Although we yet have no final numbers for all causes of death in Los Angeles County in 2020, we do know that, by early December, more than 8,000 COVID-19-related deaths were recorded in the county. This likely would rank COVID-19 as Los Angeles County's third leading cause of death, following coronary heart disease and cancer.
Also see for L.A. County: Leading Causes of Death/Premature Death by Year
and Leading Causes of Death and Premature Death by Race/Ethnicity
and Life Expectancy by Race in Los Angeles County
| Cause of Death | Deaths (Average) | Crude Death Rate* | Age-Adjusted Death Rate* | 95% Confidence Limit (Lower) | 95% Confidence Limit (Upper) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Causes | 63,559.0 | 619.4 | 568.4 | 563.9 | 572.9 |
| All Cancers | 14,583.7 | 142.1 | 129.9 | 127.7 | 132.0 |
| Coronary Heart Disease | 11,240.0 | 109.5 | 98.9 | 97.0 | 100.7 |
| Alzheimer's Disease | 4,097.0 | 39.9 | 36.2 | 35.1 | 37.3 |
| Cerebrovascular Disease (Stroke) | 3,731.3 | 36.4 | 33.4 | 32.3 | 34.5 |
| Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease | 3,093.7 | 30.1 | 27.8 | 26.8 | 28.8 |
| Diabetes | 2,615.7 | 25.5 | 23.2 | 22.3 | 24.1 |
| Accidents (Unintentional Injuries) | 2,615.0 | 25.5 | 24.3 | 23.4 | 25.3 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths (Average) | Crude Death Rate* | Age-Adjusted Death Rate* | 95% Confidence Limit (Lower) | 95% Confidence Limit (Upper) |
| Lung Cancer | 2,596.0 | 25.3 | 23.3 | 22.4 | 24.2 |
| Influenza/Pneumonia | 2,072.7 | 20.2 | 18.5 | 17.7 | 19.4 |
| Chronic Liver Disease & Cirrhosis | 1,438.0 | 14.0 | 12.6 | 11.9 | 13.2 |
| Colorectal Cancer | 1,418.3 | 13.8 | 12.6 | 12.0 | 13.3 |
| Female Breast Cancer | 1,157.0 | 22.2 | 18.6 | 17.5 | 19.7 |
| Drug-Induced Deaths | 962.3 | 9.4 | 9.0 | 8.4 | 9.6 |
| Prostate Cancer | 890.3 | 17.6 | 19.6 | 18.3 | 20.9 |
| Suicide | 887.3 | 8.6 | 8.3 | 7.7 | 8.8 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths (Average) | Crude Death Rate* | Age-Adjusted Death Rate* | 95% Confidence Limit (Lower) | 95% Confidence Limit (Upper) |
| Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes | 878.0 | 8.6 | 8.2 | 7.7 | 8.8 |
| Firearm-Related Deaths | 775.0 | 7.6 | 7.4 | 6.9 | 8.0 |
| Homicide | 613.3 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.5 | 6.4 |
* Death rates are per 100,000 population (the estimated population for 2017 per the California Dept. of Finance). Crude death rate is the total number of deaths due to any cause occurring among the population during the specified period, per 100,000 population. Age-adjusted death rate is the result of a statistical process that adjusts for differences in death rates by cause of death among different age groups, per 100,000 population.
Source: California Dept. of Public Health
| 3-Year Period | Deaths (Average) | Crude Death Rate** | Age-Adjusted Death Rate** |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-2018 | 63,559.0 | 619.4 | 568.4 |
| 2015-2017 | 62,894.0 | 615.7 | 574.1 |
| 2014-2016 | 61,076.0 | 599.6 | 572.6 |
| 2013-2015 | 60,023.3 | 595.3 | 581.3 |
| 2012-2014 | 59,022.0 | 589.6 | 585.1 |
| 2011-2013 | 58,808.7 | 593.3 | 609.8 |
| 2010-2012 | 57,735.3 | 585.5 | 611.4 |
| 2009-2011 | 57,414.3 | 584.2 | 629.1 |
| 3-Year Period | Deaths (Average) | Crude Death Rate** | Age-Adjusted Death Rate** |
| 2008-2010 | 57,400.3 | 549.3 | 587.5 |
| 2007-2009 | 57,997.7 | 558.5 | 605.6 |
| 2006-2008 | 58,622.7 | 567.9 | 624.4 |
| 2005-2007 | 59,340.0 | 578.2 | 644.4 |
| 2004-2006 | 59,614.3 | 583.5 | 659.0 |
| 2003-2005 | 60,137.0 | 592.3 | 679.3 |
| 2002-2004 | 59,939.0 | 596.6 | 640.9 |
| 2001-2003 | 60,144.0 | 608.2 | 675.8 |
| 3-Year Period | Deaths (Average) | Crude Death Rate** | Age-Adjusted Death Rate** |
| 2000-2002 | 59,464.0 | 599.1 | 739.5 |
| 1999-2001 | 59,473.3 | 604.5 | 755.8 |
| 1998-2000 | 59,189.7 | 608.5 | 769.1 |
| 1997-1999 | 59,535.7 | 617.6 | 790.9 |
| 1996-1998 | 59,559.7 | 625.3 | 428.6 |
| 1995-1997 | 60,236.3 | 641.1 | 445.9 |
** Death rates are per 100,000 population (estimated population for the middle year of each 3-year period per the California Dept. of Finance).
