Mortality

Data Up to Date as of:

February 2019

On This Page:

In 2015, the death rate for all cancers combined was 158.6 per 100,000 people per year.

Summary graph for Mortality, Click to see detailed view of graph

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Summary graph for Mortality, Click to see detailed view of graph

Introduction

The rate of death from cancer in the United States continues to decline among both men and women, among all major racial and ethnic groups, and for the most common types of cancer, including lung, colon and rectum, breast, and prostate cancers. The Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, published in the journal Cancer, shows that the death rate from all cancers combined is continuing the decline that began in the early 1990s.

Still, in 2015 cancers of the female breast, prostate, lung, colon and rectum, and pancreas accounted for nearly one-half (47 percent) of all cancer deaths in the United States. Lung cancer alone claimed nearly 27 percent of lives lost to cancer.

Measure

The number of cancer deaths per 100,000 people per year, age-adjusted to a U.S. 2000 standard population.

Healthy People 2020 Target

  • Reduce the overall cancer death rate to 161.4 cancer deaths per 100,000 people per year.
  • Reduce the colorectal cancer death rate to 14.5 deaths per 100,000 people per year.
  • Reduce the lung cancer death rate to 45.5 deaths per 100,000 people per year.
  • Reduce the female breast cancer death rate to 20.7 deaths per 100,000 females per year.
  • Reduce the prostate cancer death rate to 21.8 deaths per 100,000 males per year.
  • Reduce the death rate from cancer of the uterine cervix to 2.2 deaths per 100,000 females per year.
  • Reduce the oropharyngeal cancer death rate to 2.3 deaths per 100,000 people per year.
  • Reduce the melanoma cancer death rate to 2.4 deaths per 100,000 people per year.

Healthy People 2020 is a set of goals set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Note: Goals are indicated as blue line on Detailed Trend Graphs.

Data Source

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, 1975–2015.

Trends and Most Recent EstimatesHelp with navigating the graphs and data tables

All Cancer Sites Combined

By Sex
U.S. death rates for all cancers by sex, 1975-2015
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2015)
Rate per 100,000 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for U.S. death rates for all cancers by sex, 1975-2015 Both SexesClick to see the detailed trend graph for Both Sexes 158.6 158.2 - 159.1
MaleClick to see the detailed trend graph for Male 189.5 188.8 - 190.1
FemaleClick to see the detailed trend graph for Female 136.0 135.5 - 136.5
By Race/Ethnicity
U.S. death rates for all cancers by race/ethnicity, 1992-2015
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2015)
Rate per 100,000 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for U.S. death rates for all cancers by race/ethnicity, 1992-2015 All RacesClick to see the detailed trend graph for All Races 158.6 158.2 - 159.1
WhiteClick to see the detailed trend graph for White 159.5 159.0 - 159.9
BlackClick to see the detailed trend graph for Black 180.3 178.9 - 181.7
HispanicClick to see the detailed trend graph for Hispanic 111.0 109.9 - 112.2
Asian/Pacific IslanderClick to see the detailed trend graph for Asian/Pacific Islander 99.9 98.4 - 101.4
American Indian/Alaska NativeClick to see the detailed trend graph for American Indian/Alaska Native 149.5 143.2 - 156.0

