Mortality (deaths)

While death is inevitable, public health concerns arise when preventable causes of death increase (e.g., influenza) or when new causes of death emerge (e.g., opioid overdose). Mortality rates and leading causes of death vary greatly by age, race/ethnicity, and geography. These data are used to monitor death rates and causes of death overall and in specific subpopulations to identify trends that may be of public health concern.

Key mortality statistics for Minnesota in 2020: 

• Number of deaths: 52,342 
• Mortality rate (all causes): 925.2 per 100,000 population

Leading causes of death:

• Cancer (19.0% of deaths): 175.7 per 100,000 population 
• Heart disease (16.4% of deaths): 151.4 per 100,000 population 
• COVID-19 (10.0% of deaths): 92.2 per 100,000 population 
• Accidents (6.3% of deaths): 58.7 per 100,000 population  
  • Falls (2.4%): 22.5 per 100,000 population 
  • Accidental poisoning (2.0%): 18.1 per 100,000 population 
  • Motor vehicle (1.0%): 8.8 per 100,000 population 

For national information, please see the National Vital Statistics System Mortality Data page.