Fatal Roads

States › North Carolina › 2021

2021

North Carolina · year

North Carolina in 2021

Deaths 1,693Fatal crashes 1,563Per 100,000 16.0US 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, 1,693 people died in 1,563 fatal crashes in North Carolina, 16.0 deaths per 100,000 residents against 13.0 nationally.

The death toll rose 10% from 1,538 in 2020 to 1,693 in 2021.

North Carolina accounted for 3.9% of the 43,230 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

27.3% 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 (22%).

34% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 202020212022 →All years

Compared with 2020 and the nation

MeasureNorth Carolina 2021North Carolina 2020United States 2021
Deaths1,6931,53843,230
Fatal crashes1,5631,41539,785
Deaths per 100,000 residents16.014.713.0
Crashes with a drinking driver27%24%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. 97 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Mecklenburg County1091189.81,059
Guilford County848815.7649
Wake County77867.0772
Robeson County566252.3531
Cumberland County545917.4501
Forsyth County454711.8419
Davidson County373921.9306
Johnston County363915.6341
Harnett County363725.3293
Catawba County333722.1237
Randolph County313221.6261
Buncombe County303111.1347
Rowan County283120.2233
Duplin County222957.4181
Scotland County242882.6120
New Hanover County262711.1210
Onslow County252712.7231
Pitt County232714.9261
Lenoir County222647.0129
Cabarrus County22249.8235
Union County21249.1232
Columbus County212346.0204
Brunswick County202313.8214
Moore County192321.2183
Durham County22226.4296
Iredell County222210.7238
Gaston County20229.1277
Nash County202121.4232
Orange County171912.4147
Rockingham County181819.2155
Sampson County181829.8199
Alamance County16189.8214
Granville County161829.2138
Wilkes County151827.2129
Chatham County161720.3141
Halifax County161736.2152
Vance County131740.295
Hoke County161628.9138
Surry County161622.4141
Wayne County161613.3209
Wilson County161620.0164
Henderson County151613.2123
Craven County151514.4131
Cleveland County141413.7208
Edgecombe County141428.5118
Pender County141420.0159
Lee County121420.4135
Rutherford County121319.8118
Lincoln County111313.3127
Bladen County121240.3108
Franklin County121215.0154
Stanly County121217.895
Richmond County111228.6106
Caldwell County111113.6123
Pasquotank County81126.663
Haywood County101015.9108
Burke County91011.3142
Yadkin County91026.391
Warren County81052.471
Jackson County8919.976
Hertford County5947.061
Carteret County8811.493
McDowell County8817.770
Montgomery County8830.391
Bertie County7847.260
Watauga County7814.558
Alexander County6719.157
Person County6717.460
Currituck County6618.645
Greene County6629.036
Northampton County6636.273
Ashe County5622.043
Anson County5522.361
Beaufort County5511.271
Dare County5513.143
Davie County5511.069
Stokes County5510.970
Graham County4448.936
Polk County4419.735
Swain County4428.724
Cherokee County339.958
Clay County3324.921
Jones County3331.726
Madison County3313.445
Martin County3313.946
Transylvania County338.835
Macon County1–237.754
Perquimans County1–2322.321
Alleghany County1–21–2—17
Caswell County1–21–2—55
Gates County1–21–2—34
Mitchell County1–21–2—18
Pamlico County1–21–2—23
Washington County1–21–2—16
Avery County1–21–2—24
Camden County1–21–2—9
Tyrrell County1–21–2—11

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

12am3.3%
1am2.9%
2am4.9%
3am2.1%
4am2.2%
5am1.5%
6am3.4%
7am3.6%
8am2.6%
9am2%
10am3%
11am4%
12pm4.9%
1pm4.5%
2pm4.7%
3pm4.4%
4pm5.9%
5pm6%
6pm7.5%
7pm5.1%
8pm6.7%
9pm5.8%
10pm4.8%
11pm4.2%

Weekday

Sunday16%
Monday14%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday12%
Thursday13%
Friday17%
Saturday17%

Road type

Other principal arterial22%
Minor arterial20%
Major collector19%
Local17%
Interstate10%
Minor collector7%
Other freeways and expressways4%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in North Carolina in 2021?

1,693 people in 1,563 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2021 file, or 16.0 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in North Carolina had the most crash deaths in 2021?

Mecklenburg County with 118 deaths in 109 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2021 compare with 2020 in North Carolina?

1,693 deaths against 1,538 in 2020 (+10%). 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.