On a per capita basis, fire death rates are declining, partially due to an increase in the U.S. population and an overall decline in the numbers of reported fires and fire deaths. In the case of fire deaths, fire death rates are measured by deaths per million population. Trends in fire death rates are computed to show how the rates have changed over time by smoothing fluctuations or variations in the data from year-to-year.
Overall, the 10-year trend in the fire death rate per million population decreased 20 percent from 2000-2009. The table and chart below show the decline in the fire death rate trend.
Fire Death Rates per Million Population (2000-2009)
Year |
Number of Fire Deaths |
Population |
Fire Death Rate (per million population) |
2000 |
4,184 |
282,171,957 |
14.8 |
2001 |
4,013 |
285,081,556 |
14.1 |
2002 |
3,889 |
287,803,914 |
13.5 |
2003 |
4,126 |
290,326,418 |
14.2 |
2004 |
3,993 |
293,045,739 |
13.6 |
2005 |
3,983 |
295,753,151 |
13.5 |
2006 |
3,940 |
298,593,212 |
13.2 |
2007 |
3,994 |
301,579,895 |
13.2 |
2008 |
3,650 |
304,374,846 |
12.0 |
2009 |
3,391 |
307,006,550 |
11.0 |
10-Year Trend (%) |
|
|
-19.6% |
Note: The computation of the trend is based on the simple linear regression Method of Least Squares.
Sources: 1) National Center for Health Statistics. 2000-2009 Mortality Data Files, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. 2) U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. July 1 population estimates from Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for the United States, Regions, States, and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009 (NST-EST2009-01).
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