In 1919, there were almost 13 deaths from measles per 100,000 population in the United States. However, this rate had dropped to zero by the year 2021. In early 2025, an outbreak of measles in Texas resulted in the death of a child. This was the first measles death in the United States since 2015. Measles is a highly contagious disease, that is especially dangerous for children. However, vaccines have significantly decreased the rate of cases and deaths in the United States.
Rate of measles deaths in the U.S. from 1919 to 2021
(per 100,000 population)
Characteristic
Number of deaths per 100,000 population
1919
12.69
1921
3.63
1922
3.75
1923
9.63
1924
7.6
1925
2.07
1926
7.59
1927
3.85
1928
5.27
1929
2.47
1931
2.96
1932
1.59
1933
2.29
1934
5.65
1935
3.14
1936
1.01
1937
1.11
1938
2.54
1939
0.91
1940
0.53
1949
0.65
1950
0.3
1951
0.44
1952
0.39
1953
0.29
1954
0.32
1955
0.21
1956
0.31
1957
0.23
1958
0.32
1959
0.22
1960
0.21
1961
0.24
1962
0.22
1963
0.19
1964
0.22
1965
0.14
1966
0.13
1967
0.04
1968
0.01
1969
0.02
1970
0.04
1971
0.04
1972
0.01
1973
0.01
1974
0.01
1975
0.01
1976
0.01
1977
0.01
1978
0
1979
0
1980
0
1981
0
1982
0
1983
0
1984
0
1985
0
1986
0
1987
0
1988
0
1989
0.01
1990
0.03
1991
0.01
1992
0
1993
0
1994
0
1995
0
1996
0
1997
0
1998
0
1999
0
2000
0
2001
0
2002
0
2003
0
2004
0
2005
0
2006
0
2007
0
2008
0
2009
0
2010
0
2011
0
2012
0
2013
0
2014
0
2015
0
2016
0
2017
0
2018
0
2019
0
2020
0
2021
0
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OWID. (March 6, 2025). Rate of measles deaths in the U.S. from 1919 to 2021 (per 100,000 population) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 06, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1560955/measles-death-rate-in-the-us-since-1919/
OWID. "Rate of measles deaths in the U.S. from 1919 to 2021 (per 100,000 population)." Chart. March 6, 2025. Statista. Accessed May 06, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1560955/measles-death-rate-in-the-us-since-1919/
OWID. (2025). Rate of measles deaths in the U.S. from 1919 to 2021 (per 100,000 population). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 06, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1560955/measles-death-rate-in-the-us-since-1919/
OWID. "Rate of Measles Deaths in The U.S. from 1919 to 2021 (per 100,000 Population)." Statista, Statista Inc., 6 Mar 2025, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1560955/measles-death-rate-in-the-us-since-1919/
OWID, Rate of measles deaths in the U.S. from 1919 to 2021 (per 100,000 population) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1560955/measles-death-rate-in-the-us-since-1919/ (last visited May 06, 2025)
Rate of measles deaths in the U.S. from 1919 to 2021 (per 100,000 population) [Graph], OWID, March 6, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1560955/measles-death-rate-in-the-us-since-1919/
