Leading Causes of Death and Chronic Diseases

The Leading Causes of Death and Chronic Disease report provides data for the top 10 causes of death and selected chronic diseases by county. When available, behaviors, incidence or prevalence, emergency department or hospital visits, and death data are presented.

Floridians today are expected to live 7.4 years longer (78.4 years) than they were in 1970 (71.0 years).

In 2021, 261,246 Florida residents died. The overall age adjusted death rate (AADR) in 2021 was 802.9 compared to 1,130.5 in 1970, a change of 28.98%. The gap between age-adjusted death rates of the Black and White populations has decreased, but the Black population continues to experience a higher rate. The Black AADR was 976.8 in 2021 compared to 1548.1 in 1970 whereas the White AADR was 782.9 in 2021 compared to 1074.2 in 1970. The Hispanic age-adjusted death rate has been measured since 2004. The Hispanic age-adjusted death rate has increased from 592.2 per 100,000 persons in 2004 to 648.5 per 100,000 persons in 2021.


Leading Causes of Death, Florida - 2023
RankUnder 11-45-910-1415-1920-2425-3435-4445-5455-6465-7475-8485+All Ages
1Perinatal Period ConditionsUnintentional InjuryUnintentional InjuryUnintentional InjuryUnintentional InjuryUnintentional InjuryUnintentional InjuryUnintentional InjuryCancerCancerCancerCancerHeart DiseaseHeart Disease
2Congenital Malformations HomicideCancerCancerHomicideHomicideSuicideCancerUnintentional InjuryHeart DiseaseHeart DiseaseHeart DiseaseCancerCancer
3Unintentional InjuryCancerHomicideSuicideSuicideSuicideHomicideHeart DiseaseHeart DiseaseUnintentional InjuryChronic Lower Respiratory DiseaseStrokeStrokeStroke
4Influenza and PneumoniaCongenital Malformations Influenza and PneumoniaHomicideCancerCancerCancerSuicideSuicideDiabetesStrokeChronic Lower Respiratory DiseaseAlzheimer's DiseaseUnintentional Injury
5Heart DiseaseInfluenza and PneumoniaCongenital Malformations Congenital Malformations Congenital Malformations Heart DiseaseHeart DiseaseChronic Liver Disease and CirrhosisChronic Liver Disease and CirrhosisChronic Liver Disease and CirrhosisDiabetesDiabetesChronic Lower Respiratory DiseaseChronic Lower Respiratory Disease
6SepticemiaHeart DiseaseStrokeStrokeHeart DiseaseCongenital Malformations Chronic Liver Disease and CirrhosisHomicideDiabetesChronic Lower Respiratory DiseaseUnintentional InjuryUnintentional InjuryUnintentional InjuryDiabetes
7StrokeSepticemiaHeart DiseaseInfluenza and PneumoniaSepticemiaInfluenza and PneumoniaDiabetesDiabetesStrokeStrokeChronic Liver Disease and CirrhosisAlzheimer's DiseaseCOVID-19Alzheimer's Disease
8HomicidePerinatal Period ConditionsAnemiasHeart DiseaseInfluenza and PneumoniaDiabetesHIV/AIDSStrokeNephritis, Nephrotic Syndrome and NephrosisSuicideNephritis, Nephrotic Syndrome and NephrosisParkinson's DiseaseDiabetesCOVID-19
9Nephritis, Nephrotic Syndrome and NephrosisStrokeNephritis, Nephrotic Syndrome and NephrosisNephritis, Nephrotic Syndrome and NephrosisChronic Lower Respiratory DiseaseStrokeStrokeHIV/AIDSChronic Lower Respiratory DiseaseHypertensionHypertensionCOVID-19Parkinson's DiseaseSuicide
10COVID-19AnemiasSepticemiaChronic Lower Respiratory DiseaseDiabetesPregnancy, Childbirth and The PuerperiumSepticemiaInfluenza and PneumoniaHypertensionNephritis, Nephrotic Syndrome and NephrosisSepticemiaNephritis, Nephrotic Syndrome and NephrosisHypertensionChronic Liver Disease and Cirrhosis



