Fatal Roads

States › Iowa › 2021

2021

Iowa · year

Iowa in 2021

Deaths 356Fatal crashes 329Per 100,000 11.1US deaths 43,230

FARS data are based on police crash reports and other sources; the drunk-driving measure is based on the highest BAC of any driver in the crash. Final FARS file for 2021.

In 2021, 356 people died in 329 fatal crashes in Iowa, 11.1 deaths per 100,000 residents against 13.0 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2020 (343) and 2021 (356).

Iowa accounted for 0.8% of the 43,230 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

25.2% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

By FHWA road function class, the largest share was on other principal arterial roads (31%).

32% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Friday was the most common day.

← 202020212022 →All years

Compared with 2020 and the nation

MeasureIowa 2021Iowa 2020United States 2021
Deaths35634343,230
Fatal crashes32931039,785
Deaths per 100,000 residents11.110.713.0
Crashes with a drinking driver25%25%26%

Counties in 2021

Every county with a fatal crash in 2021, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 81 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Polk County41458.7337
Scott County15169.1164
Linn County13146.0154
Pottawattamie County111111.8118
Marion County71132.337
Black Hawk County996.8103
Johnson County995.680
Benton County8831.058
Cerro Gordo County8818.859
Marshall County8819.855
Woodbury County887.592
Jones County7733.233
Muscatine County7716.648
Bremer County6623.721
Clayton County6635.432
Butler County5535.318
Clinton County5510.950
Dallas County554.360
Fremont County5577.031
Wapello County5514.041
Webster County5513.559
Jackson County4525.831
Henry County3525.835
Cedar County4421.934
Dubuque County444.066
Emmet County4443.711
Jasper County4410.545
Lee County4412.464
Monona County4447.529
Plymouth County4415.543
Buchanan County3419.323
Cass County3430.740
Floyd County3426.729
Story County343.946
Winneshiek County3420.330
Clarke County1–2442.025
Fayette County1–2420.929
Allamakee County3321.224
Des Moines County337.829
Greene County3334.622
Grundy County3324.216
Hamilton County3320.230
Harrison County3320.531
Mitchell County3328.214
Sioux County338.237
Tama County3317.925
Warren County335.356
Worth County3341.118
Buena Vista County1–2314.420
Delaware County1–2317.022
Dickinson County1–2316.520
Adams County1–21–2—6
Audubon County1–21–2—13
Boone County1–21–2—32
Chickasaw County1–21–2—18
Clay County1–21–2—17
Crawford County1–21–2—25
Franklin County1–21–2—14
Iowa County1–21–2—49
Louisa County1–21–2—20
Mahaska County1–21–2—30
Poweshiek County1–21–2—29
Washington County1–21–2—30
Wayne County1–21–2—12
Winnebago County1–21–2—10
Adair County1–21–2—30
Appanoose County1–21–2—17
Cherokee County1–21–2—15
Hancock County1–21–2—13
Hardin County1–21–2—31
Howard County1–21–2—8
Humboldt County1–21–2—21
Lucas County1–21–2—12
Lyon County1–21–2—15
Madison County1–21–2—30
Osceola County1–21–2—15
Page County1–21–2—16
Ringgold County1–21–2—14
Sac County1–21–2—21
Taylor County1–21–2—8
Wright County1–21–2—14

Per 100,000 uses the 2024 population estimate for every year, so early-year rates are understated where a county has grown.

Hour of day

12am1.8%
1am2.1%
2am2.4%
3am3%
4am2.4%
5am4.6%
6am2.1%
7am4.6%
8am5.2%
9am2.7%
10am4.6%
11am4%
12pm4.3%
1pm5.5%
2pm6.1%
3pm5.2%
4pm6.1%
5pm5.2%
6pm5.2%
7pm3%
8pm5.5%
9pm5.8%
10pm3.6%
11pm5.2%

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday16%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday15%
Thursday13%
Friday16%
Saturday14%

Road type

Other principal arterial31%
Major collector22%
Local18%
Minor arterial14%
Interstate9%
Minor collector5%
Other freeways and expressways0%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Iowa in 2021?

356 people in 329 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2021 file, or 11.1 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Iowa had the most crash deaths in 2021?

Polk County with 45 deaths in 41 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2021 compare with 2020 in Iowa?

356 deaths against 343 in 2020 (+4%). Nationally the 2021 total was 43,230.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2021 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.