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The good news and the bad one arrive in the same package.

For the first time since 2020, since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the disease has dropped out of the top 10 causes of death in the United States, according to provisional data from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics released in September 2025. In 2024, US death rates dropped to less than 750 deaths per 100,000 people, showing a decline of almost 4% from 2023 as COVID-19 deaths fell sharply. This is the lowest overall death rate since the worst days of the pandemic.

While COVID-19 still causes tens of thousands of deaths, its decline marks a shift in America’s public health landscape. The same report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that causes like heart disease , cancer, unintentional injuries, stroke, and Alzheimer’s are once again claiming the highest number of lives.


What the report reveals

According to provisional federal data released in September 2025, COVID-19 has, for the first time since 2020, dropped out of the top ten leading underlying causes of death in the United States of America. The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), part of the CDC, found that overall mortality in 2024 was about 3,072,039 deaths, equating to 722 deaths per 100,000 people, indicating a decline in death rates of about 3.8%. This is the lowest rate recorded since the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020.

However, all’s not sunny and bright in the report.

Heart disease remains the number-one cause, claiming an estimated 683,037 lives in 2024. Close behind is cancer, with around 619,812 deaths. The third leading cause: unintentional injuries (which include drug overdoses, accidents, etc.). These three together, along with other major diseases, now dominate mortality trends in the US.

Other major causes of death that keep placing high are stroke, chronic lower respiratory diseases (like COPD), Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, kidney disease, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, and suicide. These causes reflect long-standing health problems, an aging population, lifestyle risks, and mental health or substance abuse issues.



Why COVID-19 fell out of the top ten list

Several factors helped COVID-19 fall from the top ten:

Fewer deaths from COVID-19: The number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 (either as an underlying or contributing cause) declined in 2024 compared to previous years.

Higher immunity and vaccinations: Although the debate over vaccination is still going strong, many Americans have some level of immunity either via vaccines, prior infection, or both. This means fewer people get severely ill or die when infected.

Better treatments and public health measures: Over time, medical treatments, understanding of the virus, and public health responses improved, reducing mortality.

Additionally, changes in reporting and data collection also play a role, as more accurate and complete data becomes available and provisional figures are refined.


The top 10 leading causes of death in 2024

Although COVID-19 has dropped out of the top ten list, that doesn’t make the list less concerning. Here are the top 10 causes of death in the US for 2024, in order:

Heart disease

Cancer

Unintentional injuries (accidents, overdoses, etc.)

Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases)

Chronic lower respiratory diseases

Alzheimer’s disease

Diabetes

Kidney disease

Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis

Suicide

These causes together point to both chronic disease burdens and public health issues related to behavior, access to care, mental health, and substance use.



What’s next

Even though COVID-19 is no longer among the top ten killers, it is still responsible for tens of thousands of deaths per year. It remains within the top 15 causes, especially as a contributing cause in people with other health conditions. Experts warn not to assume the virus is “done” — it can still surge, especially among vulnerable populations.

In fact, even now, the SARS-CoV-2 strains – descendants of the Omicron variant, which first emerged in late 2021 – are circulating in the US. Most of the current and emerging variants are classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as either "Variants of Interest" (VOI) or "Variants Under Monitoring" (VUM). Among all those variants, Nimbus (NB.1.8.1) and Stratus (XFG) have been particularly worrisome, causing painful “razor blade throat” and soreness in patients.


To sum it up, while the drop in the overall death rate is good news, many underlying causes – heart disease, cancer, and unintentional injuries – are rising or remain stubbornly high. For example, deaths from unintentional injuries, including drug overdoses, are a growing concern. Mental health (suicide), chronic illness (diabetes, kidney and liver disease), and aging (Alzheimer’s) are major pressures on the health care system.

What could be done about it? Public health policy will likely focus on prevention: promoting healthy lifestyles (diet, exercise), reducing risk factors (smoking, obesity, hypertension), improving mental health services, controlling substance abuse, improving access to quality health care, especially for populations that are disproportionately affected, like older adults, minorities, and rural communities.