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1981

Mississippi · year

Mississippi in 1981

Deaths 744Fatal crashes 632Per 100,000 —US deaths 49,301

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 1981.

In 1981, 744 people died in 632 fatal crashes in Mississippi.

The death toll rose 7% from 695 in 1980 to 744 in 1981.

Mississippi accounted for 1.5% of the 49,301 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

24.1% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

35% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1980 and the nation

MeasureMississippi 1981Mississippi 1980United States 1981
Deaths74469549,301
Fatal crashes63260344,000
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver24%24%41%

Counties in 1981

Every county with a fatal crash in 1981, 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
Hinds County394420.8529
Harrison County354018.7308
Jackson County333423.1263
Lauderdale County202535.4178
Lowndes County192238.5102
Jones County212131.9139
Marshall County142161.1176
Rankin County162012.5193
DeSoto County14178.7223
Claiborne County1117209.343
Benton County917224.738
Forrest County141620.4173
Hancock County151532.3112
Itawamba County141562.066
Lee County131518.1180
Panola County131545.8135
Copiah County121347.2110
Lincoln County111234.395
Madison County91210.5140
Monroe County91235.890
Pearl River County101016.9148
Coahoma County71049.759
Carroll County610106.634
Bolivar County8931.777
Simpson County8935.270
Washington County8921.9142
Holmes County7957.879
Pike County7923.1126
Tunica County6998.356
Leake County8837.377
Sunflower County8834.763
Clay County7843.936
Grenada County7838.282
Kemper County6893.449
Wayne County4840.563
Adams County7724.442
Lafayette County7711.7103
Marion County7729.268
Yazoo County7730.462
Lamar County6710.5107
Neshoba County6724.2102
Newton County6733.252
Tate County6724.597
Alcorn County5720.592
Chickasaw County5741.754
Lawrence County5760.027
Quitman County47126.331
George County6623.280
Scott County6621.7119
Warren County6614.3110
Calhoun County5647.039
Choctaw County5674.219
Tippah County5628.051
Winston County5634.444
Tishomingo County4632.357
Covington County5527.899
Franklin County4566.520
Wilkinson County1–2563.933
Clarke County4426.443
Jefferson County4458.029
Tallahatchie County4436.635
Union County4414.170
Greene County3429.344
Sharkey County34123.715
Amite County3324.145
Humphreys County3342.133
Jasper County3319.072
Pontotoc County339.488
Prentiss County3311.862
Stone County3315.355
Walthall County3321.727
Issaquena County1–21–2—10
Jefferson Davis County1–21–2—54
Leflore County1–21–2—58
Noxubee County1–21–2—41
Oktibbeha County1–21–2—82
Smith County1–21–2—35
Yalobusha County1–21–2—46
Montgomery County1–21–2—29
Perry County1–21–2—52
Webster County1–21–2—18

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

12am6.9%
1am5.3%
2am5%
3am5%
4am3.2%
5am2.1%
6am3.5%
7am2.7%
8am1.6%
9am2.2%
10am3%
11am2.1%
12pm2.9%
1pm2.7%
2pm3.9%
3pm4.5%
4pm3.7%
5pm4.3%
6pm6.1%
7pm5.5%
8pm5.1%
9pm7.1%
10pm5.1%
11pm6.4%

Weekday

Sunday19%
Monday10%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday10%
Thursday12%
Friday16%
Saturday22%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Mississippi in 1981?

744 people in 632 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1981 file.

Which county in Mississippi had the most crash deaths in 1981?

Hinds County with 44 deaths in 39 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1981 compare with 1980 in Mississippi?

744 deaths against 695 in 1980 (+7%). Nationally the 1981 total was 49,301.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1981 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates (no county estimates before 2000 are used, so no rate is shown for this year). Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.