Source: California Dept. of Public Health
| Year | Los Angeles County | California (Statewide) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Deaths | Crude Death Rate* | Age-Adjusted Death Rate* | Number of Deaths | Crude Death Rate* | Age-Adjusted Death Rate* | |
| 2018 | 64,268 | 636.0 | 579.7 | 268,818 | 609.0 | 679.6 |
| 2017 | 63,792 | 627.7 | 583.1 | 268,189 | 678.3 | 618.7 |
| 2016 | 63,185 | 623.3 | 589.3 | 262,240 | 668.1 | 616.9 |
| 2015 | 62,408 | 613.6 | 591.0 | 259,206 | 662.2 | 621.6 |
| 2014 | 58,786 | 581.1 | 570.7 | 245,929 | 633.8 | 605.7 |
| 2013 | 59,883 | 597.8 | 599.5 | 248,359 | 647.9 | 630.1 |
| 2012 | 58,675 | 588.9 | 601.7 | 242,554 | 637.6 | 630.4 |
| Year | Los Angeles County | California (Statewide) | ||||
| Number of Deaths | Crude Death Rate* | Age-Adjusted Death Rate* | Number of Deaths | Crude Death Rate* | Age-Adjusted Death Rate* | |
| 2011 | 58,356 | 590.1 | 615.2 | 239,942 | 636.6 | 641.3 |
| 2010 | 56,783 | 578.3 | 618.3 | 234,012 | 628.2 | 646.7 |
| 2009 | 57,910 | 591.7 | 641.8 | 232,736 | 629.7 | 655.5 |
| 2008 | 58,191 | 597.7 | 659.4 | 234,766 | 641.4 | 677.9 |
| 2007 | 58,383 | 601.9 | 675.4 | 233,720 | 644.7 | 691.7 |
| 2006 | 59,641 | 612.5 | 702.9 | 237,126 | 658.3 | 718.2 |
| 2005 | 60,369 | 616.9 | 719.0 | 237,037 | 661.6 | 730.7 |
| Year | Los Angeles County | California (Statewide) | ||||
| Number of Deaths | Crude Death Rate* | Age-Adjusted Death Rate* | Number of Deaths | Crude Death Rate* | Age-Adjusted Death Rate* | |
| 2004 | 59,174 | 604.2 | 720.1 | 232,525 | 653.6 | 734.3 |
| 2003 | 61,093 | 625.5 | 753.6 | 239,371 | 679.0 | 768.4 |
| 2002 | 59,862 | 616.8 | 753.9 | 234,565 | 672.6 | 770.0 |
| 2001 | 60,063 | 624.0 | 771.2 | 234,044 | 678.8 | 783.2 |
| 2000 | 59,352 | 623.5 | 780.7 | 229,551 | 677.7 | 787.9 |
| 1999 | 59,910 | 634.8 | 801.1 | 229,380 | 684.7 | 802.3 |
| 1998 | 58,923 | 638.7 | N/A | 225,450 | 690.3 | N/A |
| Year | Los Angeles County | California (Statewide) | ||||
| Number of Deaths | Crude Death Rate* | Age-Adjusted Death Rate* | Number of Deaths | Crude Death Rate* | Age-Adjusted Death Rate* | |
| 1997 | 60,070 | 656.7 | N/A | 223,438 | 693.7 | N/A |
| 1996 | 59,686 | 655.6 | N/A | 222,308 | 698.3 | N/A |
| 1995 | 60,953 | 669.5 | N/A | 222,626 | 704.1 | N/A |
| 1994 | 62,442 | 686.5 | N/A | 222,854 | 709.3 | N/A |
| 1993 | 62,250 | 686.2 | N/A | 220,271 | 707.1 | N/A |
| 1992 | 61,708 | 685.0 | N/A | 214,586 | 698.5 | N/A |
| 1991 | 61,585 | 691.3 | N/A | 214,220 | 710.7 | N/A |
| Year | Los Angeles County | California (Statewide) | ||||
| Number of Deaths | Crude Death Rate* | Age-Adjusted Death Rate* | Number of Deaths | Crude Death Rate* | Age-Adjusted Death Rate* | |
| 1990 | 62,700 | 709.9 | N/A | 213,766 | 723.2 | N/A |
| 1989 | 64,940 | 745.9 | N/A | 215,930 | 750.5 | N/A |
| 1988 | 64,851 | 755.4 | N/A | 215,185 | 766.8 | N/A |
| 1987 | 64,237 | 760.0 | N/A | 209,395 | 764.6 | N/A |
