U.S. States by Motorcycle Fatality Rate, 2026 Snapshot
U.S. States by Motorcycle Fatality Rate: 2026 Snapshot Based on 2024 Federal Data
Mississippi has the highest rate in this 50-state comparison at 180.80 motorcyclist fatalities per 100,000 registered motorcycles, followed closely by Texas at 178.73. South Carolina ranks third at 122.68.
The table is a compiled research dataset based on 3 federal sources, with row-level source and method notes shown in the ranking table. The ranking metric itself combines NHTSA FARS fatalities and FHWA motorcycle registrations; U.S. Census Bureau data are used only for regional grouping.
All 50 ranking values are calculated_value. Each rate is calculated from official observed 2024 inputs using motorcyclist fatalities ÷ registered motorcycles × 100,000. These values are neither forecasts nor modeled projections. Higher rates rank higher.
Mississippi · fatalities per 100,000 registered motorcycles.
Montana · 38 fatalities and 447,943 FHWA-reported motorcycle registrations.
The District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are not included in this state ranking.
Every row uses matching 2024 fatality and registration inputs.
Overview: What This Motorcycle Fatality Rate Measures
This ranking compares motorcycle deaths by state after adjusting for the number of motorcycles registered in each state. The numerator is the number of motorcyclists killed in traffic crashes. NHTSA uses the term motorcyclist for both motorcycle riders and passengers.
The denominator is the number of motorcycles reported as registered in FHWA's 2024 State Motor-Vehicle Registrations table. NHTSA uses the same FHWA registration series when calculating its national fatality rate per 100,000 registered motorcycles.
The measure is different from a population fatality rate. It is also different from an exposure-based rate using motorcycle vehicle miles traveled. A state's position reflects both its motorcyclist fatality count and the number of motorcycles registered there.
NHTSA recorded 6,228 motorcyclist fatalities nationwide in 2024. The corresponding U.S. rate was 67.25 deaths per 100,000 registered motorcycles, which provides a national benchmark for reading the state results.
Top 10 States by Motorcyclist Fatalities per 100,000 Registered Motorcycles
Mississippi and Texas stand well above the rest of the ranking, while South Carolina begins the next group at 122.68. Seven of the Top 10 states are in the Census South region.
Top 10 · fatalities per 100,000 registered motorcycles · 2024 inputs
| Rank | State | Rate | Source / method note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | 180.80 | Calculated; FARS 2024: 55 deaths; FHWA 2024: 30,421 registrations; ×100,000. |
| 2 | Texas | 178.73 | Calculated; FARS 2024: 583 deaths; FHWA 2024: 326,186 registrations; ×100,000. |
| 3 | South Carolina | 122.68 | Calculated; FARS 2024: 154 deaths; FHWA 2024: 125,526 registrations; ×100,000. |
| 4 | North Carolina | 111.74 | Calculated; FARS 2024: 212 deaths; FHWA 2024: 189,734 registrations; ×100,000. |
| 5 | Missouri | 108.37 | Calculated; FARS 2024: 145 deaths; FHWA 2024: 133,801 registrations; ×100,000. |
| 6 | Hawaii | 105.88 | Calculated; FARS 2024: 26 deaths; FHWA 2024: 24,555 registrations; ×100,000. |
| 7 | Kentucky | 101.82 | Calculated; FARS 2024: 118 deaths; FHWA 2024: 115,887 registrations; ×100,000. |
| 8 | Nevada | 101.48 | Calculated; FARS 2024: 89 deaths; FHWA 2024: 87,702 registrations; ×100,000. |
| 9 | Florida | 101.20 | Calculated; FARS 2024: 642 deaths; FHWA 2024: 634,364 registrations; ×100,000. |
| 10 | Alabama | 98.44 | Calculated; FARS 2024: 127 deaths; FHWA 2024: 129,014 registrations; ×100,000. |
Chart: Top 20 States by Motorcycle Fatality Rate
The chart uses the same raw calculations as the ranking table. Bar length is scaled to Mississippi, the highest-rate state.
Methodology
This page uses a compiled research dataset built from three federal sources. NHTSA FARS provides the fatality numerator, FHWA Highway Statistics provides the motorcycle-registration denominator, and U.S. Census Bureau classifications provide regional labels only.
Metric
Motorcyclist fatalities per 100,000 registered motorcycles.
Ranking direction
Descending. A higher calculated fatality rate receives a higher rank.
Fatality input
NHTSA FARS 2024 Annual Report File motorcyclist fatalities. Motorcyclists include both riders and passengers.
Registration input
FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table MV-1, total registered motorcycles by state.
Formula: motorcyclist fatalities ÷ registered motorcycles × 100,000.
For example, Mississippi recorded 55 motorcyclist fatalities and 30,421 registered motorcycles. The calculation is 55 ÷ 30,421 × 100,000 = 180.80.
