Table 1.
Actual Causes of Death, United States, 1990 and 2000
| Actual Cause | N (%) a in 1990 | N (%) a in 2000 |
|---|---|---|
| Tobacco | 400,000 (19) | 435,000 (18) |
| Poor diet and physical inactivity | 300,000 (14) | 365,000 (15) |
| Alcohol consumption | 100,000 (5) | 85,000 (4) |
| Microbial agents | 90,000 (4) | 75,000 (3) |
| Toxic agents | 60,000 (3) | 55,000 (2) |
| Motor vehicle | 25,000 (1) | 43,000 (2) |
| Firearms | 35,000 (2) | 29,000 (1) |
| Sexual behavior | 30,000 (1) | 20,000 (<1) |
| Illicit drug use | 20,000 (<1) | 17,000 (<1) |
| Total | 1,060,000 (50) | 1,124,000 (47) |
a
The percentages are for all deaths. Source: reference 5.