| 1986 | 59,919 | 723.1 | N/A | 202,826 | 758.5 | N/A |
| 1985 | 62,250 | 766.5 | N/A | 201,815 | 772.9 | N/A |
| 1984 | 60,202 | 753.9 | N/A | 195,470 | 763.9 | N/A |
| Year | Los Angeles County | California (Statewide) | ||||
| Number of Deaths | Crude Death Rate* | Age-Adjusted Death Rate* | Number of Deaths | Crude Death Rate* | Age-Adjusted Death Rate* | |
| 1983 | 58,427 | 744.6 | N/A | 188,018 | 749.8 | N/A |
| 1982 | 58,368 | 759.0 | N/A | 188,255 | 766.9 | N/A |
| 1981 | 58,101 | 769.1 | N/A | 184,732 | 768.5 | N/A |
| 1980 | 59,551 | 800.2 | N/A | 186,428 | 783.9 | N/A |
| 1979 | 56,631 | 768.8 | N/A | 177,214 | 762.0 | N/A |
| 1978 | 57,705 | 790.3 | N/A | 175,878 | 770.1 | N/A |
| 1977 | 56,388 | 777.7 | N/A | 170,441 | 762.5 | N/A |
| Year | Los Angeles County | California (Statewide) | ||||
| Number of Deaths | Crude Death Rate* | Age-Adjusted Death Rate* | Number of Deaths | Crude Death Rate* | Age-Adjusted Death Rate* | |
| 1976 | 58,971 | 816.9 | N/A | 171,095 | 780.0 | N/A |
| 1975 | 59,622 | 833.5 | N/A | 170,797 | 793.0 | N/A |
| 1974 | 60,325 | 849.5 | N/A | 170,475 | 805.1 | N/A |
| 1973 | 61,693 | 871.3 | N/A | 172,798 | 828.0 | N/A |
| 1972 | 61,457 | 867.4 | N/A | 170,026 | 826.0 | N/A |
| 1971 | 62,931 | 889.0 | N/A | 169,349 | 832.3 | N/A |
| 1970 | 62,192 | 883.2 | N/A | 166,382 | 830.3 | N/A |
* Death rates are per 100,000 population (based upon U.S. Census (1999-most recent) or California Department of Finance population (1970-1998) estimates for that year).
Gross death rates are the result of dividing a total population by the number of deaths. This does not account mortality-rate differences between specific age groups. Age-adjusted rates do account for these differences and are considered a more accurate reflection of a population's overall mortality rate.
N/A - Adjusted age rate data for 1970-1998 were not available for these years.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1999-most recent); California Dept. of Public Health (1970-1998)
The map below shows geographical statistical regions (Service Planning Areas or SPAs) in Los Angeles County used by local health-tracking agencies. According the last mortality report (2017) from the Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Health, Coronary heart disease was the leading cause of premature death in all SPAs except SPA 1 (motor vehicle crash), SPA 5 (drug overdose) and SPA 6 (homicide). The map below shows the eight SPAs and an icon for the second leading cause of premature death in each (except SPAs 1, 5 and 6, where, because coronary heart disease did not rank first, we retained the first-place causes in this map). The second leading cause of premature death in SPA 2 was drug overdose. For SPA 3 and SPA 4, it was suicide. For SPA 7, it was motor vehicle crash. For SPA 8, it was homicide.
Sources: Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Health
