Mortality Among Teenagers Aged 12–19 Years: United States, 1999–2006

Deaths to teenagers 12–19 years comprise a small fraction of the total deaths occurring each year in the United States. From 1999 to 2006 less than 1 percent (0.68 percent)—or 131,000 deaths—occurred to teenagers 12–19 years. This represents an average of 16,375 deaths per year for this group. Teenage mortality is an important public health issue because the majority of deaths among teenagers are caused by external causes of injury such as accidents, homicide, and suicide. These causes of death are, by definition, preventable.