Odds of Dying

The odds given in the data tree and corresponding table are statistical averages over the whole U.S. population and do not necessarily reflect the chances of death for a particular person from a particular external cause. Any individual’s odds of dying from various external causes are affected by the activities in which they participate, where they live and drive, and what kind of work they do, among other factors.

The one year odds are approximated by dividing the 2017 U.S. population (325,719,178) by the number of deaths. The lifetime odds are approximated by dividing the one-year odds by the life expectancy of a person born in 2017 (78.6 years). Please note that odds based on less than 20 deaths are likely to be unstable from year to year and are therefore not included in the table or data tree.

Statements about the odds or chances of dying from a given cause of death may be made as follows:

  • The odds of dying from (manner of injury) in 2017 were 1 in (value given in the one-year odds column).
  • The lifetime odds of dying from (manner of injury) for a person born in 2017 were 1 in (value given in the lifetime odds column).

For example, referring to the first line of the table:

  • The odds of dying from in a motor-vehicle crash in 2017 were 1 in 8,096.
  • The lifetime odds of dying in a motor-vehicle crash for a person born in 2017 were 1 in 103.
  • Chart
  • Data Table
How to Use Injury Facts® Charts and Tables

Odds of dying due to injury, United States, 2017 (a)

Type of accident or manner of injury Deaths One-year odds Lifetime odds
All external causes of mortality, V01-Y89, *U01, *U03b 247,498 1,316 17
     Deaths due to unintentional (accidental) injuries, V01-X59, Y85-Y86 169,936 1,917 24
          Transport accidents, V01-V99, Y85 43,024 7,571 96
               Motor vehicle accidents, V02-V04, V09.0, V09.2, V12-V14, V19.0-V19.2, V19.4-V19.6, V20-V79, V80.3-V80.5, V81.0-V81.1, V82.0-V82.1, V83-V86,V87.0-V87.8, V88.0-V88.8, V89.0, V89.2 40,231 8,096 103
               Pedestrian, V01-V09 7,450 43,721 556
               Pedalcyclist, V10-V19 1,024 318,085 4,047
               Motorcycle rider, V20-V29 4,832 67,409 858
               Occupant of three-wheeled motor vehicle, V30-V39 15 (c) (c)
               Car occupant, V40-V49 7,248 44,939 572
               Occupant of pick-up truck or van, V50-V59 1,562 208,527 2,653
               Occupant of heavy transport vehicle, V60-V69 357 912,379 11,608
               Bus occupant, V70-V79 30 10,857,306 138,134
               Animal rider or occupant of animal-drawn vehicle, V80 82 3,972,185 51,537
               Occupant of railway train or railway vehicle, V81 17 19,159,952 243,765
               Occupant of streetcar, V82 0 (c) (c)
               Other and unspecified land transport accidents, V83-V89 18,689 17,428 222
                    Occupant of special industrial vehicle, V83 6 (c) (c)
                    Occupant of special agricultural vehicle, V84 120 2,714,326 34,533
                    Occupant of special construction vehicle, V85 24 13,571,632 172,667
                    Occupant of all-terrain or other off-road motor vehicle, V86 1,005 324,099 4,123
                    Other and unspecified person, V87-V89 17,534 18,576 236
               Water transport accidents, V90-V94 466 698,968 8,893
                    Drowning, V90, V92 358 909,830 11,575
                    Other and unspecified injuries, V91, V93-V94 108 3,015,918 38,370
               Air and space transport accidents, V95-V97 385 846,024 10,764
                    Occupant of private or commercial fixed-wing aircraft, V95.2-V95.3 22 14,805,417 188,364
               Other and unspecified transport accidents and sequelae, V98-V99, Y85 867 375,685 4,780
                    Other specified transport accidents, V98 0 (c) (c)
                    Unspecified transport accident, V99 2 (c) (c)
          Nontransport unintentional (accidental) injuries, W00-X59, Y86 126,912 2,566 33
               Falls, W00-W19 36,338 8,964 114
                    Fall on same level from slipping, tripping, and stumbling, W01 744 437,795 5,570
                    Other fall on same level, W00, W02-W03, W18 12,368 26,336 335
                    Fall involving bed, chair, other furniture, W06-W08 1,551 210,006 2,672
                    Fall on and from stairs and steps, W10 2,493 130,654 1,662
