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Leading Causes of Death
Los Angeles County

2012-2021

Image of Heart

Image by Sbtlneet via Pixabay.com


Also see: Leading Causes of Death in Los Angeles County by Sex, Race & Age


The categories here reflect only the 14 leading causes of death that have been monitoring over past years. What is not specifically identified is the enormous number of deaths as a result of the unanticipated COVID-19 virus. COVID-19 deaths, however, are reflected in the dramatic increase in all deaths from 2019 to 2020. During 2020, Los Angeles County suffered 11,101 deaths related to COVID-19 (see breakdown for 2020), according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. In 2021, the county saw an even greater loss - more than 17,000 COVID-19 deaths. Numerically, that would rank COVID-19 as the county's leading cause of death during 2021, dethroning heart disease from its long reign as the county's number one killer.


Leading Causes of Death, Over Three-Year Period: 2019-2021

Ranked in order of death numbers.

Cause of Death 2019-2021 Deaths (Total) 2019-2021 Deaths (Average) Crude Death Rate* Age-Adjusted Death Rate*
All Causes 228,822 76,274.0 749.9 638.9
Cancer (All Forms) 43,336 14,445.3 142.0 119.7
Coronary Heart Disease 34,720 11,573.3 113.8 94.1
Alzheimer’s Disease 14,029 4,676.3 46.0 38.0
Cerebrovascular Disease (Stroke) 11,823 3,941.0 38.7 32.6
Cause of Death 2019-2021 Deaths (Total) 2019-2021 Deaths (Average) Crude Death Rate* Age-Adjusted Death Rate*
Accidents (Unintentional Injuries) 11,132 3,710.7 36.5 34.9
Diabetes 10,019 3,339.7 32.8 27.7
Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease 8,454 2,818.0 27.7 23.3
Lung Cancer 7,019 2,339.7 23.0 19.3
Influenza & Pneumonia 5,713 1,904.3 18.7 15.7
Cause of Death 2019-2021 Deaths (Total) 2019-2021 Deaths (Average) Crude Death Rate* Age-Adjusted Death Rate*
Drug Induced Deaths 5,578 1,859.3 18.3 17.9
Chronic Liver Disease & Cirrhosis 4,929 1,643.0 16.2 14.0
Colorectal Cancer 4,368 1,456.0 14.3 12.0
Female Breast Cancer 3,470 1,156.7 22.5 17.8
Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes 2,865 955.0 9.4 9.0
Cause of Death 2019-2021 Deaths (Total) 2019-2021 Deaths (Average) Crude Death Rate* Age-Adjusted Death Rate*
Prostate Cancer 2,617 872.3 17.3 17.4
Suicide 2,542 847.3 8.3 7.9
Firearm-Related Deaths 2,452 817.3 8.0 8.0
Homicide 2,043 681.0 6.7 6.8

* The crude death rate is the total number of deaths divided by the total population and is expressed per 100,000 population. The age-adjusted death rate is the death rate that would occur per 100,000 population using the 2000 U.S. standard population.

Source: California Department of Public Health


Leading Causes of Death, by Individual Year - 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021

Also see data for years 2012 to 2016.


Number of Deaths. Percentage in parentheses reflect numerical increase (+) or decrease (-) for that cause-of-death over previous year.

