See the top 10 causes of death in Michigan

For the first time since 2019, COVID-19 didn’t crack Michigan’s leading cause of death list in 2024.

Only heart disease and cancer were responsible for more resident deaths in 2020 and 2021 than COVID, before it dropped to No. 4 in 2022 and No. 9 in 2023. After another 42% decrease in COVID deaths in 2024, the virus dropped off the top 10 list.

The state published the list on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

In total, Michigan reported 102,848 total deaths in 2024, or a rate of 10.1 deaths per 1,000 residents. That was a slight decrease from 10.3 in 2023, following the national trend and marking the lowest rate since 2019.

The leading causes of death were largely the same as the last 20-plus years, with some minor tweaks.

Intentional harm/suicide made its return to the top 10 for the first time since 2019. Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis made the list at No. 9 — its highest spot in decades and its fourth consecutive appearance after a gap from 2002 to 2020.

Below is the top 10 list for 2024, including the number of deaths in Michigan and nationally.

Related: Michigan sees population increase thanks to international migration

The state reported a fifth consecutive year in which more people died in Michigan than were born. There were 99,420 live births compared to 102,848 deaths.

Michigan publishes annual cause of death data — totals and rates per 100,000 residents — using a coding structure developed by the World Health Organization. The cause of death is defined as the “condition giving rise to the chain of events leading to death.”

Heart disease and cancer have by far been the leading causes of death for decades. Together, they accounted for 46% of Michigan’s deaths and 42% of U.S. deaths in 2024.

COVID was identified as the cause of death for 11,232 people in 2020 and 13,310 in 2021. With better vaccines, treatment, immunity and overall understanding of the virus, annual totals dropped to 5,847 deaths in 2022 and 1,603 in 2023.

In 2024, there were 953 COVID deaths. Preliminary numbers from 2025 suggest another significant decline, though those numbers likely won’t be finalized until early 2027.

Influenza deaths (225) in 2024 had the highest total since pre-pandemic, though preliminary numbers suggest 2025 will smash that count with more than 440 noted as of late December.

Violent deaths had a historically low total. Michigan’s 534 homicides was the lowest one-year total since at least 1980.

Comparatively, there were 1,099 people killed in traffic crashes.