Today, the leading causes of death are well-known: heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, accidents, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, influenza/pneumonia, kidney disease, and septicemia. For detailed data from 1981 to the present, you can query the CDC’s WONDER database. But what were the leading causes of death in the last century?
1990s
In the 1990s, the leading causes of death reflected significant medical advancements and public health changes:
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Stroke
- Chronic lower respiratory diseases
- Accidents
- Pneumonia/Influenza
- Diabetes
- HIV/AIDS
- Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
- Suicide
1980s
In the 1980s, the list shows the impact of emerging diseases and ongoing health challenges:
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Stroke
- Accidents
- Chronic lower respiratory diseases
- Pneumonia/Influenza
- Diabetes
- Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
- Suicide
- HIV/AIDS
1970s
The 1970s saw the following as the main causes of death:
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Stroke
- Accidents
- Pneumonia/Influenza
- Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
- Diabetes
- Chronic lower respiratory diseases
- Suicide
- Kidney disease
in the 1960s
In the 1960s, the list of leading causes included:
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Stroke
- Accidents
- Pneumonia/Influenza
- Diabetes
- Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
- Kidney disease
- Chronic lower respiratory diseases
- Suicide
in 1950
 In 1950, the top 10 causes of death were as follows:
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Stroke
- Accidents
- Infant death
- Influenza/Pneumonia
- Tuberculosis
- Arteriosclerosis
- Kidney disease
- Diabetes
1940s
In the 1940s, the leading causes of death were:
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Stroke
- Accidents
- Pneumonia/Influenza
- Tuberculosis
- Diabetes
- Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
- Kidney disease
- Childbirth-related conditions
 1930s
During the 1930s, the main causes of death were:
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Stroke
- Pneumonia/Influenza
- Tuberculosis
- Accidents
- Diabetes
- Kidney disease
- Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
- Childbirth-related conditions
1920s
Going back to 1920, the leading causes of death were:
- Influenza/Pneumonia
- Heart disease
- Tuberculosis
- Stroke
- Kidney disease
- Cancer
- Accidents
- Diarrhea/Enteritis
- Premature birth
- Childbirth-related conditions
1910s
In the 1910s, the leading causes of death included:
- Influenza/Pneumonia
- Tuberculosis
- Diarrhea/Enteritis
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Kidney disease
- Accidents
- Cancer
- Senility
- Diphtheria
1900s
The earliest data from 1900 show the leading causes of death as:
- Influenza/Pneumonia
- Tuberculosis
- Diarrhea/Enteritis
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Kidney disease
- Accidents
- Cancer
- Senility
- Diphtheria
For a comprehensive look at the leading causes of death from 1900 through 1998, click here for the detailed report.
Final Thoughts
Understanding the historical leading causes of death provides valuable insights into the progress of medical science, public health advancements, and societal changes over the past century.
From the early 1900s, when infectious diseases like influenza, tuberculosis, and diphtheria were predominant, to the late 20th century, when chronic conditions such as heart disease and cancer became the leading killers, these shifts highlight the evolution of healthcare challenges and achievements.