Rank 2021 (Preliminary) 2020 2019 2018 2017
All Causes All causes
83,300 (+0.6%)
All causes
81,728 (+26.7%)
All causes
64,502 (+0.5%)
All causes
64,200 (+0.8%)
All causes
63,688 (+1.1%)
#1 Diseases of heart
17,146 (-7.2%)
Diseases of heart
18,216 (+9.6%)
Diseases of heart
16,616 (-0.6%)
Diseases of heart
16,720 (+1.4%)
Diseases of heart
16,489 (+1.0%)
#2 Malignant neoplasms (cancer)
14,479 (-2.8%)
Malignant neoplasms (cancer)
14,588 (-0.1%)
Malignant neoplasms (cancer)
14,603 (-0.6%)
Malignant neoplasms (cancer)
14,698 (+0.6%)
Malignant neoplasms (cancer)
14,604 (+0.7%)
Rank 2021 (Preliminary) 2020 2019 2018 2017
#3 Alzheimer's disease
4,572 (-7.6%)
Alzheimer's disease
4,991 (+12.7%)
Alzheimer's disease
4,429 (+7.6%)
Alzheimer's disease
4,117 (-1.5%)
Alzheimer's disease
4,181 (+4.3%)
#4 Accidents (+unintentional injuries)
4,016 (-0.8%)
Cerebrovascular diseases
4,055 (+7.2%)
Cerebrovascular diseases
3,784 (+0.9%)
Cerebrovascular diseases
3,752 (-0.2%)
Cerebrovascular diseases
3,760 (+1.9%)
#5 Cerebrovascular diseases
4,001 (-0.9%)
Accidents (+unintentional injuries)
3,877 (+30.1%)
Accidents (+unintentional injuries)
2,979 (+13.0%)
Chronic lower respiratory diseases
3,088 (+0.1%)
Chronic lower respiratory diseases
3,084 (-0.9%)
Rank 2021 (Preliminary) 2020 2019 2018 2017
#6 Diabetes mellitus
3,506 (-2.3%)
Diabetes mellitus
3,535 (+18.9%)
Diabetes mellitus
2,973 (+10.1%)
Diabetes mellitus
2,700 (+1.3%)
Diabetes mellitus
2,666 (+7.2%)
#7 Chronic lower respiratory diseases
2,602 (-13.1%)
Chronic lower respiratory diseases
2,940 (+0.4%)
Chronic lower respiratory diseases
2,929 (-5.1%)
Accidents (+unintentional injuries)
2,637 (+1.7%)
Accidents (+unintentional injuries)
2,593 (-1.2%)
#8 Chronic liver disease & cirrhosis
1,958 (-11.2%)
Influenza & pneumonia
2,147 (+18.4%)
Influenza & pneumonia
1,814 (-16.9%)
Influenza & pneumonia
2,182 (+11.3%)
Influenza & pneumonia
1,961 (-5.7%)
Rank 2021 (Preliminary) 2020 2019 2018 2017
#9 Essential hypertension & hypertensive renal disease
1,838 (+3.8%)
Essential hypertension & hypertensive renal disease
1,760 (+14.6%)
Essential hypertension & hypertensive renal disease
1,536 (+2.7%)
Essential hypertension & hypertensive renal disease
1,495 (+6.1%)
Chronic liver disease & cirrhosis
1,421 (-1.9%)
#10 Influenza & pneumonia
1,769 (+3.9%)
Chronic liver disease & cirrhosis
1,615 (+13.7%)
Chronic liver disease & cirrhosis
1,421 (-1.9%)
Chronic liver disease & cirrhosis
1,449 (+2.0%)
Essential hypertension & hypertensive renal disease
1,409 (+8.8%)
#11 Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome & nephrosis
1,571 (+1.5%)
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome & nephrosis
1,524 (+12.5%)
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome & nephrosis
1,355 (-0.1%)
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome & nephrosis
1,356 (+2.0%)
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome & nephrosis
1,330 (+12.8%)
Rank 2021 (Preliminary) 2020 2019 2018 2017
#12 Parkinson's disease
892 (-8.2%)
Parkinson's disease
972 (+10.8%)
Parkinson's disease
877 (+7.7%)
Intentional self-harm (+suicide)
940 (+5.9%)
Intentional self-harm (+suicide)
888 (+5.6%)
#13 Assault (homicide)
868 (+0.6%)
Intentional self-harm (+suicide)
849 (-1.7%)
Intentional self-harm (+suicide)
864 (-8.1%)
Parkinson's disease
814 (+2.8%)
Parkinson's disease
792 (+17.7%)
#14 Intentional self-harm (+suicide)
794 (+9.5%)
Assault (homicide)
706 (+34.2%)
Assault (homicide)
526 (-10.5%)
Assault (homicide)
588 (-4.4%)
Assault (homicide)
615 (-3.5%)

Source: California Department of Public Health


Leading Causes of Death, by Individual Year - 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

Also see data for years 2017 to 2021.


Number of Deaths. Percentage in parentheses reflect numerical increase (+) or decrease (-) for that cause-of-death over previous year.