                    Fall on and from ladder or scaffolding, W11-W12 569 572,441 7,283
                    Fall from out of or through building or structure, W13 553 589,004 7,494
                    Other fall from one level to another, W09, W14-W17 740 440,161 5,600
                    Other and unspecified fall, W04-W05, W19 17,320 18,806 239
               Exposure to inanimate mechanical forces, W20-W49 2,336 139,435 1,774
                    Struck by or striking against object, W20-W22 806 404,118 5,141
                    Caught between objects, W23 121 2,691,894 34,248
                    Contact with machinery, W24, W30-W31 572 569,439 7,245
                    Contact with sharp objects, W25-W29 148 2,200,805 28,000
                    Firearms discharge, W32-W34 486 670,204 8,527
                    Explosion and rupture of pressurized devices, W35-W38 23 14,161,703 180,174
                    Fireworks discharge, W39 8 (c) (c)
                    Explosion of other materials, W40 122 2,669,829 33,967
                    Foreign body entering through skin or natural orifice, W44-W45 30 10,857,306 138,134
                    Other and unspecified inanimate mechanical forces, W41-W43, W49 20 16,285,959 207,200
               Exposure to animate mechanical forces, W50-W64 140 2,326,566 29,600
                    Struck by or against another person, W50-W52 13 (c) (c)
                    Bitten or struck by dog, W54 36 9,047,755 115,111
                    Bitten or struck by other mammals, W53, W55 73 4,461,907 56,767
                    Bitten or stung by nonvenomous insect and other arthropods, W57 7 (c) (c)
                    Bitten or crushed by other reptiles, W59 0 (c) (c)
                    Other and unspecified animate mechanical forces, W56, W58, W60, W64 11 (c) (c)
               Accidental drowning and submersion, W65-W74 3,709 87,119 1,117
                    Drowning and submersion while in or falling into bath-tub, W65-W66 513 634,930 8,078
                    Drowning and submersion while in or falling into swimming-pool, W67-W68 723 450,511 5,732
                    Drowning and submersion while in or falling into natural water, W69-W70 1,795 181,459 2,309
                    Other and unspecified drowning and submersion, W73-W74 678 480,412 6,112
               Other accidental threats to breathing, W75-W84 6,946 46,893 597
                    Accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed, W75 1,044 311,992 3,969
                    Other accidental hanging and strangulation, W76 213 1,529,198 19,455
                    Threat to breathing due to cave-in, falling earth and other substances, W77 25 13,028,767 165,760
                    Inhalation of gastric contents, W78 286 1,138,878 14,490
                    Inhalation and ingestion of food causing obstruction of respiratory tract, W79 1,537 211,919 2,696
                    Inhalation and ingestion of other objects causing obstruction of respiratory tract, W80 3,393 95,997 1,221
                    Confined to or trapped in a low-oxygen environment, W81 5 (c) (c)
                    Other and unspecified threats to breathing, W83-W84 443 735,258 9,354
               Exposure to electric current, radiation, temperature, and pressure, W85-W99 265 1,229,129 15,638
                    Electric transmission lines, W85 63 5,170,146 65,778
                    Other and unspecified electric current, W86-W87 191 1,705,336 21,696
                    Radiation, W88-W91 1 (c) (c)
                    Excessive heat or cold of man-made origin, W92-W93 1 (c) (c)
                    High and low air pressure and changes in air pressure, W94 9 (c) (c)
                    Other and unspecified man-made environmental factors, W99 0 (c) (c)
               Exposure to smoke, fire and flames, X00-X09 2,812 115,832 1,474
                    Uncontrolled fire in building or structure, X00 2,235 145,736 1,854
                    Uncontrolled fire not in building or structure, X01 102 3,193,325 40,628
                    Controlled fire in building or structure, X02 14 (c) (c)
                    Controlled fire not in building or structure, X03 29 11,231,696 142,897
                    Ignition of highly flammable material, X04 118 2,760,332 35,119
                    Ignition or melting of nightwear, X05 6 (c) (c)
