GITNUXREPORT 2026

Fall Height Death Statistics

Falls from heights cause hundreds of thousands of deaths globally each year, across all age groups.

Gitnux Team

Expert team of market researchers and data analysts.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Globally, falls from heights contributed to 684,000 deaths in 2019, representing 0.9% of all global deaths according to the Global Burden of Disease Study

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In 2021, the World Health Organization estimated that falls caused 39.4 million severe injuries worldwide annually, with height-related falls accounting for 40% of fatal cases

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A 2022 ILO report indicated that falls from heights caused 35% of all occupational fatalities globally, totaling over 100,000 deaths per year

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The Global Burden of Disease 2019 data showed falls from ladders or scaffolds led to 150,000 deaths worldwide, primarily in low-income countries

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WHO data from 2020 revealed that 70% of fall deaths globally occurred from heights under 4 meters, often in urban settings

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In Europe, Eurostat reported 25,000 fall-related deaths in 2019, with 28% from heights over 3 meters

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A 2018 study in The Lancet estimated 432,000 unintentional fall deaths globally in 2017, 20% height-specific

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Globally, children under 5 experience 47 million fall injuries yearly, 5% fatal from heights per UNICEF 2021

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In Asia, falls from heights caused 250,000 deaths in 2020, per regional WHO report

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African continent saw 120,000 fall deaths in 2019, 15% from building heights over WHO estimates

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Latin America reported 80,000 fall fatalities in 2021, 30% height-related per PAHO

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Australia-wide, 1,800 fall deaths in 2020, 40% from heights per AIHW

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Canada recorded 2,100 fall deaths in 2019, 25% height falls per StatCan

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UK had 1,700 fall deaths in 2021, 35% from heights per ONS

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In India, 50,000 fall deaths annually, 60% from heights per NCRB 2022

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China reported 180,000 fall deaths in 2020, 45% height-related per CDC China

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Brazil saw 22,000 fall deaths in 2019, 28% from ladders/buildings per Ministry Health

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Russia had 28,000 fall fatalities in 2021, 32% height per Rosstat

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Japan recorded 18,000 fall deaths in 2020, mostly elderly from low heights per MHLW

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South Africa reported 12,000 fall deaths in 2019, 22% height per MRC

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Globally occupational, falls from heights kill 112,000 workers yearly per ILO 2023

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In construction worldwide, 50% of fatal accidents are falls from height per ILO

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US OSHA cites falls as top construction killer, 36.6% of 1,069 deaths in 2021

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EU-OSHA reports 20% of construction deaths from falls >3m height, 500/year

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UK HSE: 29 fatal falls from height in construction 2022/23

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Australia Safe Work: 27% of worker deaths from falls 2022, mostly height

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In mining, global falls from height cause 15% fatalities per ICMM

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Canadian construction falls: 25 deaths in 2021 per CCOHS

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German DGUV: 150 construction fall deaths yearly from heights

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Singapore MOM: Falls from height 40% of workplace fatalities 2022

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China construction falls: 12% of 198,000 work deaths in 2020

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Indian construction sector: 28% fatalities from falls per DGFASLI 2022

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Brazilian work falls: 35% of 1,100 construction deaths 2021 per MPT

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Russian occupational falls: 25% of 2,000 construction deaths per Rostekhnadzor

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Scaffolding falls cause 4,500 global construction deaths yearly per NSC

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Ladder falls in workplaces: 20,000 injuries, 300 deaths globally per year ILO

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Roof work falls: 40% of construction height deaths worldwide per IFI

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In agriculture, falls from height 10% occupational deaths globally per FAO

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US BLS: 38% manufacturing fall deaths from platforms/heights 2022

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In residential US homes, 81% of fatal falls for kids under 5 from heights per CPSC 2022

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US stairs/balconies caused 4,000 home fall deaths 2021 per NSC

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In UK homes, 250 fatal falls yearly from heights <2m per RoSPA

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Australia residential falls: 70% of 3,000 annual home deaths from heights per ABS

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Canada: 1,200 home fall deaths 2021, 50% stairs/windows per Health Canada

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Window falls in homes kill 12 US kids yearly under 5 per CPSC

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Balcony falls: 75 deaths in US apartments 2010-2020 per CDC

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UK: 50 fatal home ladder falls yearly per HSE

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In Brazil homes, 5,000 fall deaths yearly, 40% height per Fiocruz

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Indian households: 20,000 balcony/roof falls fatal per NFHS-5

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China residential falls: 100,000 deaths 2020, mostly stairs/heights per NHFPC

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Germany home falls: 8,000 deaths yearly, 30% from balconies per Destatis

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French homes: 9,000 fall deaths 2021, 25% height per INPES