Rank 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
All Causes All causes
62,987 (+1.2%)
All causes
62,210 (+6.3%)
All causes
58,515 (-2.1%)
All causes
59,764 (+2.0%)
All causes
58,592 (+0.9%)
#1 Diseases of heart
16,332 (+0.3%)
Diseases of heart
16,287 (+5.8%)
Diseases of heart
15,394 (-4.8%)
Diseases of heart
16,167 (+2.2%)
Diseases of heart
15,814 (-2.5%)
#2 Malignant neoplasms (cancer)
14,498 (-0.3%)
Malignant neoplasms (cancer)
14,537 (+2.9%)
Malignant neoplasms (cancer)
14,128 (+1.7%)
Malignant neoplasms (cancer)
13,888 (-1.9%)
Malignant neoplasms (cancer)
14,164 (+1.6%)
Rank 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
#3 Alzheimer's disease
4,007 (+5.2%)
Alzheimer's disease
3,810 (+32.2%)
Cerebrovascular diseases
3,201 (-3.2%)
Cerebrovascular diseases
3,307 (-1.7%)
Cerebrovascular diseases
3,363 (+3.2%)
#4 Cerebrovascular diseases
3,689 (+0.0%)
Cerebrovascular diseases
3,690 (+15.3%)
Alzheimer's disease
2,883 (+11.8%)
Chronic lower respiratory diseases
2,988 (+8.4%)
Chronic lower respiratory diseases
2,757 (-8.6%)
#5 Chronic lower respiratory diseases
3,112 (+4.4%)
Chronic lower respiratory diseases
2,982 (+7.0%)
Chronic lower respiratory diseases
2,787 (-6.7%)
Alzheimer's disease
2,579 (+4.1%)
Alzheimer's disease
2,478 (+5.6%)
Rank 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
#6 Accidents (+unintentional injuries)
2,624 (+11.0%)
Diabetes mellitus
2,379 (+4.0%)
Diabetes mellitus
2,287 (+5.2%)
Influenza & pneumonia
2,266 (+2.9%)
Diabetes mellitus
2,203 (+0.4%)
#7 Diabetes mellitus
2,488 (+4.6%)
Accidents (+unintentional injuries)
2,365 (+7.0%)
Accidents (+unintentional injuries)
2,210 (+0.5%)
Accidents (+unintentional injuries)
2,198 (+7.0%)
Accidents (+unintentional injuries)
2,054 (-0.4%)
#8 Influenza & pneumonia
2,080 (-2.3%)
Influenza & pneumonia
2,128 (+3.3%)
Influenza & pneumonia
2,061 (-9.0%)
Diabetes mellitus
2,173 (+6.1%)
Influenza & pneumonia
2,048 (+10.3%)
Rank 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
#9 Chronic liver disease & cirrhosis
1,449 (-6.8%)
Chronic liver disease & cirrhosis
1,554 (+18.0%)
Chronic liver disease & cirrhosis
1,317 (-0.2%)
Chronic liver disease & cirrhosis
1,320 (+3.5%)
Chronic liver disease & cirrhosis
1,275 (+2.0%)
#10 Essential hypertension & hypertensive renal disease
1,295 (-2.6%)
Essential hypertension & hypertensive renal disease
1,329 (+16.1%)
Essential hypertension & hypertensive renal disease
1,145 (-4.4%)
Essential hypertension & hypertensive renal disease
1,198 (-3.7%)
Essential hypertension & hypertensive renal disease
1,244 (+17.8%)
#11 Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome & nephrosis
1,179 (-3.7%)
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome & nephrosis
1,224 (+23.8%)
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome & nephrosis
989 (+5.9%)
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome & nephrosis
934 (+4.9%)
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome & nephrosis
890 (+3.5%)
Rank 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
#12 Intentional self-harm (+suicide)
841 (+0.8%)
Intentional self-harm (+suicide)
834 (+3.6%)
Intentional self-harm (+suicide)
805 (+2.0%)
Intentional self-harm (+suicide)
789 (+4.0%)
Intentional self-harm (+suicide)
759 (-1.2%)
#13 Parkinson's disease
673 (-0.1%)
Parkinson's disease
674 (+12.9%)
Parkinson's disease
597 (+8.0%)
Assault (homicide)
586 (-2.0%)
Assault (homicide)
598 (-2.1%)
#14 Assault (homicide)
637 (+1.6%)
Assault (homicide)
627 (+15.0%)
Assault (homicide)
545 (-7.0%)
Parkinson's disease
553 (+8.9%)
Parkinson's disease
508 (-5.0%)

Source: California Department of Public Health