Leading causes of injuries and deaths in NYC (2021 - 2023)
This tool shows the leading causes of emergency department visits (ED visits), hospitalizations, and deaths in New York City with a special focus on injuries by age group.
Showing injuries by severity–(ED visits, hospitalizations, or deaths)–demonstrates patterns of harm. While many injuries can cause deaths, some, such as those caused by firearms, are more deadly. Unintentional falls, on the other hand, are the leading cause of non-fatal injury ED visits and hospitalizations.
By looking at injuries by age group, we can see the different impacts of injury across the lifespan. For example, falls injuries rank highly among older adults, while suffocation injuries rank highly among infants. Injury prevention efforts focused on top causes for people by age will be most effective.
About the data
This updated leading causes of death, hospitalizations, and emergency department visits analysis was conducted using data from the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) and NYC DOH Bureau of Vital Statistics. Explore more data on injuries in New York City. Visit WISQARS to explore data on injury nationwide.
Data for 2021 - 2023: Download chart data and descriptions and sources.
Visualization
Note: Bubble size is proportional to the rate for each cause.
New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) (updated November 2023 (2021), October 2024 (2022-2023)) inpatient hospitalization and emergency department (ED) live discharges. Data processed by Bureau of Environmental Surveillance and Policy in March 2025 and internal analyses conducted in December 2025 Statistics reported as the age-specific and total crude rate per 100,000 population according to NYC DOH intercensal estimates modified from US Census Bureau interpolated intercensal population estimates, 2020-2023 (updated March 2025). Injury intent and mechanism are classified following the National Center for Health Statistics external cause of injury matrix (based on the International Classification of Diseases Revision Clinical Modification 10th revision (ICD-10-CM) codes).
These data on ED visits and hospitalizations come from the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS), a system that collects data on patients and treatments at hospitals. These data are for NYC residents, for events that happened in NYC hospitals and ED.
Data reflect discharges: a patient who visits the ED, and is subsequently hospitalized, is recorded as a hospitalization (discharged from the hospital), not an ED visit. A person who dies is recorded as a death, not a hospitalization or ED visit.
Because of slight variations between datasets, results might differ from those calculated using a different extract. This publication was produced from raw data purchased from or provided by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH).
However, the calculations, metrics, conclusions derived, and views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the conclusions or views of NYSDOH. NYSDOH, its employees, officers, and agents make no representation, warranty or guarantee as to the accuracy, completeness, currency, or suitability of the information provided here.
NYC DOH Bureau of Vital Statistics. Internal analyses conducted by Bureau of Environmental Surveillance and Policy in December 2025. Statistics reported as the average number of deaths per year and the age-specific and total crude rate per 100,000 population according to NYC DOH intercensal estimates modified from US Census Bureau interpolated intercensal population estimates, 2020-2023 (updated March 2025). Injury intent and mechanism are classified following the National Center for Health Statistics external cause of injury matrix (based on the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes).
Counts (numbers) of events like births and deaths may differ slightly when compared to data from other public health data sources, like Vital Statistics.