evidence: Please note:. This report has been corrected. [...] The overall age-adjusted death rate increased by 0.7% in 2021 from 2020. Overall death rates were highest among non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaskan Native and non-Hispanic Black or African American populations. For a second year, COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer. [...] † Based on death records received and processed as of April 12, 2022, for deaths occurring in the United States among U.S. residents. Data included in this analysis include >99% of deaths occurring in 2021.