Top 4 Cancer Sites

Comparison of Top Cancer Sites
U.S. death rates for the most common cancers, 1975-2015
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2015)
Rate per 100,000 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for U.S. death rates for the most common cancers, 1975-2015 Colon and RectumClick to see the detailed trend graph for Colon and Rectum 14.0 13.9 - 14.1
Lung and BronchusClick to see the detailed trend graph for Lung and Bronchus 40.5 40.3 - 40.7
Female BreastClick to see the detailed trend graph for Female Breast 20.4 20.2 - 20.6
ProstateClick to see the detailed trend graph for Prostate 18.8 18.6 - 19.0
Colon and Rectum Cancer by Sex
U.S. death rates for colon and rectum cancer by sex, 1975-2015
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2015)
Rate per 100,000 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for U.S. death rates for colon and rectum cancer by sex, 1975-2015 Both SexesClick to see the detailed trend graph for Both Sexes 14.0 13.9 - 14.1
MaleClick to see the detailed trend graph for Male 16.6 16.4 - 16.8
FemaleClick to see the detailed trend graph for Female 11.9 11.7 - 12.0
Colon and Rectum Cancer by Race/Ethnicity
U.S. death rates for colon and rectum cancer by race/ethnicity, 1992-2015
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2015)
Rate per 100,000 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for U.S. death rates for colon and rectum cancer by race/ethnicity, 1992-2015 All RacesClick to see the detailed trend graph for All Races 14.0 13.9 - 14.1
WhiteClick to see the detailed trend graph for White 13.7 13.6 - 13.8
BlackClick to see the detailed trend graph for Black 18.6 18.1 - 19.0
HispanicClick to see the detailed trend graph for Hispanic 10.9 10.6 - 11.3
Asian/Pacific IslanderClick to see the detailed trend graph for Asian/Pacific Islander 9.9 9.4 - 10.3
American Indian/Alaska NativeClick to see the detailed trend graph for American Indian/Alaska Native 16.9 14.8 - 19.2
Lung and Bronchus Cancer by Sex
U.S. death rates for lung and bronchus cancer by sex, 1975-2015
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2015)
Rate per 100,000 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for U.S. death rates for lung and bronchus cancer by sex, 1975-2015 Both SexesClick to see the detailed trend graph for Both Sexes 40.5 40.3 - 40.7
MaleClick to see the detailed trend graph for Male 49.6 49.2 - 49.9
FemaleClick to see the detailed trend graph for Female 33.5 33.3 - 33.8
Lung and Bronchus Cancer by Race/Ethnicity
U.S. death rates for lung and bronchus cancer by race/ethnicity, 1992-2015
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2015)
Rate per 100,000 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for U.S. death rates for lung and bronchus cancer by race/ethnicity, 1992-2015 All RacesClick to see the detailed trend graph for All Races 40.5 40.3 - 40.7
WhiteClick to see the detailed trend graph for White 41.4 41.2 - 41.6
BlackClick to see the detailed trend graph for Black 42.0 41.3 - 42.6
HispanicClick to see the detailed trend graph for Hispanic 17.8 17.4 - 18.3
Asian/Pacific IslanderClick to see the detailed trend graph for Asian/Pacific Islander 22.4 21.7 - 23.1
American Indian/Alaska NativeClick to see the detailed trend graph for American Indian/Alaska Native 35.0 32.0 - 38.2
Female Breast Cancer by Race/Ethnicity
U.S. death rates for female breast cancer by race/ethnicity, 1992-2015
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2015)
Rate per 100,000 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for U.S. death rates for female breast cancer by race/ethnicity, 1992-2015 All RacesClick to see the detailed trend graph for All Races 20.4 20.2 - 20.6
WhiteClick to see the detailed trend graph for White 19.8 19.6 - 20.1
BlackClick to see the detailed trend graph for Black 27.7 27.0 - 28.4
HispanicClick to see the detailed trend graph for Hispanic 13.5 13.0 - 14.1
Asian/Pacific IslanderClick to see the detailed trend graph for Asian/Pacific Islander 11.8 11.1 - 12.5
American Indian/Alaska NativeClick to see the detailed trend graph for American Indian/Alaska Native 15.0 12.5 - 17.8
Prostate Cancer by Race/Ethnicity
U.S. death rates for prostate cancer by race/ethnicity, 1992-2015
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2015)
Rate per 100,000 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for U.S. death rates for prostate cancer by race/ethnicity, 1992-2015 All RacesClick to see the detailed trend graph for All Races 18.8 18.6 - 19.0
WhiteClick to see the detailed trend graph for White 17.6 17.4 - 17.9
BlackClick to see the detailed trend graph for Black 36.9 35.8 - 38.1
HispanicClick to see the detailed trend graph for Hispanic 15.7 15.0 - 16.5
Asian/Pacific IslanderClick to see the detailed trend graph for Asian/Pacific Islander 8.9 8.2 - 9.7
American Indian/Alaska NativeClick to see the detailed trend graph for American Indian/Alaska Native 20.4 16.6 - 24.9

