Fatal crashes in the United States in 2021
In 2021, 43,230 people died in 39,785 fatal crashes on US roads, 10.8% more than in 2020. That is about 118 deaths a day, and 13 deaths per 100,000 residents.
2020 · 2022 · All states today. 2021 figures are final; the peak year since 1975 was 1979.
US road deaths since 1975, with 2021 marked
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them.
Road deaths by state in 2021
California, Texas and Florida together had 30% of the deaths. Deaths rose in 45 states and fell in 6 on the year before; the largest change was in Idaho, 28% up.
| State | Deaths, 2021 | Fatal crashes | Change on 2020 | Per 100,000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 4,513 | 4,196 | 13.4% | 11.5 |
| 2 | Texas | 4,500 | 4,070 | 16.1% | 15.2 |
| 3 | Florida | 3,741 | 3,453 | 12.4% | 17.1 |
| 4 | Georgia | 1,809 | 1,681 | 9.1% | 16.8 |
| 5 | North Carolina | 1,693 | 1,563 | 10.1% | 16.0 |
| 6 | Ohio | 1,354 | 1,242 | 10.1% | 11.5 |
| 7 | Illinois | 1,334 | 1,210 | 11.8% | 10.5 |
| 8 | Tennessee | 1,327 | 1,229 | 9.0% | 19.1 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 1,230 | 1,153 | 8.9% | 9.5 |
| 10 | South Carolina | 1,198 | 1,112 | 12.4% | 23.1 |
| 11 | Arizona | 1,192 | 1,076 | 13.2% | 16.4 |
| 12 | New York | 1,156 | 1,098 | 10.6% | 5.8 |
| 13 | Michigan | 1,137 | 1,073 | 4.7% | 11.3 |
| 14 | Missouri | 1,016 | 931 | 2.9% | 16.5 |
| 15 | Alabama | 983 | 885 | 5.2% | 19.5 |
| 16 | Virginia | 973 | 906 | 14.5% | 11.2 |
| 17 | Louisiana | 971 | 886 | 17.3% | 21.0 |
| 18 | Indiana | 932 | 863 | 3.9% | 13.7 |
| 19 | Kentucky | 806 | 734 | 3.3% | 17.9 |
| 20 | Mississippi | 766 | 695 | 2.4% | 26.0 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | 762 | 681 | 16.7% | 19.1 |
| 22 | Arkansas | 692 | 630 | 6.3% | 22.9 |
| 23 | New Jersey | 692 | 662 | 18.1% | 7.5 |
| 24 | Colorado | 691 | 638 | 11.1% | 11.9 |
| 25 | Washington | 674 | 607 | 17.4% | 8.7 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | 620 | 572 | 1.3% | 10.5 |
| 27 | Oregon | 599 | 552 | 18.1% | 14.1 |
| 28 | Maryland | 563 | 524 | -1.7% | 9.1 |
| 29 | Minnesota | 488 | 451 | 23.9% | 8.5 |
| 30 | New Mexico | 483 | 429 | 21.4% | 22.8 |
| 31 | Kansas | 423 | 380 | -0.7% | 14.4 |
| 32 | Massachusetts | 413 | 393 | 20.4% | 5.9 |
| 33 | Nevada | 385 | 360 | 15.6% | 12.2 |
| 34 | Iowa | 356 | 329 | 3.8% | 11.1 |
| 35 | Utah | 332 | 297 | 20.3% | 9.9 |
| 36 | Connecticut | 303 | 288 | 1.3% | 8.4 |
| 37 | West Virginia | 282 | 259 | 5.6% | 15.8 |
| 38 | Idaho | 273 | 246 | 27.6% | 14.3 |
| 39 | Montana | 239 | 222 | 12.2% | 21.6 |
| 40 | Nebraska | 221 | 192 | -5.2% | 11.2 |
| 41 | Maine | 153 | 135 | -6.7% | 11.1 |
| 42 | South Dakota | 148 | 131 | 5.0% | 16.5 |
| 43 | Delaware | 136 | 132 | 17.2% | 13.5 |
| 44 | New Hampshire | 118 | 106 | 13.5% | 8.5 |
| 45 | Wyoming | 110 | 102 | -13.4% | 19.0 |
| 46 | North Dakota | 101 | 85 | 1.0% | 13.0 |
| 47 | Hawaii | 94 | 94 | 10.6% | 6.5 |
| 48 | Vermont | 74 | 69 | 19.4% | 11.4 |
| 49 | Alaska | 70 | 62 | 9.4% | 9.5 |
| 50 | Rhode Island | 63 | 61 | -6.0% | 5.7 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | 41 | 40 | 13.9% | 6.1 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Who died and how in 2021
Vehicle occupants were 66% of the 43,230 people killed on US roads in 2021; pedestrians 17% (7,470), motorcyclists 14% (6,137), cyclists 2.3% (976).
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 28,345 | 66% |
| Pedestrians | 7,470 | 17% |
| Motorcyclists | 6,137 | 14% |
| Cyclists | 976 | 2.3% |
| Others | 302 | 0.7% |
26% of fatal crashes involved a drinking driver, 28% speeding, 7.1% a hit-and-run; 50% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted; 39% of fatal crashes were on rural roads and 28% in the dark on unlit roads.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happened in 2021
The heaviest slot is Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 1,642 fatal crashes from 2021 to 2021. The worst hour is 6 pm to 7 pm; the worst month is October.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.8 percent, 1,495 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 703 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 565 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 937 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 1,302 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 1,222 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.8 percent, 714 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 720 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 660 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 960 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 1,144 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 972 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.2 percent, 480 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 646 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 635 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 915 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 1,146 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 994 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.2 percent, 470 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 619 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 633 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 918 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 1,167 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 1,074 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.5 percent, 589 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 720 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 660 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 973 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 1,170 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 1,193 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.8 percent, 723 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 751 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 746 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 1,057 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 1,441 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 1,642 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.5 percent, 1,398 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 642 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 639 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 1,038 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 1,409 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 1,603 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.1%
- Feb5.9%
- Mar7.3%
- Apr8.3%
- May8.6%
- Jun8.8%
- Jul9.0%
- Aug9.4%
- Sep9.2%
- Oct9.6%
- Nov8.5%
- Dec8.3%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about fatal crashes in the United States in 2021
- How many people died in car accidents in the United States in 2021?
- 43,230 people died in 39,785 fatal crashes on US public roads in 2021, 10.8% more than in 2020. That is about 118 deaths a day. 13 deaths per 100,000 residents.
- Which state had the most road deaths in 2021?
- California, with 4,513 deaths in 4,196 fatal crashes. Texas was second with 4,500 and Florida third with 3,741.
- How many fatal crashes involved a drinking driver in 2021?
- 10,458 of 39,785 fatal crashes in 2021, 26%, involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking. 11,218 (28%) involved speeding.
- Is 2021 the latest year available?
- No. The latest year NHTSA has published is 2024; the 2021 figures are final.
Where the 2021 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System file for 2021, the final file. Rates per 100,000 use Census Bureau population estimates. The full method.