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Italy residential: 4,500 fall deaths, 35% windows/balconies per ISTAT

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Japan home falls: 12,000 deaths 2022, 60% stairs/slips heights per MHLW

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South Africa homes: 4,000 fall deaths, 20% roof/window per NICD

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US bathtub/shower falls: 234 deaths 2020 in homes per NSC

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Porch/deck falls US: 500 deaths yearly per CPSC

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In elderly US homes, 90% falls from <4 feet but fatal per CDC

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In the US, falls killed 46,653 people in 2022, the leading injury death mechanism per CDC WISQARS

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US construction falls caused 1,056 deaths in 2022, 33% of construction fatalities per BLS

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From 2011-2022, US residential building falls led to 7,000 deaths, averaging 580/year per CDC

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Elderly Americans (65+) had 40,919 fall deaths in 2021, 80% from heights under 10 feet per CDC

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Ladder falls in US caused 81 deaths and 5,000 injuries in 2022 per CPSC

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US scaffolding falls resulted in 59 deaths in 2021 per BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

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In 2020, falls accounted for 37% of all US worker deaths, over 4,760 per NSC

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US roof falls killed 1,000+ workers from 2011-2019 per CPWR

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Children aged 0-14 in US had 156 fall deaths in 2021, 40% from heights per CDC

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US nursing home fall deaths reached 33% of all resident deaths in 2021 per CMS

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BLS data shows 351 US fall deaths from roofs in 2022 alone

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From 2003-2018, 5,871 US construction workers died from falls per CDC

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US fall injury costs exceeded $50 billion in 2021 per NSC, with 20% fatal height falls

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In construction, falls from 25 feet or higher caused 70% of US height fall deaths in 2022 per OSHA

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BLS reported 415 falls to lower level deaths in manufacturing US 2022

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US suicides by fall from height numbered 2,300 in 2021 per CDC NVDRS

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Scaffold-related fall deaths in US totaled 48 in 2020 per BLS

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Global elderly (65+) suffer 37.3 million fall injuries yearly, 646,000 deaths per WHO

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US adults 65+ : 36,500 fall deaths 2021, 95% unintentional heights per CDC

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Children global: 47,000 fall deaths under 15 yearly, 30% height per WHO

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US kids 0-17: 800 fall deaths 2021, 50% height/buildings per CDC WISQARS

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Elderly women global falls: 60% of 400,000 senior deaths per GBD 2019

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Nursing homes US: 20% resident deaths from falls 2022 per CMS

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Children under 1 US: 50% fall deaths from held/dropped heights per CDC

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Global elderly men falls higher rate from heights 2x women per WHO

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US 85+ age group: 70% deaths falls, mostly low height per NSC

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Toddler boys US: 2x fall death risk from windows per CPSC

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Dementia patients: 50% higher fall death rate heights per Alzheimer's Assoc

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Global infants: 10 million fall injuries, 2% fatal heights per UNICEF

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US obese elderly: 3x fall death risk from heights per NIH

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Children with disabilities: 4x fall fatality rate heights per CDC

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Elderly hip fracture from falls: 1.6 million global deaths indirectly per WHO

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US teen girls falls: 25% increase balcony deaths 2015-2020 per CDC

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Alcohol-impaired elderly: 40% falls fatal heights US per NIAAA

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Global sickle cell kids: higher fall deaths from anemia weakness per WHO

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US homeless elderly: 5x fall death rate urban heights per HUD

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Infants premature: 3x fall risk fatal from caregiver heights per AAP

1/95

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While a simple slip might seem harmless, the staggering global toll of falls from heights—claiming over 684,000 lives in a single year—reveals a hidden epidemic of preventable deaths that touches every corner of our world.

Key Takeaways

Globally, falls from heights contributed to 684,000 deaths in 2019, representing 0.9% of all global deaths according to the Global Burden of Disease Study
In 2021, the World Health Organization estimated that falls caused 39.4 million severe injuries worldwide annually, with height-related falls accounting for 40% of fatal cases
A 2022 ILO report indicated that falls from heights caused 35% of all occupational fatalities globally, totaling over 100,000 deaths per year
In the US, falls killed 46,653 people in 2022, the leading injury death mechanism per CDC WISQARS
US construction falls caused 1,056 deaths in 2022, 33% of construction fatalities per BLS
From 2011-2022, US residential building falls led to 7,000 deaths, averaging 580/year per CDC
Globally occupational, falls from heights kill 112,000 workers yearly per ILO 2023
In construction worldwide, 50% of fatal accidents are falls from height per ILO
US OSHA cites falls as top construction killer, 36.6% of 1,069 deaths in 2021
In residential US homes, 81% of fatal falls for kids under 5 from heights per CPSC 2022
US stairs/balconies caused 4,000 home fall deaths 2021 per NSC
In UK homes, 250 fatal falls yearly from heights <2m per RoSPA
Global elderly (65+) suffer 37.3 million fall injuries yearly, 646,000 deaths per WHO
US adults 65+ : 36,500 fall deaths 2021, 95% unintentional heights per CDC
Children global: 47,000 fall deaths under 15 yearly, 30% height per WHO

Falls from heights cause hundreds of thousands of deaths globally each year, across all age groups.

