In a historic milestone, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Thursday that the U.S. death rate plummeted to an all-time low in 2025. According to their provisional data, this marks a significant achievement in public health.
The latest Vital Statistics Rapid Release report highlights that the death rate stood at 689.2 per 100,000 people. This represents a remarkable 4.6 percent decrease from 2024, establishing a new record for the lowest death rate the nation has ever seen.
In examining the underlying causes of mortality, heart disease and cancer continue to top the list as the primary culprits. These are followed by unintentional injuries, strokes, chronic lower respiratory disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes, which remain as significant health challenges.
Although the first seven leading causes of death remained unchanged from the previous year, the list did see a shift in the final three. In 2024, Nephritis, chronic liver disease, and suicide were prominent. However, the 2025 data shows influenza and pneumonia, along with kidney disease, rising in prominence, while chronic liver disease continues to be a major concern.
The report also sheds light on demographic disparities, revealing that death rates were notably higher among males, older adults, and Black individuals. This underscores ongoing public health challenges and highlights areas needing targeted intervention.
“The death rate decreased from 2024 to 2025 for all demographic groups except American Indian and Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and Asian people. Although the death rate decreased for people age 85 and older during this period, rates for this group remained higher than those for all other age groups,” the report stated.
“Death rates also decreased for several race and ethnicity groups; however, rates for Black people remain higher than those for all other groups.”
The data used for this report was derived from the National Vital Statistics System and accounted for 99 percent of deaths that occurred in 2025.
The report identified four limitations to the findings: The data is provisional, the timeliness of death certificate submissions varies by jurisdiction, race categories may have been misclassified and the methodology of population estimates varied between 2024 and 2025.
“Despite these limitations, this report provides an overview of provisional mortality in the United States during 2025,” reads the report. “Provisional death estimates can give researchers and policymakers an early signal about shifts in mortality trends and provide actionable information sooner than final mortality data. These data can inform public health policies and interventions aimed at reducing mortality.”