                    Ignition or melting of other clothing and apparel, X06 91 3,579,332 45,539
                    Other and unspecified smoke fire and flames, X08-X09 217 1,501,010 19,097
               Contact with heat and hot substances, X10-X19 90 3,619,102 46,045
                    Contact with hot tap-water, X11 31 10,507,070 133,678
                    Other and unspecified heat and hot substances, X10, X12-X19 59 5,520,664 70,237
               Contact with venomous animals and plants, X20-X29 111 2,934,407 37,333
                    Contact with venomous snakes and lizards, X20 4 (c) (c)
                    Contact with venomous spiders, X21 8 (c) (c)
                    Contact with hornets, wasps and bees, X23 89 3,659,766 46,562
                    Contact with other and unspecified venomous animal or plant, X22, X24-X29 10 (c) (c)
               Exposure to forces of nature, X30-X39 1,474 220,976 2,811
                    Exposure to excessive natural heat, X30 465 700,471 8,912
                    Exposure to excessive natural cold, X31 804 405,123 5,154
                    Lightning, X33 19 17,143,115 218,106
                    Earthquake and other earth movements, X34-X36 13 25,055,321 318,770
                    Cataclysmic storm, X37 132 2,467,570 31,394
                    Flood, X38 27 12,063,673 153,482
                    Exposure to other and unspecified forces of nature, X32, X39 14 (c) (c)
               Accidental poisoning by and exposure to noxious substances, X40-X49 64,795 5,027 64
                    Drug poisoning , X40-X44 61,311 5,313 68
                    Opioids (including both legal and illegal), T40.0-T40.4, T40.6 43,036 7,569 96
                    Alcohol, X45 2,265 143,805 1,830
                    Gases and vapors, X46-X47 977 333,387 4,242
                    Other and unspecified chemicals and noxious substances, X48-X49 242 1,345,947 17,124
               Overexertion, travel and privation, X50-X57 39 8,351,774 106,257
               Accidental exposure to other and unspecified factors and sequelae, X58-X59, Y86 7,857 41,456 527
     Intentional self-harm, X60-X84, Y87.0, *U03 47,173 6,905 88
          Intentional self-poisoning, X60-X69 6,554 49,698 632
          Intentional self-harm by hanging, strangulation, and suffocation, X70 13,075 24,912 317
          Intentional self-harm by firearm, X72-X74 23,854 13,655 174
          Other and unspecified means and sequelae, X71, X75-X84, Y87.0 3,690 88,271 1,123
          Terrorism, *U03 0 (c) (c)
     Assault, X85-Y09, Y87.1, *U01 19,510 16,695 212
          Assault by firearm, X93-X95 14,542 22,399 285
          Assault by sharp object, X99 1,721 189,262 2,408
          Other and unspecified means and sequelae, X85-X92, X96-X98, Y00-Y09, Y87.1 3,245 100,376 1,277
          Terrorism, *U01 2 (c) (c)
     Event of undetermined intent, Y10-Y34, Y87.2, Y89.9 5,799 56,168 715
          Poisoning, Y10-Y19 3,854 84,515 1,075
          Hanging, strangulation, and suffocation, Y20 156 2,087,943 26,564
          Drowning and submersion, Y21 285 1,142,874 14,540
          Firearm discharge, Y22-Y24 338 963,666 12,260
          Exposure to smoke, fire, and flames, Y26 167 1,950,414 24,814
          Falling, jumping, or pushed from a high place, Y30 119 2,737,136 34,824
          Other and unspecified means and sequelae, Y25, Y27-Y29, Y31-Y34,Y87.2, Y89.9 880 370,135 4,709
     Legal intervention, Y35, Y89.0 616 528,765 6,727
          Legal intervention involving firearm discharge, Y35.0 553 589,004 7,494
          Legal execution, Y35.5 24 13,571,632 172,667
          Other and unspecified means and sequelae, Y35.1-Y35.4, Y35.6-Y35.7, Y89.0 39 8,351,774 106,257
     Operations of war and sequelae, Y36, Y89.1 5 (c) (c)
     Complications of medical and surgical care and sequelae, Y40-Y84, Y88.0-Y88.3 4,459 73,048 929


(a) Latest official figures.
(b) Numbers following titles refer to external cause of injury and poisoning classifications in ICD-10.
(c) Rates based on less than 20 deaths are likely to be unstable from year to year and are therefore not included.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics.–Mortality Data for 2017 as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Deaths are classified on the basis of the Tenth Revision of “The International Classification of Diseases” (ICD-10), which became effective in 1999.