In 2002, 55,123 Indiana residents died.  For additional details, see Table 1.

The leading causes of death in 2002 were diseases of the heart, malignant neoplasms (cancer), cerebrovascular disease (stroke), chronic lower respiratory disease and accidents.  Together, these 5 causes accounted for 67% of Indiana deaths.  For details, see Table 3-1.

Heart disease accounted for 28% of all deaths (15,180 deaths).  See Table 3-1.

Malignant neoplasms accounted for 23% of all deaths (12,771 deaths).  See Table 3-1.

Heart disease, malignant neoplasms, and cerebrovascular disease were the three leading causes of death regardless of race.   See Table 3-1.

Assault (homicide) was the fourth leading cause of death for black residents (186 deaths); diabetes was the fifth leading cause of death (184 deaths).  Assault was the third leading cause of death for black males (142 deaths).  See Table 3-1.

The infant mortality rate was 7.6 per 1,000 live births.  For additional details, see Table 8.

The white infant mortality rate was 6.5 per 1,000 live births (479 deaths).  The black infant mortality rate was 15.6 per 1,000 live births (144 deaths).  See Table 8.

The neonatal mortality rate (less than 28 days) was 5.2 per 1,000 live births. The white neonatal mortality rate was 4.4 per 1,000 live births and the black neonatal mortality rate was 9.8 per 1,000 live births.  See Table 8.

The postneonatal mortality rate (29-364 days) was 2.5 per 1,000 live births. The white postneonatal mortality rate was 2.0 per 1,000 live births and the black postneonatal mortality rate was 5.7 per 1,000 live births.  See Table 8.

Disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight were the leading cause of death for infants under one year of age for the total population (119 deaths) and the black population (29 deaths).  See Table 3-2.

Congenital anomalies, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities were the leading cause of death for white infants under one year of age (94 deaths).  See Table 3-2.

Accidents were the leading cause of death for white residents, ages 1-4 years of age, regardless of sex (26 deaths), while assault (homicide) was the leading cause of death for black residents in this age group (7 deaths).  See Table 3-3.

In 2002, the leading causes of death for residents 5-34 years of age were motor vehicle accidents with 418 deaths, suicide with 228 deaths, and assault (homicide) with 205 deaths.  For whites in this age group, motor vehicle accidents was the leading cause of death with 396 deaths, while assault (homicide) was the leading cause for blacks 5-34 with 129 deaths.

Assault (homicide) was the leading cause of death in 2002 for black residents ages 15-34 with 126 deaths.  Assault was the sixth leading cause of death for whites ages 15-34 with 65 deaths.