Injury Deaths - Women in United States

United States

Experiencing injury or violence can have serious long-term impacts, including potential chronic illness or death. Injuries are the leading cause of death among Americans between the ages of 1 and 44. In 2024, the leading causes of injury deaths among women ages 20-44 were unintentional poisoning, unintentional motor vehicle traffic incidents, homicide by firearm and suicide by firearm. 

More than half of all female homicides in which the relationship between the victim and suspect is known are related to intimate partner violence (IPV). Homicide is also a leading cause of death among pregnant and postpartum women.

According to the World Health Organization, common risk factors that can increase injury death rates include socioeconomic disparities, unemployment, unsafe housing and behaviors like alcohol or substance use. Poverty also increases the risk of both fatal and nonfatal injuries. Living in an impoverished environment can influence health behaviors, limit access to health care and heighten exposure to stress, violence and harmful social norms. 

Injury deaths are associated with significant costs from loss of life and medical expenses. In 2024, injury deaths among women ages 20-44 cost the U.S. an estimated $260 billion.

According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, the death rate due to injury is higher among:

• Women ages 35-44 compared with younger women.
• American Indian/Alaska Native, Black and white women compared with Asian women, who have the lowest prevalence. American Indian/Alaska Native women have a prevalence higher than all other groups, 13 times the rate of Asian women.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Overdose Data to Action program researches, analyzes and implements drug overdose prevention initiatives. Additionally, the Health Resources & Services Administration provides poisoning prevention tips for carbon monoxide, common household products, medicines and more. 

The CDC has partnered with 26 state health departments so far to address issues related to injury and violence through the Core State Injury Prevention Program. The program has produced multiple successful state responses to suicide, motor vehicle crashes, traumatic brain injuries and more, implementing new safety standards, research initiatives and awareness campaigns.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has implemented the National Roadway Safety Strategy to reduce avoidable motor vehicle crashes and enhance postcrash care to minimize harm in the event of an accident. Individuals can learn more about staying safe on the road from the CDC. 

Removing all guns from the home is the best way to keep children and families safe. However, households with firearms can still take steps to improve their gun safety by ensuring all guns inside the home are unloaded and securely locked away. At the state level, policy recommendations for reducing firearm deaths include strengthening firearms legislation, particularly background checks and permit laws. 

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that clinicians screen all women of reproductive age (18-44) for IPV, including those who are pregnant or postpartum, and connect those who screen positive to intervention services. The CDC also provides several strategies for preventing IPV.

Improving access to mental health resources can help prevent suicide. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential support for people in distress 24/7, everywhere in the U.S. Additional forms of crisis support are available on their website, and the previous National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number (1-800-273-TALK (8255)) is still active and will connect you with the 988 lifeline.

Healthy People 2030 has the following goals related to injury deaths:

• Reducing fatal injuries.
• Reducing unintentional injury deaths.
• Reducing overdose deaths involving opioids. 
• Reducing the suicide rate.
• Reducing deaths from motor vehicle crashes.
• Reducing firearm-related deaths.

Azad, Hooman A., Dana Goin, Lisa M. Nathan, Dena Goffman, Sonali Rajan, Uma Reddy, Mary E. D’Alton, and Danielle Laraque-Arena. “Overdose, Homicide, and Suicide as Causes of Maternal Death in the United States.” New England Journal of Medicine 394, no. 7 (February 12, 2026): 722–23. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMc2512078.

Jack, Shane P. D., Emiko Petrosky, Bridget H. Lyons, Janet M. Blair, Allison M. Ertl, Kameron J. Sheats, and Carter J. Betz. “Surveillance for Violent Deaths — National Violent Death Reporting System, 27 States, 2015.” MMWR. Surveillance Summaries 67, no. 11 (September 28, 2018): 1–32. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss6711a1.

Karb, Rebecca A., S. V. Subramanian, and Eric W. Fleegler. “County Poverty Concentration and Disparities in Unintentional Injury Deaths: A Fourteen-Year Analysis of 1.6 Million U.S. Fatalities.” PLoS ONE 11, no. 5 (2016): e0153516. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0153516.

Lee, Lois K., Eric W. Fleegler, Caitlin Farrell, Elorm Avakame, Saranya Srinivasan, David Hemenway, and Michael C. Monuteaux. “Firearm Laws and Firearm Homicides: A Systematic Review.” JAMA Internal Medicine 177, no. 1 (January 1, 2017): 106. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.7051.

Niolon, Phyllis Holditch, Megan Kearns, Jenny Dills, Kirsten Rambo, Shalon Irving, Theresa L. Armstead, and Leah Gilbert. Preventing Intimate Partner Violence Across the Lifespan: A Technical Package of Programs, Policies, and Practices. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 2017. https://www.cdc.gov/violence-prevention/media/pdf/resources-for-action/IPV-Prevention-Resource_508.pdf.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, Michael Silverstein, John B. Wong, Esa M. Davis, David Chelmow, Tumaini Rucker Coker, Alicia Fernandez, et al. “Screening for Intimate Partner Violence and Caregiver Abuse of Older or Vulnerable Adults: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.” JAMA 334, no. 4 (July 22, 2025): 329. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2025.9009.