total deaths across all states and years. The visualization clearly displays which conditions account for the most fatalities, with causes ordered from highest to lowest total deaths.

2015 saw the largest year-over-year increase in total deaths across all causes, with 172,424 more deaths compared to the previous year. A bar chart has been generated showing the year-over-year changes across all years in the dataset, making it easy to see how 2015 stands out as a significant spike.

The overall age-adjusted death rate in the United States showed a clear downward trend from 2000 to 2017. It declined from 869.0 per 100,000 in 2000 to 731.9 per 100,000 in 2017 — a reduction of 137.1 points, or 15.8%. A line chart has been generated showing this trend year by year, making it easy to see the consistent improvement in mortality rates over this 17-year period.

The bar chart and data tables show the top 20 states with the highest age-adjusted death rates (all causes) for the most recent available year, 2017. The visualization uses a red color scale to highlight the states with the most elevated rates, making it easy to spot the highest-risk states at a glance.

The analysis successfully identified which states show the largest disparities in heart disease death rates compared to the national average. A horizontal bar chart was generated showing the top 20 states with the greatest deviation — both above and below the national average — making it easy to spot regional patterns at a glance.

The analysis identified which causes of death grew the fastest between 2000 and 2017 in the United States. Two bar and line charts were generated showing the top causes ranked by percentage growth, along with detailed trend data for the top 5 fastest-growing causes over the full time period.

The analysis identified the 15 states with the lowest average age-adjusted death rates, which can serve as public health benchmarks. Two charts were generated: a horizontal bar chart ranking all 15 benchmark states by their average death rate, and a trend line chart showing how the top 5 benchmark states have performed over time. These states consistently show lower overall mortality compared to the national average and could serve as models for public health policy.

Cancer has NOT overtaken heart disease in death rates — at least not yet. From 1999 to 2017, heart disease remained the leading cause of death, but the gap between the two has narrowed dramatically. A line chart shows both trends over time, making the convergence visually clear.

The analysis successfully identified which causes of death have shown the greatest decline in age-adjusted death rates over time. Two visualizations were generated: a bar chart ranking the top 10 causes by total decline, and a trend line chart showing how the top 5 declining causes changed year over year. Multiple data tables were also produced with the detailed figures for each cause.

The analysis identified the states that experienced the most dramatic changes in their death rate rankings between 2000 and 2017. A horizontal bar chart shows the top 15 states ranked by how much their position changed, with green bars indicating states that improved their ranking (lower relative death rates) and red bars showing states whose ranking worsened. A second grouped bar chart compares the actual age-adjusted death rates in 2000 vs. 2017 for the top 10 rank changers, making it easy to see both the direction and magnitude of change.

The analysis identified the 15 states that saw the largest increases in age-adjusted suicide death rates between 2000 and 2017. A bar chart has been generated showing these states ranked by the size of their increase, with color intensity reflecting the magnitude of the rise.

The analysis identified the 15 states that achieved the greatest reductions in overall age-adjusted death rates (per 100,000 population) between 2000 and 2017. A bar chart has been generated showing these top performers, ranked by the size of their reduction.

The analysis identified the leading cause of death for each US state in 2017. A bar chart and data tables have been generated showing the top cause of death (by number of deaths) for every state, with each cause color-coded for easy comparison.

Unintentional injury deaths have risen dramatically across the U.S. from 2000 to 2017, a trend strongly aligned with the opioid crisis. Nationally, deaths climbed from 97,900 to 169,936 — a 73.6% increase over just 17 years. Two charts were generated: one showing the top 10 states with the largest increases in age-adjusted death rates, and another showing the national death count year by year. Several data tables were also produced to support the analysis.

The analysis successfully compared how each cause of death's share of total U.S. deaths shifted between 2000 and 2017. Two visualizations were generated: a grouped horizontal bar chart showing the proportional share for each cause in both years side by side, and a diverging bar chart highlighting which causes gained (green) or lost (red) share over that period.

The analysis produced two visualizations revealing which causes of death show the greatest inequality across states. A bar chart highlights the top 10 causes ranked by variance in age-adjusted death rates, and a box plot shows the full distribution of death rates across states for the top 5 most variable causes — making it easy to see how much rates differ from state to state.

Alzheimer's disease has risen faster than any other leading cause of death in the U.S. from 2000 to 2017. Deaths from Alzheimer's nearly tripled — growing from 49,558 in 2000 to 121,404 in 2017, a staggering 145% increase. This makes it the 1 fastest-growing cause of death among all leading causes over that period. Two charts were generated to illustrate this: one showing a growth index (with 2000 as the baseline) where Alzheimer's towers above other causes, and another showing absolute death counts over time with Alzheimer's highlighted for easy comparison.