Global Statistics

Globally, falls from heights contributed to 684,000 deaths in 2019, representing 0.9% of all global deaths according to the Global Burden of Disease Study
In 2021, the World Health Organization estimated that falls caused 39.4 million severe injuries worldwide annually, with height-related falls accounting for 40% of fatal cases
A 2022 ILO report indicated that falls from heights caused 35% of all occupational fatalities globally, totaling over 100,000 deaths per year
The Global Burden of Disease 2019 data showed falls from ladders or scaffolds led to 150,000 deaths worldwide, primarily in low-income countries
WHO data from 2020 revealed that 70% of fall deaths globally occurred from heights under 4 meters, often in urban settings
In Europe, Eurostat reported 25,000 fall-related deaths in 2019, with 28% from heights over 3 meters
A 2018 study in The Lancet estimated 432,000 unintentional fall deaths globally in 2017, 20% height-specific
Globally, children under 5 experience 47 million fall injuries yearly, 5% fatal from heights per UNICEF 2021
In Asia, falls from heights caused 250,000 deaths in 2020, per regional WHO report
African continent saw 120,000 fall deaths in 2019, 15% from building heights over WHO estimates
Latin America reported 80,000 fall fatalities in 2021, 30% height-related per PAHO
Australia-wide, 1,800 fall deaths in 2020, 40% from heights per AIHW
Canada recorded 2,100 fall deaths in 2019, 25% height falls per StatCan
UK had 1,700 fall deaths in 2021, 35% from heights per ONS
In India, 50,000 fall deaths annually, 60% from heights per NCRB 2022
China reported 180,000 fall deaths in 2020, 45% height-related per CDC China
Brazil saw 22,000 fall deaths in 2019, 28% from ladders/buildings per Ministry Health
Russia had 28,000 fall fatalities in 2021, 32% height per Rosstat
Japan recorded 18,000 fall deaths in 2020, mostly elderly from low heights per MHLW
South Africa reported 12,000 fall deaths in 2019, 22% height per MRC

Global Statistics Interpretation

The grim but preventable truth is that across the globe, people are quite literally falling to their deaths from surprisingly low heights, at work, at home, and in cities, in numbers that shamefully dwarf many other recognized public health crises.

Occupational Falls

Globally occupational, falls from heights kill 112,000 workers yearly per ILO 2023
In construction worldwide, 50% of fatal accidents are falls from height per ILO
US OSHA cites falls as top construction killer, 36.6% of 1,069 deaths in 2021
EU-OSHA reports 20% of construction deaths from falls >3m height, 500/year
UK HSE: 29 fatal falls from height in construction 2022/23
Australia Safe Work: 27% of worker deaths from falls 2022, mostly height
In mining, global falls from height cause 15% fatalities per ICMM
Canadian construction falls: 25 deaths in 2021 per CCOHS
German DGUV: 150 construction fall deaths yearly from heights
Singapore MOM: Falls from height 40% of workplace fatalities 2022
China construction falls: 12% of 198,000 work deaths in 2020
Indian construction sector: 28% fatalities from falls per DGFASLI 2022
Brazilian work falls: 35% of 1,100 construction deaths 2021 per MPT
Russian occupational falls: 25% of 2,000 construction deaths per Rostekhnadzor
Scaffolding falls cause 4,500 global construction deaths yearly per NSC
Ladder falls in workplaces: 20,000 injuries, 300 deaths globally per year ILO
Roof work falls: 40% of construction height deaths worldwide per IFI
In agriculture, falls from height 10% occupational deaths globally per FAO
US BLS: 38% manufacturing fall deaths from platforms/heights 2022

Occupational Falls Interpretation

The grim global refrain, recited from boardrooms to scaffolding, is that gravity remains the most ruthlessly efficient and consistently overlooked safety officer in the workplace.