Leading Causes of Death and Chronic Disease, Alachua County, Florida
IndicatorYear(s)Measure TypeQuartile 
1234
County NumberCounty RateState NumberState Rate
Overall Health Status 1
Life Expectancy
2021-23 Estimated years of life
78.1
78.6
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population2
7,055
777.2
729,244
736.2
2023 Per 100,000 Population Aged 0-74 Years1
17,229
6,313.9
1,574,224
7,694.7
2023 Rate Per 1,000 Live Births1
12
4.7
1,339
6.0
2023 Rate Per 100,000 Live Births,
0
0.0
41
18.5
Leading Causes of Death 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Heart Diseases
2022 Percent
5%
2023 Per 100,000 Population Under 651
9
3.7
1,073
6.0
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population1
1,842
201.7
237,229
243.6
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population1
632
68.3
90,565
85.3
Cancer
2019-21 Per 100,000 Total Population3
4,160
479.2
418,985
452.2
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population2
1,380
145.7
140,955
136.5
COVID-19
2023 Per 100,000 Total Population2
34
10.7
3,645
9.9
Unintentional Injury
     Emergency Department Visits From Non-Fatal Self-Harm Injury
2023 Per 100,000 Total Population
117
39.2
11,734
58.7
     Hospitalizations from Non-Fatal Self Harm Injuries
2023 Per 100,000 Total Population
112
38.7
7,376
33.4
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population1
507
59.8
51,212
68.6
Cerebrovascular Disease (Stroke)
2022 Percent
3.6%
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population3
2,426
265.6
230,810
234.8
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population3
467
51.0
48,424
45.2
Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease (CLRD)
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population4
2,019
258.0
128,465
157.4
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population1
282
29.6
33,308
30.8
Diabetes
2022 Percent
12.2%
2023 Per 100,000 Population Under 652
335
136.1
24,664
138.5
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population3
23,943
2,669.4
2,122,901
2,246.6
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population3
492
56.8
34,945
38.6
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population1
188
20.0
22,870
22.6
Alzheimer's Disease
2023 Percent2
4,742
10.5%
547,614
11.2%
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population3
171
18.8
19,078
17.3
Chronic Liver Disease and Cirrhosis
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population2
117
13.5
11,278
12.7
Nephritis
2022 Percent
4.3%
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population2
100
10.7
10,744
10.4
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
2022 Percent
38.5%
2023 Per 100,000 Population Under 652
<5
0.8
609
3.4
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population1
2,856
342.0
345,127
429.4
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population3
3,306
363.8
310,958
319.9
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population2
78
8.5
10,144
9.7
Suicide
2023 Percent
30.5%
2021 Percent
18.4%
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population3
4,183
470.1
285,854
457.1
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population2
122
14.4
10,328
14.0
Parkinson's Disease
     Emergency Department Visits From Parkinson's Disease 
2023 Per 100,000 Total Population
8
2.7
1,004
4.4
     Hospitalizations From Parkinson's Disease
2023 Per 100,000 Total Population
58
19.9
3,400
15.0
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population4
117
13.0
9,625
8.8
Influenza and Pneumonia
Per 100,000 Total Population
2023 Per 100,000 Population Under 652
168
68.2
12,533
70.4
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population2
76
8.3
8,582
8.4
Homicide
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population3
57
6.9
4,270
6.9
In Situ, Benign, Uncertain/Unknown Behavior Neoplasms
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population3
44
4.7
3,797
3.6
Medical and Surgical Care Complications
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population2
9
0.9
898
0.9
Congenital and Chromosomal Abnormalities
2023 Per 100,000 Live Births
3
118.1
258
116.5
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population4
36
5.2
1,826
3.0
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
2023 Per 100,000 Total Population3
44
15.1
4,725
20.8
2023 Per 100,000 Total Population3
27
9.3
1,981
8.7
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population3
26
3.1
1,835
2.3
Other Causes of Death and Selected Chronic Diseases 1, 2, 4, 5
Arthritis
2022 Percent
28.4%
2021 Percent
39.1%
Asthma
2023 Percent
8.8%
2022 Percent
9.3%
2023 Per 100,000 Population Under 54
94
697.4
5,508
487.4
2023 Per 100,000 Population Under 654
168
68.2
8,418
47.3
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population3
3,084
409.7
239,664
417.0
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population4
614
88.3
27,944
44.4
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population4
13
1.6
594
0.7
Breast Cancer
2022 Percent
55.5%
2019-21 Per 100,000 Females4
640
145.5
58,161
127.3
2021-23 Per 100,000 Females3
106
21.4
9,567
18.4
Cervical Cancer
2020 Percent
40%
2019-21 Per 100,000 Females1
22
6.1
3,205
8.9
2021-23 Per 100,000 Females1
8
1.6
1,091
2.5
Colorectal Cancer
2020 Percent
19.8%
2022 Percent
66.2%
2019-21 Per 100,000 Total Population2
282
33.6
31,959
35.1
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population1
107
11.6
12,314
12.3
Lung Cancer
2019-21 Per 100,000 Total Population2
491
54.2
52,596
52.3
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population2
313
32.3
31,566
29.6
Melanoma
2019-21 Per 100,000 Total Population2
209
24.7
23,265
25.3
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population4
35
3.7
2,108
2.1
Prostate Cancer
2020 Percent
44.4%
2019-21 Per 100,000 Males4
477
113.0
46,238
98.8
2021-23 Per 100,000 Males4
94
23.2
7,983
16.6
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
2022 Percent
7.4%
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population1
3,040
383.7
350,296
517.4
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population4
1,405
169.8
100,521
113.0
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population1
282
29.6
33,308
30.8
Epilepsy
2022 Percent
2%
2022 Percent
41%
2022 Percent
43.4%
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population3
3,567
436.4
222,579
341.5
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population4
4,867
564.2
308,427
397.3
2023 Per 100,000 Population 6 and Older2
57
20.7
5,254
24.7
2023 Per 100,000 Population Under 652
189
76.8
14,502
81.4
Heart Attack
2022 Percent
4.7%
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population1
143
15.7
21,706
20.8
Heart Failure
2023 Per 100,000 Population Under 653
218
88.6
15,291
85.8
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population4
16,662
1,831.0
1,343,607
1,340.0
2021-23 Per 100,000 Total Population3
166
18.2
13,460
12.5
3/31/2025 5:13:22 PM

