A line chart showing death rates from different causes in the United States over the 20th century, with Heart disease and Cancers as leading causes by the end of the century.

Line chart displaying historical death rates in the US by cause, from 1900 to 1998, highlighting the rise of heart disease and cancer and the decline of infectious diseases.

Death rates from different causes in the United States over the 20th century Reported annual death rate, based on the underlying cause listed on death certificates. This is shown as a crude rate per 100,000 people so it does not account for changes in the age structure of the population. 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 1998 Heart disease Cancers Stroke Accidents Pneumonia and influenza Diabetes Diarrheal disease Road accidents Suicide Tuberculosis Data source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Note: Data for specific causes may be missing or transient if they enter or fall out of the top 10 reported causes of deaths in any year. Our World in Data OurWorldinData.org/causes-of-death | CC BY