NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 37 ■ May 2010

u.s. department of health and human services

centers for disease control and prevention

national center for health statistics

Key findings

Data from the National Vital 

Statistics System—Mortality

•	 An average of 16,375 

teenagers 12–19 years died in 

the United States every year 

from 1999 to 2006. This is less 

than 1 percent of all deaths 

that occur every year in the 

United States.

•	 The	five	leading	causes	

of death among teenagers 

are Accidents (unintentional 

injuries), homicide, suicide, 

cancer, and heart disease. 

Accidents account for nearly 

one-half of all teenage deaths. 

•	 As a category of accidents, 

motor vehicle fatality is the 

leading cause of death to 

teenagers, representing over 

one-third of all deaths.

•	 Among teenagers, nonHispanic black males have the 

highest death rate (94.1 deaths 

per 100,000 population).

•	 Homicide is the leading 

cause of death for nonHispanic black male teenagers. 

For all other groups, accident 

is the leading cause.

Mortality Among Teenagers Aged 12–19 Years: 

United States, 1999–2006

arialdi m. miniño, m.p.h.

Deaths to teenagers 12–19 years comprise a small fraction of the total deaths 

occurring each year in the United States. From 1999 to 2006 less than 1 

percent (0.68 percent)—or 131,000 deaths—occurred to teenagers 12–19 

years. This represents an average of 16,375 deaths per year for this group. 

Teenage mortality is an important public health issue because the majority 

of deaths among teenagers are caused by external causes of injury such as 

accidents,	homicide,	and	suicide.	These	causes	of	death	are,	by	definition,	

preventable.

Keywords: Death, children, National Vital Statistics System

What is the risk of dying for teenagers 12–19 years?

Each year from 1999 to 2006, the annual death rate for teenagers has 

averaged 49.5 deaths per 100,000 population. However, the risk of dying is 

not distributed evenly among all teenagers. Male teenagers are more likely to 

die than female teenagers at every single year of age from 12 to 19 years, and 

older teenagers are at higher risk of dying than younger teenagers. At age 12, 

for example, the death rate for males (20.2 deaths per 100,000) is 46 percent 

higher than the rate for females (13.8 deaths per 100,000). At age 19 the death 

rate for males (135.2 deaths per 100,000) is almost three times the rate for 

females (46.1 deaths per 100,000).

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NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 37 ■ May 2010

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Among teenagers 12–19 years, death rates increase with every additional year of age. This pattern 

is stronger for males. Starting at age 12 and ending at 19 years, the death rate among teenage 

males increases 32 percent on average for every additional year of age. For females, on the other 

hand, the death rate increases on average 19.5 percent for every additional year of age (Figure 1).

What are the leading causes of death for teenagers?

The leading causes of death for the teenage population remained constant throughout the period 

1999–2006: Accidents (unintentional injuries) (48 percent of deaths), homicide (13 percent), 

suicide (11 percent), cancer (6 percent), and heart disease (3 percent). Motor vehicle accident 

accounted for almost three quarters (73 percent) of all deaths from unintentional injury (Figure 2).

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NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 37 ■ May 2010

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Does teenage mortality vary by race, sex, and Hispanic origin?

The death rate for teenagers 12–19 years varies by sex, race, and Hispanic origin. Non-Hispanic 

black teenagers are 37 percent more likely to die than Hispanic and non-Hispanic white teenagers. 

The death rate for non-Hispanic black teenagers is 64.5 deaths per 100,000 population compared 

with 47.1 for Hispanic and 47.0 for non-Hispanic white teenagers (Figure 3). Among male and 

female teenagers, the death rate for non-Hispanic black male teenagers is the highest. The death 

rate for non-Hispanic black male teenagers is 94.1 deaths per 100,000 population.

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NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 37 ■ May 2010

■  4  ■

What cause of death accounts for the high death rates among non-Hispanic 

black male teenagers?

Non-Hispanic black male teenagers are disproportionately affected by homicide. Homicide is the 

leading cause of death for non-Hispanic black male teenagers. The risk of dying from homicide 

among non-Hispanic black male teenagers (39.2 per 100,000 population) is more than twice that 

of Hispanic males (17.1 per 100,000 population) (Figure 4) and about 15 times that of nonHispanic white males (2.6 per 100,000 population). 

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NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 37 ■ May 2010

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Summary

From 1999 to 2006, an average of 16,375 teenagers 12–19 years died each year. The overall risk 

of dying for teenagers (average annual death rate) is 49.5 deaths per 100,000 population. Accidents 

(unintentional	injuries),	homicide,	suicide,	cancer,	and	heart	disease	make	up	the	five	leading	

causes of death for teenagers. Motor vehicle fatality is the leading cause of accident death among 

teenagers, representing over one-third of all deaths to teenagers. Non-Hispanic black teenage 

males have the highest death rate compared with Hispanic and non-Hispanic white males and 

females. Homicide is the leading cause of death for non-Hispanic black male teenagers, with 

more	than	two	of	every	five	deaths	due	to	homicide.

Definitions

Death rate:	A	measure	of	the	individual	risk	of	dying	within	a	given	population.	It	is	defined	as	

the ratio of the number of deaths counted for a given population and within a given time period 

divided by the point estimate of the population at risk of dying. Denominator data necessary 

for computation of death rates are provided by the U.S. Census Bureau under a collaborative 

agreement with NCHS (1,2). Death rates are reported per 100,000 population.