Data Note(s)

  • FLHealthCharts.gov is provided by the Florida Department of Health, Division of Public Health Statistics and Performance Management.

  • Rate ratios in this report compare rates of two populations. For example, if the ratio of the black rate to the white rate is 2:1 it would mean that the black rate is two times the white rate. A ratio of 0.5:1 would mean that the black rate is half of the white rate. Rate ratios are not calculated when a rate is zero, and the county ratio cell will contain "N/A".

  • All indicators in this profile, except the indicators from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), report rates based on the entire black population and entire white population. Indicators from the BRFSS only include non-Hispanic blacks and non-Hispanic whites in the rates reported. These indicators all begin with the word "Adults".

  • When race and ethnicity data are not available, rate ratios are not provided.

  • Cancer incidence counts are suppressed (left blank) when counts are between 1 and 9.

  • Age-adjusted death rates are computed using the year 2000 standard population.

  • Green, yellow, orange and red county quartiles represent the most to the least favorable situation (1st to 4th quartile). Light to dark blue county quartiles represent density from lowest to highest (1st to 4th).

  • Data Sources

  • 1 Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics

  • 2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Florida Department of Health, Division of Community Health Promotion

  • 3 Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA)

  • 4 University of Miami (FL) Medical School, Florida Cancer Data System

  • 5 Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA)

  • 6 Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Communicable Diseases