WASHINGTON, Sept 10 — America’s mortality rate has dropped to its lowest point in four years, with COVID-19 no longer listed among the ten primary causes of death, according to new federal statistics.
Preliminary findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show the age-adjusted death rate declined nearly 4% in 2024, reaching 722 deaths per 100,000 residents. The figure is the lowest recorded since the health crisis began in 2020, when overall mortality spiked dramatically.
COVID-19, once a leading driver of fatalities, has fallen out of the top rankings for the first time. Its absence from the list made way for suicide, which returned as the tenth leading cause, drawing renewed focus on mental health concerns nationwide.
Heart disease remained the nation’s number one killer in 2024, accounting for more than 683,000 deaths. Cancer followed closely with over 619,000, while accidental injuries—including overdoses and accidents—occupied the third slot at just under 200,000. Both heart disease and cancer deaths rose compared to the previous year, even as overall rates declined.
The CDC report showed that older adults, men, and Black Americans still face disproportionately high death rates, though declines were observed across most population groups.
Public health specialists attributed the improvement largely to falling COVID-19 fatalities, supported by widespread vaccination, therapeutic advances, and accumulated immunity. Yet they emphasized that the climb in chronic illness and suicide deaths signals enduring challenges for the nation’s health system.
Officials cautioned that the figures are provisional, but they underscore a notable shift in the country’s mortality landscape—away from the pandemic’s immediate toll and toward broader concerns over long-term disease and mental health crises.