Causes of death: Medical information (including injury diagnoses and external causes of 

injury)	entered	on	death	certificates	that	are	filed	in	the	United	States	is	classified	and	coded	

in accordance with the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health 

Problems Tenth Revision (ICD–10). For more information about the underlying cause of death, 

the	ICD	and	other	related	concepts	see	the	“Technical	Notes”	of	the	corresponding	yearly	final	

reports on mortality in the United States (3–10).
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 37 ■ May 2010

■  6  ■

Hispanic origin and race: Race and Hispanic origin are reported separately on the death 

certificate.	In	this	report,	tables	or	charts	showing	deaths	by	Hispanic	origin	and	race	combine	

the separate variables into three nonoverlapping groups: Hispanic, non-Hispanic white, and 

non-Hispanic black. Because of their relatively small numbers, groups of other ethnic origins and 

races outside of these three groups are not considered when analyzing differences by origin and 

race.	For	more	information	about	reporting	of	Hispanic	origin	and	race	on	the	death	certificate,	

see	the	“Technical	Notes”	of	the	corresponding	yearly	final	reports	on	mortality	in	the	United	

States (3–10).

Data source and methods

Data	are	from	the	public-use	Multiple	Cause	of	Death	files	from	the	National	Vital	Statistics	

System for years 1999–2006. For this report only decedents aged 12–19 years were studied, 

and combined data for years 1999–2006 were analyzed together. Differences between rates and 

percentages	were	evaluated	using	two-sided	significance	tests	at	the	0.05	level.	Terms	such	as	

“higher	than”	and	“less	than”	indicate	statistically	significant	differences.	Trends	of	increasing	

risk of death with increase in age were statistically evaluated using Spearman’s (nonparametric, 

rho)	correlation	coefficient.	Lack	of	comment	regarding	the	difference	between	any	two	statistics	

does not necessarily suggest that the difference was tested and found to not be statistically 

significant.

About the author

Arialdi Miniño is a statistician at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National 

Center	for	Health	Statistics,	Division	of	Vital	Statistics,	Mortality	Statistics	Branch.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 37 ■ May 2010

■  7  ■

References

1. National	Center	for	Health	Statistics.	Vintage	2007	bridged-race	postcensal	population	

estimates for calculating vital rates; resident population of the United States for 2000–2007, 

by county, single-year of age (0, 1, 2, ..., 85 years and over), bridged race (White, Black or 

African	American,	American	Indian	or	Alaska	Native,	Asian	or	Pacific	Islander),	Hispanic	origin	

(not	Hispanic	or	Latino,	Hispanic	or	Latino),	and	sex.	(Vintage	2007)	File	pcen_v2007_y06.

txt (ASCII). Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/bridged_race/data_documentation.

htm#vintage2007. 

2. National Center for Health Statistics. Bridged-race 1990–1999 intercensal population 

estimates (single-year of age detail) for calculating vital rates; resident population of the United 

States by year, single-year of age (0,1,2,..., 85 years and over), bridged race (White, Black or 

African	American,	American	Indian	or	Alaska	Native,	Asian	or	Pacific	Islander),	Hispanic	origin	

(not	Hispanic	or	Latino,	Hispanic	or	Latino),	and	sex.	File	icen_natA1.txt	(ASCII).	Available	

from:	http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/bridged_race/data_documentation.htm#july1999.	

3. Heron	MP,	Hoyert	DL,	Murphy	SL,	Xu	JQ,	Kochanek	KD,	Tejada-Vera	B.	Deaths:	Final	

data for 2006. National vital statistics reports; vol 57 no 14. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for 

Health Statistics. 2009.

4. Kung	HC,	Hoyert	DL,	Xu	JQ,	Murphy	SL.	Deaths:	Final	data	for	2005.	National	vital	

statistics reports; vol 56 no 10. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2008.

5. Miniño	AM,	Heron	MP,	Murphy	SL,	Kochankek,	KD.	Deaths:	Final	data	for	2004.	National	

vital statistics reports; vol 55 no 19. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2007.

6. Hoyert	DL,	Heron	MP,	Murphy	SL,	Kung	H.	Deaths:	Final	data	for	2003.	National	vital	

statistics reports; vol 54 no 13. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2006.

7. Kochanek	KD,	Murphy	SL,	Anderson	RN,	Scott	C.	Deaths:	Final	data	for	2002.	National	

vital statistics reports; vol 53 no 5. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2004.

8. Arias	E,	Anderson	RN,	Hsiang-Ching	K,	Murphy	SL,	Kochanek	KD.	Deaths:	Final	data	for	

2001. National vital statistics reports; vol 52 no 3. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health 

Statistics. 2003.

9. Miniño	AM,	Arias	E,	Kochanek	KD,	Murphy	SL,	Smith	BL.	Deaths:	Final	data	for	2000.	

National vital statistics reports; vol 50 no 15. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health 

Statistics. 2002.

10. Hoyert	DL,	Arias	E,	Smith	BL,	Murphy	SL,	Kochanek	KD.	Deaths:	Final	data	for	1999.	

National vital statistics reports; vol 49 no 8. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health 

Statistics. 2001.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 37 ■ May 2010

ISSN 1941–4927 (Print ed.) 

ISSN 1941–4935 (Online ed.) 

CS211725 

T36520 (05/2010) 

DHHS Publication No. (PHS) 2010–1209

Suggested citation

Miniño AM. Mortality among teenagers 

aged 12–19 years: United States, 1999–

2006. NCHS data brief, no 37. Hyattsville, 

MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 

2010.

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

Edward	J.	Sondik,	Ph.D.,	Director

Jennifer	H.	Madans,	Ph.D.,	Associate 

 Director for Science

Division of Vital Statistics 

Charles	J.	Rothwell,	M.S.,	Director

U.S. DEPARTMENT oF 

HEALTH	&	HUMAN	SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

National Center for Health Statistics 

3311 Toledo Road

Hyattsville, MD 20782

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