NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 233 ■ January 2016

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

Mortality Among Centenarians in the United States, 

2000─2014

Jiaquan Xu, M.D.

Key findings

Data from the National 

Vital Statistics System, 

Mortality

● Death rates for centenarians 

increased from 2000 through 

2008 and then decreased 

through 2014 for both males 

and females.

● Death rates for centenarians 

increased from 2000 through 

2006 for the Hispanic 

population and from 2000 

through 2008 for the nonHispanic white and black 

populations, and subsequently 

decreased through 2014 for 

all racial and ethnic groups 

examined.

● The top five causes of death 

among centenarians in 2014 

were heart disease, Alzheimer’s 

disease, stroke, cancer, and 

influenza and pneumonia.

● Death rates for Alzheimer’s 

disease increased 119% 

between 2000 and 2014 among 

centenarians.

The population of the United States is aging. Although centenarians are still 

uncommon, the numbers of Americans aged 100 and over increased 43.6%, 

from 50,281 in 2000 to 72,197 in 2014 (1,2). As the number of centenarians 

increases, so does the number of deaths in this age group (3). National Vital 

Statistics System mortality data filed by the 50 states and the District of 

Columbia for years 2000 through 2014 were analyzed to determine the number 

of deaths, age-specific death rates by race and ethnicity, and sex-specific 

leading causes of death among centenarians.

Keywords: vital statistics • leading cause • death rates • National Vital 

Statistics System 

Death rates increased from 2000 through 2008 and 

then decreased through 2014 for both male and female 

centenarians.

 

Figure 1. Number of deaths and death rates for centenarians, by sex: United States, 2000–2014

 

1

Linear increase from 2000 to 2008 and decrease from 2008 to 2014 are statistically significant at p < 0.05 level.

NOTE: Access data table for Figure 1 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db233_table.pdf#1.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System, Mortality.

New information was added to the Data source and methods and References sections of this report on July 28, 2016. 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 233 ■ January 2016

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● The number of deaths for people aged 100 and over increased 41%, from 18,434 in 2000 

to 25,914 in 2014 (Figure 1). Deaths among females accounted for more than 82% of all 

deaths each year from 2000 through 2014.

● The death rate for female centenarians increased 10%, from 38.5 per 100 female 

centenarians in 2000 to 42.4 in 2008. The rate then decreased 14% through 2014. 

● The death rate for male centenarians increased 41%, from 29.2 in 2000 to 41.3 in 2008. The 

rate then decreased 20%, to 33.2 in 2014.

The death rate was highest for non-Hispanic white centenarians, followed 

by non-Hispanic black and Hispanic centenarians, throughout the period. 

● The death rate for non-Hispanic white centenarians was the highest among the three race 

and Hispanic origin groups examined from 2000 through 2014, followed by non-Hispanic 

black and Hispanic centenarians (Figure 2).

● The death rate for Hispanic centenarians increased 66%, from 17.4 in 2000 to 28.9 in 2006. 

The rate then decreased 23%, to 22.3 in 2014.

● Death rates increased 13% for non-Hispanic white centenarians and 20% for non-Hispanic 

black centenarians from 2000 through 2008. The rates then decreased 13% for non-Hispanic 

white and 15% for non-Hispanic black centenarians by 2014.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

Linear increase from 2000 to 2008 and decrease from 2008 to 2014 are statistically significant at p < 0.05 level. 2

Linear increase from 2000 to 2006 and decrease from 2006 to 2014 are statistically significant at p < 0.05 level.

NOTE: Access data table for Figure 2 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db233_table.pdf#2.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System, Mortality.

Figure 2. Death rates for centenarians, by race and Hispanic origin: United States, 2000–2014
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 233 ■ January 2016

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Death rates increased in 2014 compared with 2000 for 4 of the 10 leading 

causes of death among centenarians in 2014 and decreased for 3 causes.

● Death rates for centenarians increased 119% for Alzheimer’s disease, 88% for hypertension, 

34% for chronic lower respiratory diseases (CLRD), and 33% for unintentional injuries 

between 2000 and 2014 (Figure 3).

● The rates decreased 48% for influenza and pneumonia, 31% for stroke, and 24% for heart 

disease between 2000 and 2014.

● The changes in death rates for kidney disease, cancer, and pneumonitis due to solids and 

liquids were not statistically significant between 2000 and 2014.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

Significantly different from 2000 at p < 0.01 level. 2

Pneumonitis due to solids and liquids replaced atherosclerosis as the 10th leading cause of death in 2014. 

NOTES: Order for causes of death is based on the 2014 cause-of-death ranking. CLRD is chronic lower respiratory diseases. Access data table for Figure 3 at: 

http//www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db233_table.pdf#3. 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System, Mortality.

Figure 3. Percent change in death rates for the top 10 causes of death among centenarians in 2014: United States,

2000 and 2014
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 233 ■ January 2016

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In 2014, the top five causes of death for centenarians were heart disease, 

Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, cancer, and influenza and pneumonia. 

● For all centenarians, the top five causes of death in 2000 were heart disease, stroke, 

influenza and pneumonia, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease (Figure 4). In 2014, heart disease 

was still the leading cause of death, but Alzheimer’s disease became the second leading 

cause, followed by stroke, cancer, and influenza and pneumonia.

● For female centenarians, the top five causes of death in 2000 were heart disease, stroke, 

influenza and pneumonia, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer. In 2014, heart disease was still 

the leading cause, followed by Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, influenza and pneumonia, and 

cancer.