Additional Cancer Sites with Healthy People 2020 Targets

Comparison of Sites
U.S. death rates for additional cancer sites with Healthy People 2020 reduction goals, 1975-2015
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2015)
Rate per 100,000 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for U.S. death rates for additional cancer sites with Healthy People 2020 reduction goals, 1975-2015 Cervix UteriClick to see the detailed trend graph for Cervix Uteri 2.3 2.2 - 2.3
Melanoma of the SkinClick to see the detailed trend graph for Melanoma of the Skin 2.4 2.4 - 2.5
Oral Cavity and PharynxClick to see the detailed trend graph for Oral Cavity and Pharynx 2.5 2.5 - 2.6
Cervix Uteri by Race/Ethnicity
U.S. death rates for cervix uteri cancer by race/ethnicity, 1992-2015
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2015)
Rate per 100,000 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for U.S. death rates for cervix uteri cancer by race/ethnicity, 1992-2015 All RacesClick to see the detailed trend graph for All Races 2.3 2.2 - 2.3
WhiteClick to see the detailed trend graph for White 2.2 2.1 - 2.3
BlackClick to see the detailed trend graph for Black 3.3 3.1 - 3.6
HispanicClick to see the detailed trend graph for Hispanic 2.5 2.3 - 2.8
Asian/Pacific IslanderClick to see the detailed trend graph for Asian/Pacific Islander 1.9 1.6 - 2.1
American Indian/Alaska NativeClick to see the detailed trend graph for American Indian/Alaska Native 2.5 1.6 - 3.7
Oral Cavity and Pharynx by Sex
U.S. death rates for oral cavity and pharynx cancer by sex, 1975-2015
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2015)
Rate per 100,000 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for U.S. death rates for oral cavity and pharynx cancer by sex, 1975-2015 Both SexesClick to see the detailed trend graph for Both Sexes 2.5 2.5 - 2.6
MaleClick to see the detailed trend graph for Male 3.9 3.8 - 4.0
FemaleClick to see the detailed trend graph for Female 1.4 1.3 - 1.4
Oral Cavity and Pharynx by Race/Ethnicity
U.S. death rates for oral cavity and pharynx cancer by race/ethnicity, 1992-2015
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2015)
Rate per 100,000 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for U.S. death rates for oral cavity and pharynx cancer by race/ethnicity, 1992-2015 All RacesClick to see the detailed trend graph for All Races 2.5 2.5 - 2.6
WhiteClick to see the detailed trend graph for White 2.5 2.5 - 2.6
BlackClick to see the detailed trend graph for Black 2.6 2.4 - 2.7
HispanicClick to see the detailed trend graph for Hispanic 1.6 1.5 - 1.8
Asian/Pacific IslanderClick to see the detailed trend graph for Asian/Pacific Islander 2.2 2.0 - 2.4
American Indian/Alaska NativeClick to see the detailed trend graph for American Indian/Alaska Native 2.5 1.7 - 3.4
Melanoma of the Skin by Sex
U.S. death rates for melanoma of the skin by sex, 1975-2015
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2015)
Rate per 100,000 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for U.S. death rates for melanoma of the skin by sex, 1975-2015 Both SexesClick to see the detailed trend graph for Both Sexes 2.4 2.4 - 2.5
MaleClick to see the detailed trend graph for Male 3.6 3.5 - 3.6
FemaleClick to see the detailed trend graph for Female 1.5 1.5 - 1.6
Melanoma of the Skin by Race/Ethnicity
U.S. death rates for melanoma of the skin by race/ethnicity, 1992-2015
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2015)
Rate per 100,000 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for U.S. death rates for melanoma of the skin by race/ethnicity, 1992-2015 All RacesClick to see the detailed trend graph for All Races 2.4 2.4 - 2.5
WhiteClick to see the detailed trend graph for White 2.8 2.7 - 2.9
BlackClick to see the detailed trend graph for Black 0.3 0.3 - 0.4
HispanicClick to see the detailed trend graph for Hispanic 0.7 0.6 - 0.8
Asian/Pacific IslanderClick to see the detailed trend graph for Asian/Pacific Islander 0.3 0.3 - 0.4
American Indian/Alaska NativeClick to see the detailed trend graph for American Indian/Alaska Native 0.4 0.2 - 0.9

Selected Cancer Sites with Increasing Trends

U.S. death rates for selected cancer sites that are increasing annually^, 1975-2015
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2015)
Rate per 100,000 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for U.S. death rates for selected cancer sites that are increasing annually^, 1975-2015 Brain and Other Nervous SystemClick to see the detailed trend graph for Brain and Other Nervous System 4.4 4.4 - 4.5
Corpus and Uterus, NOSClick to see the detailed trend graph for Corpus and Uterus, NOS 4.8 4.7 - 4.9
Liver and Intrahepatic Bile DuctClick to see the detailed trend graph for Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Duct 6.6 6.6 - 6.7
ThyroidClick to see the detailed trend graph for Thyroid 0.5 0.5 - 0.5

Selected Cancer Sites with Decreasing Trends

Decreasing Greater than 1% Annually
U.S. death rates for selected cancer sites that are decreasing by 1% per year or greater^, 1975-2015
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2015)
Rate per 100,000 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for U.S. death rates for selected cancer sites that are decreasing by 1% per year or greater^, 1975-2015 Hodgkin LymphomaClick to see the detailed trend graph for Hodgkin Lymphoma 0.3 0.3 - 0.3
LarynxClick to see the detailed trend graph for Larynx 1.0 0.9 - 1.0
LeukemiaClick to see the detailed trend graph for Leukemia 6.3 6.2 - 6.3
Non-Hodgkin LymphomaClick to see the detailed trend graph for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 5.5 5.4 - 5.5
OvaryClick to see the detailed trend graph for Ovary 6.8 6.6 - 6.9
StomachClick to see the detailed trend graph for Stomach 3.1 3.0 - 3.1
Decreasing Less than 1% Annually
U.S. death rates for selected cancer sites that are decreasing by less than 1% per year^, 1975-2015
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2015)
Rate per 100,000 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for U.S. death rates for selected cancer sites that are decreasing by less than 1% per year^, 1975-2015 EsophagusClick to see the detailed trend graph for Esophagus 4.0 3.9 - 4.0
Kidney and Renal PelvisClick to see the detailed trend graph for Kidney and Renal Pelvis 3.8 3.8 - 3.9

Additional Information on Mortality

For the public

For health professionals

Scientific reports

Statistics

Year Range

1975-2015

Recent Summary Trend Year Range

2011-2015

Summary Tables

End of Life

Recent Summary Trend

Falling

Desired Direction

Falling