The resulting state rates are calculated values. NHTSA and FHWA directly publish the underlying fatality and registration counts, but they do not publish this 50-state ranking as presented here.
No forecast, projection, trend extrapolation, CAGR or synthetic 2026 value is used. “2026 snapshot” refers to the publication context; the matching federal inputs are from 2024.
FHWA's registration data are supplied by state motor-vehicle agencies. Reporting practices are not perfectly uniform, and FHWA notes that some states did not report government registrations for one or more vehicle categories. Registration counts should therefore be treated as a standardized administrative denominator rather than a direct measure of riding exposure.
Census regions are used only for geographic grouping and filtering. They do not affect any rate or rank.
What this metric does not measure: fatalities per resident, crashes per motorcycle, active riders, trips, motorcycle miles traveled, road quality, helmet effectiveness, rider behavior, legal responsibility or the probability that an individual rider will die in a crash.
Main Ranking: All 50 U.S. States
This compiled research dataset contains 50 confirmed state rows. NHTSA FARS and FHWA provide the two official inputs used to calculate each rate; Census Bureau regional classifications are used only for filtering and regional summaries.
Search for a state, filter by Census region or data status, change the sort order, or limit the table to the Top 10 or Top 20.
2024 motorcyclist fatalities per 100,000 registered motorcycles
| Rank | State | Rate | Source / method note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | 180.80 | Calculated; 55 FARS deaths; 30,421 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 2 | Texas | 178.73 | Calculated; 583 FARS deaths; 326,186 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 3 | South Carolina | 122.68 | Calculated; 154 FARS deaths; 125,526 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 4 | North Carolina | 111.74 | Calculated; 212 FARS deaths; 189,734 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 5 | Missouri | 108.37 | Calculated; 145 FARS deaths; 133,801 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 6 | Hawaii | 105.88 | Calculated; 26 FARS deaths; 24,555 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 7 | Kentucky | 101.82 | Calculated; 118 FARS deaths; 115,887 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 8 | Nevada | 101.48 | Calculated; 89 FARS deaths; 87,702 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 9 | Florida | 101.20 | Calculated; 642 FARS deaths; 634,364 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 10 | Alabama | 98.44 | Calculated; 127 FARS deaths; 129,014 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 11 | Maryland | 95.86 | Calculated; 95 FARS deaths; 99,106 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 12 | Colorado | 93.49 | Calculated; 165 FARS deaths; 176,484 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 13 | Tennessee | 92.00 | Calculated; 188 FARS deaths; 204,353 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 14 | Connecticut | 91.47 | Calculated; 75 FARS deaths; 81,996 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 15 | Delaware | 89.09 | Calculated; 22 FARS deaths; 24,694 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 16 | New Mexico | 88.50 | Calculated; 50 FARS deaths; 56,497 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 17 | Wyoming | 83.88 | Calculated; 24 FARS deaths; 28,613 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 18 | Georgia | 82.24 | Calculated; 182 FARS deaths; 221,294 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 19 | West Virginia | 79.73 | Calculated; 38 FARS deaths; 47,662 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 20 | New Jersey | 76.71 | Calculated; 112 FARS deaths; 146,003 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 21 | Oklahoma | 76.05 | Calculated; 106 FARS deaths; 139,387 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 22 | Arkansas | 75.62 | Calculated; 76 FARS deaths; 100,497 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 23 | Arizona | 75.00 | Calculated; 219 FARS deaths; 292,014 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 24 | Michigan | 73.76 | Calculated; 184 FARS deaths; 249,465 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 25 | Maine | 73.40 | Calculated; 35 FARS deaths; 47,685 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 26 | California | 69.49 | Calculated; 522 FARS deaths; 751,138 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 27 | Indiana | 67.20 | Calculated; 137 FARS deaths; 203,871 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 28 | Louisiana | 66.35 | Calculated; 70 FARS deaths; 105,504 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 29 | Virginia | 64.00 | Calculated; 122 FARS deaths; 190,615 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | 63.43 | Calculated; 217 FARS deaths; 342,114 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 31 | Nebraska | 63.05 | Calculated; 32 FARS deaths; 50,753 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 32 | Idaho | 62.74 | Calculated; 47 FARS deaths; 74,915 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 33 | Oregon | 59.41 | Calculated; 85 FARS deaths; 143,067 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 34 | Kansas | 59.26 | Calculated; 56 FARS deaths; 94,496 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 35 | Washington | 56.42 | Calculated; 113 FARS deaths; 200,298 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 36 | Illinois | 56.17 | Calculated; 149 FARS deaths; 265,273 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 37 | Ohio | 52.56 | Calculated; 222 FARS deaths; 422,404 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 38 | Massachusetts | 49.40 | Calculated; 70 FARS deaths; 141,710 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 39 | New Hampshire | 40.60 | Calculated; 35 FARS deaths; 86,208 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 40 | Alaska | 39.15 | Calculated; 10 FARS deaths; 25,540 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 41 | North Dakota | 38.49 | Calculated; 17 FARS deaths; 44,166 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 42 | Wisconsin | 37.95 | Calculated; 106 FARS deaths; 279,308 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 43 | Minnesota | 33.55 | Calculated; 76 FARS deaths; 226,544 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 44 | Iowa | 32.61 | Calculated; 63 FARS deaths; 193,164 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 45 | Rhode Island | 31.53 | Calculated; 8 FARS deaths; 25,375 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 46 | New York | 26.30 | Calculated; 209 FARS deaths; 794,820 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 47 | South Dakota | 22.41 | Calculated; 33 FARS deaths; 147,254 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 48 | Vermont | 22.27 | Calculated; 7 FARS deaths; 31,427 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 49 | Utah | 20.64 | Calculated; 53 FARS deaths; 256,780 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
| 50 | Montana | 8.48 | Calculated; 38 FARS deaths; 447,943 FHWA registrations; ×100,000. |
Compiled research dataset based on NHTSA FARS, FHWA Highway Statistics and Census regional classifications. Ranks use unrounded calculated rates; display values are rounded to two decimal places. Differences in state registration reporting should be considered when interpreting unusually high or low rates.
