California had the most cancer deaths that year, with a total of 59,503 — 30,834 males and 28,669 females. Alaska had the least at 1,093.
KFF compiled this data from CDC information as well as cause of death files. It notes that comparisons of death rates between regions should be done using age for the most accurate information.
Here’s how all 50 states and Washington, D.C., compare from most to least cancer deaths in 2021:
- California — 59,503
- Florida — 46,937
- Texas — 42,552
- New York — 32,601
- Pennsylvania — 27,664
- Ohio — 25,077
- Illinois — 23,609
- Michigan — 21,211
- North Carolina — 20,229
- Georgia — 18,136
- Virginia — 15,724
- New Jersey — 15,481
- Tennessee — 14,481
- Indiana — 13,983
- Washington — 13,547
- Missouri — 13,153
- Arizona — 12,813
- Massachusetts — 12,461
- Wisconsin — 11,336
- South Carolina — 10,593
- Maryland — 10,545
- Alabama — 10,429
- Kentucky — 10,250
- Minnesota — 10,178
- Louisiana — 9,246
- Oregon — 8,596
- Oklahoma — 8,368
- Colorado — 8,058
- Mississippi — 6,617
- Connecticut — 6,526
- Arkansas — 6,516
- Iowa — 6,258
- Kansas — 5,455
- Nevada — 5,318
- West Virginia — 4,820
- New Mexico — 3,822
- Nebraska — 3,578
- Utah — 3,492
- Maine — 3,385
- Idaho — 3,130
- New Hampshire — 2,831
- Hawaii — 2,562
- Delaware — 2,178
- Montana — 2,157
- Rhode Island — 2,115
- South Dakota — 1,739
- Vermont — 1,446
- North Dakota — 1,278
- Wyoming — 1,151
- Alaska — 1,093
- Washington, D.C. — 985
View the full data set and gender breakdowns for each state and region, here.
