Fatal Roads

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2021

Minnesota · year

Minnesota in 2021

Deaths 488Fatal crashes 451Per 100,000 8.5US 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, 488 people died in 451 fatal crashes in Minnesota, 8.5 deaths per 100,000 residents against 13.0 nationally.

The death toll rose 24% from 394 in 2020 to 488 in 2021.

Minnesota accounted for 1.1% of the 43,230 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

29.7% 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 minor arterial roads (30%).

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

← 202020212022 →All years

Compared with 2020 and the nation

MeasureMinnesota 2021Minnesota 2020United States 2021
Deaths48839443,230
Fatal crashes45136939,785
Deaths per 100,000 residents8.56.913.0
Crashes with a drinking driver30%32%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. 75 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Hennepin County68745.8509
Ramsey County34366.6225
Anoka County25277.2200
St. Louis County18199.5183
Stearns County181811.0122
Dakota County16184.0185
Wright County14149.191
Carver County131311.561
Douglas County101332.648
Cass County101238.267
Chisago County101220.365
Crow Wing County101116.071
Washington County10103.5105
Otter Tail County9914.864
Beltrami County8817.153
Goodhue County7816.753
Itasca County7817.658
Morrison County7823.260
Le Sueur County5827.239
McLeod County7719.040
Pine County7723.165
Carlton County5719.144
Kandiyohi County6613.459
Olmsted County663.697
Scott County663.879
Sherburne County665.8108
Becker County5514.153
Mille Lacs County5518.141
Nicollet County5514.521
Rice County557.252
Benton County4511.946
Isanti County449.263
Kanabec County4424.135
Mower County449.824
Jackson County3440.617
Todd County3415.426
Wadena County3427.722
Chippewa County3324.419
Clay County334.545
Clearwater County3334.815
Dodge County3314.125
Faribault County3321.632
Lake County3328.019
Polk County339.932
Winona County336.042
Murray County1–2337.311
Blue Earth County1–21–2—53
Fillmore County1–21–2—27
Houston County1–21–2—24
Lyon County1–21–2—25
Pennington County1–21–2—20
Pope County1–21–2—12
Renville County1–21–2—30
Sibley County1–21–2—22
Wabasha County1–21–2—33
Aitkin County1–21–2—38
Red Lake County1–21–2—4
Rock County1–21–2—12
Freeborn County1–21–2—32
Grant County1–21–2—10
Hubbard County1–21–2—24
Lake of the Woods County1–21–2—6
Mahnomen County1–21–2—12
Marshall County1–21–2—14
Martin County1–21–2—19
Meeker County1–21–2—25
Pipestone County1–21–2—10
Redwood County1–21–2—25
Roseau County1–21–2—12
Swift County1–21–2—20
Traverse County1–21–2—3
Waseca County1–21–2—12
Watonwan County1–21–2—11
Wilkin County1–21–2—9
Yellow Medicine County1–21–2—16

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

12am3.5%
1am2.9%
2am3.5%
3am2.4%
4am2%
5am3.3%
6am4.2%
7am2.7%
8am3.1%
9am2.2%
10am5.3%
11am4.4%
12pm4.4%
1pm4.4%
2pm5.1%
3pm6.7%
4pm2.9%
5pm4.7%
6pm6.7%
7pm5.1%
8pm6%
9pm5.1%
10pm3.8%
11pm5.5%

Weekday

Sunday12%
Monday14%
Tuesday16%
Wednesday12%
Thursday15%
Friday16%
Saturday16%

Road type

Minor arterial30%
Other principal arterial21%
Major collector20%
Local12%
Interstate8%
Minor collector6%
Other freeways and expressways4%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Minnesota in 2021?

488 people in 451 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2021 file, or 8.5 per 100,000 residents.

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

Hennepin County with 74 deaths in 68 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2021 compare with 2020 in Minnesota?

488 deaths against 394 in 2020 (+24%). 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.