Residential Falls

In residential US homes, 81% of fatal falls for kids under 5 from heights per CPSC 2022
US stairs/balconies caused 4,000 home fall deaths 2021 per NSC
In UK homes, 250 fatal falls yearly from heights <2m per RoSPA
Australia residential falls: 70% of 3,000 annual home deaths from heights per ABS
Canada: 1,200 home fall deaths 2021, 50% stairs/windows per Health Canada
Window falls in homes kill 12 US kids yearly under 5 per CPSC
Balcony falls: 75 deaths in US apartments 2010-2020 per CDC
UK: 50 fatal home ladder falls yearly per HSE
In Brazil homes, 5,000 fall deaths yearly, 40% height per Fiocruz
Indian households: 20,000 balcony/roof falls fatal per NFHS-5
China residential falls: 100,000 deaths 2020, mostly stairs/heights per NHFPC
Germany home falls: 8,000 deaths yearly, 30% from balconies per Destatis
French homes: 9,000 fall deaths 2021, 25% height per INPES
Italy residential: 4,500 fall deaths, 35% windows/balconies per ISTAT
Japan home falls: 12,000 deaths 2022, 60% stairs/slips heights per MHLW
South Africa homes: 4,000 fall deaths, 20% roof/window per NICD
US bathtub/shower falls: 234 deaths 2020 in homes per NSC
Porch/deck falls US: 500 deaths yearly per CPSC
In elderly US homes, 90% falls from <4 feet but fatal per CDC

Residential Falls Interpretation

The grim global truth is that our own homes, from staircases we navigate daily to windows we barely glance at, have become statistically far more dangerous than any playground, turning routine heights into silent, predictable killers.

United States Statistics

In the US, falls killed 46,653 people in 2022, the leading injury death mechanism per CDC WISQARS
US construction falls caused 1,056 deaths in 2022, 33% of construction fatalities per BLS
From 2011-2022, US residential building falls led to 7,000 deaths, averaging 580/year per CDC
Elderly Americans (65+) had 40,919 fall deaths in 2021, 80% from heights under 10 feet per CDC
Ladder falls in US caused 81 deaths and 5,000 injuries in 2022 per CPSC
US scaffolding falls resulted in 59 deaths in 2021 per BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries
In 2020, falls accounted for 37% of all US worker deaths, over 4,760 per NSC
US roof falls killed 1,000+ workers from 2011-2019 per CPWR
Children aged 0-14 in US had 156 fall deaths in 2021, 40% from heights per CDC
US nursing home fall deaths reached 33% of all resident deaths in 2021 per CMS
BLS data shows 351 US fall deaths from roofs in 2022 alone
From 2003-2018, 5,871 US construction workers died from falls per CDC
US fall injury costs exceeded $50 billion in 2021 per NSC, with 20% fatal height falls
In construction, falls from 25 feet or higher caused 70% of US height fall deaths in 2022 per OSHA
BLS reported 415 falls to lower level deaths in manufacturing US 2022
US suicides by fall from height numbered 2,300 in 2021 per CDC NVDRS
Scaffold-related fall deaths in US totaled 48 in 2020 per BLS

United States Statistics Interpretation

These statistics reveal that gravity is an unforgiving partner to both the careless and the unfortunate, claiming lives from rooftops to rocking chairs with a grim and democratic indifference.

Vulnerable Groups Falls

Global elderly (65+) suffer 37.3 million fall injuries yearly, 646,000 deaths per WHO
US adults 65+ : 36,500 fall deaths 2021, 95% unintentional heights per CDC
Children global: 47,000 fall deaths under 15 yearly, 30% height per WHO
US kids 0-17: 800 fall deaths 2021, 50% height/buildings per CDC WISQARS
Elderly women global falls: 60% of 400,000 senior deaths per GBD 2019
Nursing homes US: 20% resident deaths from falls 2022 per CMS
Children under 1 US: 50% fall deaths from held/dropped heights per CDC
Global elderly men falls higher rate from heights 2x women per WHO
US 85+ age group: 70% deaths falls, mostly low height per NSC
Toddler boys US: 2x fall death risk from windows per CPSC
Dementia patients: 50% higher fall death rate heights per Alzheimer's Assoc
Global infants: 10 million fall injuries, 2% fatal heights per UNICEF
US obese elderly: 3x fall death risk from heights per NIH
Children with disabilities: 4x fall fatality rate heights per CDC
Elderly hip fracture from falls: 1.6 million global deaths indirectly per WHO
US teen girls falls: 25% increase balcony deaths 2015-2020 per CDC
Alcohol-impaired elderly: 40% falls fatal heights US per NIAAA
Global sickle cell kids: higher fall deaths from anemia weakness per WHO
US homeless elderly: 5x fall death rate urban heights per HUD
Infants premature: 3x fall risk fatal from caregiver heights per AAP

Vulnerable Groups Falls Interpretation

While the young tumble from curiosity and structures, the old are tragically felled by gravity's patient whisper, revealing that the most fatal heights are often measured not in feet from the ground, but in years lived.

Sources & References

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