The odds of dying from...

The National Safety Council has been compiling and reporting on injury data every year since the 1920s. The table below was prepared in response to frequent inquiries to the Council concerning the odds of dying from or being killed by a specific incident or occurrence such as a lightning strike or a plane crash.

The odds given below are statistical averages over the whole U.S. population and do not necessarily reflect the chances of death for a particular person from a particular external cause. Any individual's odds of dying from various external causes are affected by the activities in which they participate, where they live and drive, what kind of work they do, and other factors.

The table has four columns. The first column gives the manner of injury such as motor-vehicle crash, fall, fire, etc. The second column gives the total number of deaths nationwide due to the manner of injury in 2004 (the latest year for which data are available). The third column gives the odds of dying in one year due to the manner of injury. The fourth column gives the lifetime odds of dying from the manner of injury.

Statements about the odds or chances of dying from a given cause of death may be made as follows:

The odds of dying from (manner of injury) in 2004 were 1 in (value given in the one-year odds column).
The life-time odds of dying from (manner of injury) for a person born in 2004 were 1 in (value given in the lifetime odds column).

For example, referring to the first line of the table below:

The odds of dying from an injury in 2004 were 1 in 1,756.
The lifetime odds of dying from an injury for a person born in 2004 were 1 in 23.

Source: National Safety Council estimates based on data from National Center for Health Statistics and U.S. Census Bureau. Deaths are classified on the basis of the Tenth Revision of the World Health Organization's "The International Classification of Diseases" (ICD). Numbers following titles refer to External Cause of Morbidity and Mortality classifications in ICD-10. One year odds are approximated by dividing the 2004 population (293,656,842) by the number of deaths. Lifetime odds are approximated by dividing the one-year odds by the life expectancy of a person born in 2004 (77.9 years).

Send an e-mail to rssdept@nsc.org with questions or for additional information.