● For male centenarians, the top five causes of death in 2000 were heart disease, influenza and 

pneumonia, stroke, cancer, and CLRD. In 2014, Alzheimer’s disease replaced CLRD as the 

fifth leading cause of death, and cancer became the second leading cause.

● Between 2000 and 2014, the percentage of total deaths decreased significantly for heart 

disease, stroke, and influenza and pneumonia among both male and female centenarians. 

Increases were seen for Alzheimer’s disease for both males and females.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

Decreased significantly from 2000 at p < 0.01 level. 2

Increased significantly from 2000 at p < 0.01 level.

NOTE: CLRD is chronic lower respiratory diseases.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System, Mortality.

Figure 4. Percentage of total deaths for top five causes of death among centenarians, by sex: United States,

2000 and 2014
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Summary 

As the population in the United States has aged, the number of deaths among centenarians 

continues to increase (3). This report provides the most up-to-date mortality profile for U.S. 

centenarians for the last 15 years. Death rates increased for both male and female centenarians 

from 2000 through 2008 and decreased from 2008 through 2014. Deaths for females accounted 

for more than 82% of total deaths each year, and females accounted for 80%–84% of the total 

centenarian population from 2000 through 2014. The death rate was highest for non-Hispanic 

white centenarians, followed by non-Hispanic black and Hispanic centenarians throughout this 

period. Heart disease remained the leading cause of death in 2014 as in 2000 for both male and 

female centenarians. The percentage of total deaths from Alzheimer’s disease increased 124% 

between 2000 and 2014.

Definitions

Cause-of-death classification: Cause of death is determined based on medical information, 

including injury diagnoses and external causes of injury, that is entered on death certificates filed 

in the United States. This information is classified and coded in accordance with the International 

Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD–10) (4).

Centenarians: Those aged 100 and over, as reported on death certificates filed by the 50 states and 

the District of Columbia.

Leading cause of death: Ranked according to the number of deaths assigned to rankable 

underlying causes of death (5).

Underlying cause of death: Defined by the World Health Organization as “the disease or injury 

which initiated the train of events leading directly to death, or the circumstances of the accident 

or violence which produced the fatal injury” (4). It is selected from the condition entered by the 

medical certifier in the cause-of-death section of the death certificate. 

Data source and methods

All data in this report are from mortality files for the 50 states and the District of Columbia 

filed with the National Vital Statistics System for 2000 to 2014 (6). Death rates are based on 

intercensal estimates as of July 1, 2000 through 2009, and postcensal estimates as of July 1, 2010 

through 2014, that are consistent with the April 1, 2000, and April 1, 2010, censuses (7).

The death rates for centenarians shown in this report should be interpreted with caution. An 

overestimation of the centenarian population in the 2000 Census may have led to a slight 

underestimation of the death rates from 2000 through 2009 shown in this report (8). The rate of 

increase in the death rates for these years was also somewhat overestimated. The 2000 Census 

overestimation of the centenarian population did not have an impact on the death rates from 2010 

through 2014. The statistical significance of the rate of change of the 10 leading causes of death 

between 2000 and 2014 was not affected by the overestimation of the centenarian population in 

2000.

The significance of trends was tested using the Joinpoint Regression Program (9). Differences 

between percentages were evaluated using a two-tailed z test. 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 233 ■ January 2016

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About the author 

Jiaquan Xu is with CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Vital Statistics, 

Mortality Statistics Branch.

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau. Population estimates: National intercensal estimates (2000–2010). 

Intercensal estimates of the resident population by single year of age, sex, race, and Hispanic 

origin for the United States: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2010. Available from: http://www.census.

gov/popest/data/intercensal/national/nat2010.html. 

2. U.S. Census Bureau. Population estimates: Postcensal estimates for 2010–2014. Available 

from: http://www.census.gov/popest/data/national/asrh/2014/index.html.

3. Xu JQ. Quick Stats: Number of deaths among centenarians and percentage among all deaths, 

by sex—United States, 1980–2010. MMWR 62(46):941. 2013. Available from: http://www.cdc.

gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6246a9.htm.

4. World Health Organization. International statistical classification of diseases and related 

health problems, tenth revision (ICD–10). 2008 ed. Geneva, Switzerland. 2009. 

5. Heron M. Deaths: Leading causes for 2012. National vital statistics reports; vol 64 no 10. 

Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2015. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/

nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr64/nvsr64_10.pdf.

6. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital statistics data available online. Mortality multiple 

cause files. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data_access/vitalstatsonline.htm. 

7. National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System: U.S. census 

populations with bridged race categories. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/bridged_

race.htm.

8. Meyer J. Centenarians: 2010. U.S. Census Bureau, Census Special Reports. 2012. Available 

from: https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/reports/c2010sr-03.pdf.

9. National Cancer Institute. Joinpoint Regression Program (Version 4.1.1.) [computer 

software]. 2014.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 233 ■ January 2016

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NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 233 ■ January 2016

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Suggested citation

Xu JQ. Mortality among centenarians in the 

United States, 2000–2014. NCHS data brief, 

no 233. Hyattsville, MD: National Center 

for Health Statistics. 2016.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in 

the public domain and may be reproduced 

or copied without permission; citation as to 

source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health 

Statistics

Charles J. Rothwell, M.S., M.B.A., Director

Nathaniel Schenker, Ph.D., Deputy Director

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science

Division of Vital Statistics

Delton Atkinson, M.P.H., M.P.H., P.M.P., 

Director

Hanyu Ni, Ph.D., M.P.H., Associate Director 

for Science