Nearly 3.5 million people died in the U.S. in 2021, with 74.5 percent of those deaths attributed to 10 causes, according to a report by USA Facts, an organization that analyzes government data.
The site compiled data from the CDC Wonder databases, updated Jan. 11, which offer public health-related data including mortality statistics, natality data, cancer incidence and behavioral risk factors to identify the leading causes of death among adults in the U.S. in 2021.
Here are the 10 leading causes of death by total number of deaths:
1. Heart disease (695,547 deaths)
2. Cancer (605,213 deaths)
3. COVID-19 (416,893 deaths)
4. Unintentional injuries (224,935 deaths)
5. Stroke (162,890 deaths)
6. Chronic lower respiratory diseases (142,342 deaths)
7. Alzheimer's disease (119,399 deaths)
8. Diabetes (103,294 deaths)
9. Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis (56,585 deaths)
10. Kidney disease (54,358 deaths)