Odds of Death Due to Injury, United States, 2004

Type of Accident or Manner of Injury				Deaths	One Year Odds	Lifetime Odds
All External Causes of Mortality, V01-Y89, U01, U03				167,184	1,756	23
	Deaths Due to Unintentional (Accidental) Injuries, V01-X59, Y85-Y86			112,012	2,622	34
		Transport Accidents, V01-V99, Y85		47,385	6,197	80
		Motor-Vehicle Accidents, V02-V04, V09.0, V12-V14, V19.0-V19.2, V19.4-V19.6, V20-V79, V80.3-V80.5, V81.0-V81.1, V82.0-V82.1, V83-V86, V87.0-V87.8, V88.0-V88.8, V89.0, V89.2		44,933	6,535	84
		Pedestrian, V01-V09		5,976	49,139	631
		Pedalcyclist, V10-V19		843	348,347	4,472
		Motorcycle rider, V20-V29		4,018	73,085	938
		Occupant of three-wheeled motor vehicle, V30-V39		13	22,588,988	289,974
		Car occupant, V40-V49		15,282	19,216	247
		Occupant of pick-up truck or van, V50-V59		3,908	75,142	965
		Occupant of heavy transport vehicle, V60-V69		439	668,922	8,587
		Bus occupant, V70-V79		40	7,341,421	94,242
		Animal rider or occupant of animal-drawn vehicle, V80		91	3,226,998	41,425
		Occupant of railway train or railway vehicle, V81		27	10,876,179	139,617
		Occupant of streetcar, V82		1	293,656,842	3,769,664
		Other and unspecified land transport accidents, V83-V89		15,494	18,953	243
			Occupant of special industrial vehicle, V83	12	24,471,404	314,139
			Occupant of special agricultural vehicle, V84	105	2,796,732	35,902
			Occupant of special construction vehicle, V85	27	10,876,179	139,617
			Occupant of all-terrain or other off-road motor vehicle, V86	951	308,787	3,964
			Other and unspecified person, V87-V89	14,399	20,394	262
		Water transport accidents, V90-V94		574	511,597	6,567
			Drowning, V90, V92	421	697,522	8,954
			Other and unspecified injuries, V91, V93-V94	153	1,919,326	24,648
		Air and space transport accidents, V95-V97		679	432,484	5,552
		Other and unspecified transport accidents and sequelae, V98-V99, Y85		668	439,606	5,643
			Other specified transport accidents, V98	0	---	---
			Unspecified transport accident, V99	0	---	---
		Nontransport Unintentional (Accidental) Injuries, W00-X59, Y86		63,959	4,591	59
		Falls, W00-W19		18,807	15,614	200
			Fall on same level from slipping, tripping, and stumbling, W01	584	502,837	6,455
			Other fall on same level, W00, W02-W03, W18	4,458	65,872	846
			Fall involving bed, chair, other furniture, W06-W08	774	379,402	4,870
			Fall on and from stairs and steps, W10	1,638	179,278	2,301
			Fall on and from ladder or scaffolding, W11-W12	392	749,125	9,616
			Fall from out of or through building or structure, W13	587	500,267	6,422
			Other fall from one level to another, W09, W14-W17	724	405,603	5,207
			Other and unspecified fall, W04-W05, W19	9,650	30,431	391
		Exposure to inanimate mechanical forces, W20-W49		2,759	106,436	1,366
			Struck by or striking against object, W20-W22	833	352,529	4,525
			Caught between objects, W23	134	2,191,469	28,132
			Contact with machinery, W24, W30-W31	795	369,380	4,742
			Contact with sharp objects, W25-W29	106	2,770,348	35,563
			Firearms discharge, W32-W34	649	452,476	5,808
			Explosion and rupture of pressurized devices, W35-W38	28	10,487,744	134,631
			Fireworks discharge, W39	2	146,828,421	1,884,832
			Explosion of other materials, W40	148	1,984,168	25,471
			Foreign body entering through skin or natural orifice, W44-W45	32	9,176,776	117,802
			Other and unspecified inanimate mechanical forces, W41-W43, W49	32	9,176,776	117,802
		Exposure to animate mechanical forces, W50-W64		139	2,112,639	27,120
			Struck by or against another person, W50-W52	13	22,588,988	289,974
			Bitten or struck by dog, W54	27	10,876,179	139,617
			Bitten or struck by other mammals, W53, W55	77	3,813,725	48,957
			Bitten or stung by nonvenomous insect and other arthropods, W57	5	58,731,368	753,933
			Bitten or crushed by other reptiles, W59	0	---	---
			Other and unspecified animate mechanical forces, W56, W58, W60, W64	17	17,273,932	221,745
		Accidental drowning and submersion, W65-W74		3,308	88,772	1,140
			Drowning and submersion while in or falling into bath-tub, W65-W66	402	730,490	9,377
			Drowning and submersion while in or falling into swimming-pool, W67-W68	625	469,851	6,031
			Drowning and submersion while in or falling into natural water, W69-W70	1,333	220,298	2,828
			Other and unspecified drowning and submersion, W73-W74	984	309,765	3,976
		Other accidental threats to breathing, W75-W84		5,891	49,848	640
			Accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed, W75	596	492,713	6,325
			Other accidental hanging and strangulation, W76	252	1,165,305	14,959
			Threat to breathing due to cave-in, falling earth and other substances, W77	48	6,117,851	78,535
			Inhalation of gastric contents, W78	377	778,931	9,999
			Inhalation and ingestion of food causing obstruction of respiratory tract, W79	878	334,461	4,293
