1
Mississippi
Mississippi had the highest motor-vehicle crash death rate of any state in 2024, at 25.6 deaths per 100,000 population. IIHS reported 753 total crash deaths in the state that year.
Deaths per 100k: 25.6Total deaths: 753Region: South
Top 10 U.S. States by Traffic Fatality Rate
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) analysis of federal crash data, these are the 10 U.S. states with the highest motor-vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 population in 2024.
Quick answer: 1. Mississippi, 2. Arkansas, 3. New Mexico, 4. South Carolina, 5. Alabama, 6. Wyoming, 7. Montana, 8. Tennessee, 9. Louisiana, 10. Arizona.
This list ranks U.S. states by their 2024 motor-vehicle crash death rate, measured as deaths per 100,000 population, using data published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which draws on the U.S. Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and Census population estimates. A per-capita rate is used so that states can be compared fairly regardless of population size. The figures below are official crash-fatality statistics reported for informational purposes only. They describe what the data show and are not a judgment about any state, its residents, or its policies.
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Deaths per 100,000 population (2024)
Mississippi
Arkansas
New Mexico
South Carolina
Alabama
Wyoming
Montana
Tennessee
Louisiana
Arizona
The ranking
2
Arkansas
Arkansas recorded 19.5 motor-vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 population in 2024, the second-highest rate among the states. IIHS reported 603 total crash deaths.
Deaths per 100k: 19.5Total deaths: 603Region: South
3
New Mexico
New Mexico had 19.2 motor-vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 population in 2024. IIHS reported 409 total crash deaths in the state.
Deaths per 100k: 19.2Total deaths: 409Region: West
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4
South Carolina
South Carolina recorded 18.9 motor-vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 population in 2024. IIHS reported 1,038 total crash deaths, one of the higher totals among the states on this list.
Deaths per 100k: 18.9Total deaths: 1038Region: South
5
Alabama
Alabama had 18.7 motor-vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 population in 2024. IIHS reported 962 total crash deaths in the state.
Deaths per 100k: 18.7Total deaths: 962Region: South
6
Wyoming
Wyoming recorded 18.2 motor-vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 population in 2024. Because the state has a small population, this rate corresponds to 107 total crash deaths, the fewest in absolute terms among the states on this list.
Deaths per 100k: 18.2Total deaths: 107Region: West
7
Montana
Montana had 18.1 motor-vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 population in 2024. IIHS reported 206 total crash deaths in the state.
Deaths per 100k: 18.1Total deaths: 206Region: West
8
Tennessee
Tennessee recorded 16.6 motor-vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 population in 2024. IIHS reported 1,197 total crash deaths, the highest absolute total among the states on this list.
Deaths per 100k: 16.6Total deaths: 1197Region: South
9
Louisiana
Louisiana had 16.4 motor-vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 population in 2024. IIHS reported 752 total crash deaths in the state.
Deaths per 100k: 16.4Total deaths: 752Region: South
10
Arizona
Arizona recorded 16.2 motor-vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 population in 2024. IIHS reported 1,229 total crash deaths in the state.
Deaths per 100k: 16.2Total deaths: 1229Region: West
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Full comparison
| # | Name | Deaths per 100k | Total deaths | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | 25.6 | 753 | South |
| 2 | Arkansas | 19.5 | 603 | South |
| 3 | New Mexico | 19.2 | 409 | West |
| 4 | South Carolina | 18.9 | 1038 | South |
| 5 | Alabama | 18.7 | 962 | South |
| 6 | Wyoming | 18.2 | 107 | West |
| 7 | Montana | 18.1 | 206 | West |
| 8 | Tennessee | 16.6 | 1197 | South |
| 9 | Louisiana | 16.4 | 752 | South |
| 10 | Arizona | 16.2 | 1229 | West |
How we ranked this
States are ranked by motor-vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 population for calendar year 2024, as reported by the IIHS from federal FARS crash counts and U.S. Census Bureau population estimates. Rank 1 is the highest rate. A rate per 100,000 population is used rather than raw death counts because raw counts largely track how many people live in a state; normalizing by population allows a fair comparison across states of very different sizes. Inclusion is limited to the 50 U.S. states (the District of Columbia is excluded). Where two states have nearly identical rates, they are ordered by the exact published per-100,000 value.
FAQ
What does 'deaths per 100,000 population' mean?
It is the number of motor-vehicle crash deaths in a state during the year divided by the state's population, then scaled to a population of 100,000. Expressing the figure as a rate lets states of very different sizes be compared on an equal footing, rather than simply reflecting which states have more people.
Which year and source does this list use?
The figures are for calendar year 2024, as published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) using crash counts from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Why isn't the state with the most total deaths ranked first?
This list ranks by rate per capita, not by raw counts. Large-population states such as Texas, California, and Florida report the most total crash deaths, but their rates per 100,000 population are lower than those of the states shown here, so they do not appear in this top 10.
Does a higher rate mean one state is 'more dangerous' than another?
The rate reflects only reported crash deaths relative to population for a single year. It does not by itself explain the many factors that can influence crash outcomes, and this list makes no judgment about any state or its residents. It reports what the official data show.