Leading Causes of Death – Females – Non-Hispanic black – United States, 2017

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Non-Hispanic black1, Female, All ages2
Leading Causes of Death, United States, Non-Hispanic black Females, 2017, all races and origins, all ages
Non-Hispanic black, Female, All ages Percent
1) Heart disease 22.8%
2) Cancer 21.5%
3) Stroke 6.5%
4) Diabetes 4.5%
5) Alzheimer’s disease 4.0%
6) Unintentional injuries 3.7%
7) Chronic lower respiratory diseases 3.5%
8) Kidney disease 3.1%
9) Septicemia 2.2%
10) Hypertension 2.1%

1Persons identified as White, Black, American Indian or Alaska Native, or Asian or Pacific Islander were of non-Hispanic origin. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race. Figures for origin not stated are included in “all races and origins” but not distributed among race and Hispanic origin groups. For more information on race and Hispanic origin classification please see the Technical Notes section of “Deaths: Leading Causes for 2017”.
2Figures include all ages, including age not stated.

Non-Hispanic black1, Female, by Age Group
Leading Causes of Death, 2017, Non-Hispanic black, Female, by Age Group
Age Group3
Rank2 1-19 years 20-44 years 45-64 years 65-84 years 85+ years All ages
1 Unintentional injuries
27.0%
Unintentional injuries
18.0%
Cancer
29.8%
Cancer
25.3%
Heart disease
27.2%
Heart disease
22.8%
2 Homicide
14.9%
Cancer
14.9%
Heart disease
21.6%
Heart disease
23.6%
Cancer
10.6%
Cancer
21.5%
3 Cancer
8.1%
Heart disease
14.1%
Unintentional injuries
5.1%
Stroke
7.1%
Alzheimer’s disease
10.5%
Stroke
6.5%
4 Birth defects
6.6%
Homicide
6.7%
Diabetes
4.9%
Diabetes
5.2%
Stroke
8.9%
Diabetes
4.5%
5 Suicide
5.5%
Diabetes
4.1%
Stroke
4.9%
Chronic lower respiratory diseases
4.3%
Diabetes
3.5%
Alzheimer’s disease
4.0%
6 Heart disease
4.4%
Suicide
3.3%
Chronic lower respiratory diseases
3.4%
Kidney disease
3.7%
Chronic lower respiratory diseases
3.0%
Unintentional injuries
3.7%
7 Chronic lower respiratory diseases
2.6%
Pregnancy complications
3.0%
Kidney disease
2.9%
Alzheimer’s disease
3.4%
Hypertension
3.0%
Chronic lower respiratory diseases
3.5%
8 Influenza and pneumonia
1.9%
Stroke
2.9%
Septicemia
2.3%
Septicemia
2.5%
Kidney disease
2.9%
Kidney disease
3.1%
9 Stroke
1.6%
HIV disease
2.8%
Chronic liver disease
1.8%
Hypertension
2.1%
Influenza and pneumonia
2.2%
Septicemia
2.2%
10 (tie rank)
Benign neoplasms
Diabetes
1.3%
Kidney disease
1.7%
Hypertension
1.8%
Influenza and pneumonia
1.8%
Septicemia
1.9%
Hypertension
2.1%

1Persons identified as White, Black, American Indian or Alaska Native, or Asian or Pacific Islander were of non-Hispanic origin. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race. For more information on race and Hispanic origin classification please see the Technical Notes section of  “Deaths: Leading Causes for 2017”.
2Based on number of deaths. Tie ranks are listed in order of ICD-10 code.
3Figures for age not stated are included in “all ages” but not distributed among age groups.

Short and Full Terms – 2017

Some terms in the leading causes of death tables have been shortened from those used in the National Vital Statistics Report. Below is a listing of the shortened terms used in the tables and their full, unabridged equivalents used in the report.

Short and Full Terms – Leading Causes of Death 2017
Short Term Full Term
Benign neoplasms In situ neoplasms, benign neoplasms and neoplasms of uncertain or unknown behavior
Birth defects Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities
Bronchitis Acute bronchitis and bronchiolitis
Cancer Malignant neoplasms
Chronic liver disease Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
Diabetes Diabetes mellitus
Heart disease Diseases of heart
HIV disease Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease
Homicide Assault (homicide)
Hypertension Essential hypertension and hypertensive renal disease
Kidney disease Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis
Perinatal conditions Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period
Pregnancy complications Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
Stroke Cerebrovascular diseases
Suicide Intentional self-harm (suicide)
Unintentional injuries Accidents (unintentional injuries)
Page last reviewed: November 20, 2019
Content source: Women's Health