			Inhalation and ingestion of other objects causing obstruction of respiratory tract, W80	3,215	91,340	1,173
			Confined to or trapped in a low-oxygen environment, W81	16	18,353,553	235,604
			Other and unspecified threats to breathing, W83-W84	509	576,929	7,406
		Exposure to electric current, radiation, temperature, and pressure, W85-W99		405	725,079	9,308
			Electric transmission lines, W85	94	3,124,009	40,103
			Other and unspecified electric current, W86-W87	288	1,019,642	13,089
			Radiation, W88-W91	0	---	---
			Excessive heat or cold of man-made origin, W92-W93	14	20,975,489	289,262
			High and low air pressure and changes in air pressure, W94	9	32,628,538	418,852
			Other and unspecified man-made environmental factors, W99	0	---	---
		Exposure to smoke, fire and flames, X00-X09		3,229	90944	1,167,
			Uncontrolled fire in building or structure, X00	2,635	111,445	1,431
			Uncontrolled fire not in building or structure, X01	37	7,936,671	101,883
			Controlled fire in building or structure, X02	28	10,487,744	134,631
			Controlled fire not in building or structure, X03	48	6,117,851	78,535
			Ignition of highly flammable material, X04	55	5,339,215	68,539
			Ignition or melting of nightwear, X05	7	41,950,977	538,523
			Ignition or melting of other clothing and apparel, X06	119	2,467,705	31,678
			Other and unspecified smoke fire and flames, X08-X09	300	978,856	12,566
		Contact with heat and hot substances, X10-X19		93	3,157,600	40,534
			Contact with hot tap-water, X11	30	9,788,561	125,655
			Other and unspecified heat and hot substances, X10, X12-X19	63	4,661,220	59,836
		Contact with venomous animals and plants, X20-X29		81	3,625,393	46,539
			Contact with venomous snakes and lizards, X20	6	48,942,807	628,277
			Contact with venomous spiders, X21	14	20,975,489	269,262
			Contact with hornets, wasps and bees, X23	52	5,647,247	72,494
			Contact with other and unspecified venomous animal or plant, X22, X24-X29	9	32,628,538	418,852
		Exposure to forces of nature, X30-X39		1,102	266,476	3,421
			Exposure to excessive natural heat, X30	226	1,299,367	16,680
			Exposure to excessive natural cold, X31	676	434,404	5,576
			Lightning, X33	46	6,383,844	81,949
			Earthquake and other earth movements, X34-X36	30	9,788,561	125,655
			Cataclysmic storm, X37	63	4,661,220	59,836
			Flood, X38	22	13,348,038	171,348
			Exposure to other and unspecified forces of nature, X32, X39	39	7,529,663	96,658
		Accidental poisoning by and exposure to noxious substances, X40-X49		20,950	14,017	180
			Nonopioid analgesics, antipyretics, and antirheumatics, X40	212	1,385,174	17,781
			Antiepileptic, sedative-hypnotic, antiparkinsonism, and psychotropic drugs n.e.c., X41	1,300	225,890	2,900
			Narcotics and psychodysleptics [hallucinogens] n.e.c., X42	9,798	29,971	385
			Other and unspecified drugs, medicaments, and biologicals, X43-X44	8,528	34,434	442
			Alcohol, X45	358	820,271	10,530
			Gases and vapours, X46-X47	629	466,863	5,993
			Other and unspecified chemicals and noxious substances, X48-X49	125	2,349,255	30,157
		Overexertion, travel and privation, X50-X57		39	7,529,663	96,658
		Accidental exposure to other and unspecified factors and sequelae, X58-X59, Y86		7,156	41,036	527
	Intentional self-harm, X60-X84, Y87.0, *U03			32,439	9,053	116
		Intentional self-poisoning, X60-X69		5,800	50,630	650
		Intentional self-harm by hanging, strangulation, and suffocation, X70		7,336	40,030	514
		Intentional self-harm by firearm, X72-X74		16,750	17,532	225
		Other and unspecified means and sequelae, X71, X75-X84, Y87.0, *U03		2,553	115,024	1,477
	Assault, X85-Y09, Y87.1, *U01			17,357	16,919	217
		Assault by firearm, X93-X95		11,624	25,263	324
		Assault by sharp object, X99		2,079	141,249	1,813
		Other and unspecified means and sequelae, X85-X92, X96-X98, Y00-Y09, Y87.1, *U01		3,654	80,366	1,032
	Event of undetermined intent, Y10-Y34, Y87.2, Y89.9			4,976	59,015	758
		Poisoning, Y10-Y19		3,455	84,995	1,091
		Hanging, strangulation, and suffocation, Y20		152	1,931,953	24,800
		Drowning and submersion, Y21		223	1,316,847	16,904
		Firearm discharge, Y22-Y24		235	1,249,604	16,041
		Exposure to smoke, fire, and flames, Y26		83	3,538,034	45,418
		Falling, jumping, or pushed from a high place, Y30		71	4,136,012	53,094
		Other and unspecified means and sequelae, Y25, Y27-Y29, Y31-Y34,Y87.2, Y89.9		757	387,922	4,980
	Legal intervention, Y35, Y89.0			372	789,400	10,134
		Legal intervention involving firearm discharge, Y35.0		311	944,234	12,121
		Legal execution, Y35.5		52	5,647,247	72,494
		Other and unspecified means and sequelae, Y35.1-Y35.4, Y35.6-Y35.7, Y89.0		9	32,628,538	418,852
	Operations of war and sequelae, Y36, Y89.1			28	10,487,744	134,631
	Complications of medical and surgical care and sequelae, Y40-Y84, Y88.0-Y88.3			2,883	101,858	1,308