The overall death rate for Pierce County is decreasing. In Pierce County, the latest death rate reported by the health department is 778.5 per 100,000.  According to research done in 1993 and updated in 2005, smoking remains the leading cause of mortality. However, poor diet and physical inactivity may soon overtake tobacco as the leading cause of death.
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department reports that in 2007:

• Approximately 21% of the adults in Pierce County smoke cigarettes (decreasing), and
• 28.4% of adults are overweight/obese (Body Mass Index = or >25) (increasing).

The overall death rate (per 100,000) in Pierce County has remained higher than for the rest of Washington State for the reported period 1995 to 2006.  The table below compares the rates of leading causes of death in Pierce County to the rest of the state.  While Pierce County's top 4 leading causes of death (excluding cancers) occur at a higher rate than Washington State as a whole, the only statistically significant difference is the rate of heart disease in Pierce County versus the rest of the state.

The leading causes of death in Pierce County (stated in deaths per 100,000 people) were:

• Heart Disease (206.9)
• All Cancers (191.2)
• Chronic Respiratory Disease (55.2 decreasing)
• Stroke (51.5)
• Alzheimer's Disease (44.2 increasing)
• Unintentional Injury (accidents and external causes) (35.9 increasing)

Pierce County's top four leading causes of death occur at a higher rate than Washington State as a whole. Also reported in deaths per 100,000 persons, Washington States death rates are as follows:

• Heart Disease (176.4)
• All Cancers (180.5)
• Stroke (47.0)
• Chronic Respiratory Disease (45.0)
• Alzheimer's Disease (36.9)