Insights From the 50-State Ranking
Key Insight
The midpoint of the ranking lies between Maine at 73.40 and California at 69.49, giving a 50-state median of about 71.45 fatalities per 100,000 registered motorcycles.
Notable Pattern
Fourteen states have rates above 90, while the lower half of the ranking falls below roughly 71.5. The distribution is therefore much wider at the top than around the middle.
Regional Concentration
Seven of the Top 10 states are in the Census South region: Mississippi, Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, Florida and Alabama.
Outlier
Montana ranks last at 8.48 because 38 fatalities are divided by an FHWA-reported 447,943 motorcycle registrations. Its unusually large denominator makes registration-reporting differences especially important when interpreting the result.
What This Ranking Means
A higher rank means that a state recorded more motorcyclist deaths relative to its reported number of registered motorcycles. It does not mean that an individual rider faces the same proportional increase in crash or fatality risk.
Registrations are an administrative measure, not a direct measure of exposure. States differ in riding season, tourism, climate, motorcycle use and actual miles traveled. Registration and reporting practices can also vary between state agencies.
For national context, NHTSA reported 67.25 motorcyclist deaths per 100,000 registered motorcycles in 2024. NHTSA also reports a separate exposure-based national rate of 28.00 deaths per 100 million motorcycle vehicle miles traveled. The two measures answer different questions and should not be compared as if they were interchangeable.
This ranking is therefore most useful for comparing fatalities relative to registered motorcycle counts. It should not be used by itself to establish why one state has more motorcycle deaths, whether its roads are less safe, or whether a particular law or policy caused its position.
FAQ
Which state has the highest motorcycle fatality rate in this 2026 snapshot?
Mississippi ranks first at 180.80 motorcyclist fatalities per 100,000 registered motorcycles, based on 55 NHTSA FARS fatalities and 30,421 FHWA-reported motorcycle registrations in 2024.
Are these official published state rates?
No. NHTSA and FHWA directly publish the underlying 2024 fatality and registration counts. StatRanker calculates the state rates from those official observed inputs, so every ranking value is classified as calculated_value.
Are these 2026 fatality figures?
No. The ranking is a 2026 snapshot based on matching federal datasets from 2024. It does not estimate or project motorcycle fatalities for 2025 or 2026.
Who is counted as a motorcyclist?
NHTSA uses the term motorcyclist for a motorcycle rider or passenger. The fatality counts therefore include both operators and passengers killed in traffic crashes.
Why use motorcycle registrations instead of state population?
The registration denominator is more directly connected to motorcycle ownership and use than total population. However, it still does not measure the number of active riders, trips or miles traveled.
What are the limitations of registration-based state comparisons?
Registration practices and reporting can differ among states, while registered motorcycles are not necessarily ridden equally often. FHWA also notes that some states did not report government registrations for one or more vehicle categories.
Is this the same as fatalities per 100 million motorcycle miles traveled?
No. A VMT-based rate uses estimated motorcycle travel as the denominator. This ranking instead uses registered motorcycles from FHWA's matching 2024 state dataset.
Sources
NHTSA — Motorcycles: 2024 Data
Primary source for 2024 motorcyclist fatality counts, definitions and the national fatality-rate benchmark used for context.
https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/Publication/813824
FHWA — Highway Statistics 2024, Table MV-1
Primary denominator source for state motorcycle registrations used in every calculated ranking value.
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2024/mv1.cfm
U.S. Census Bureau — Census Regions and Divisions
Used only to group states into Northeast, Midwest, South and West for filtering and regional analysis. Census classifications do not affect the calculated rates.
https://www2.census.gov/geo/pdfs/maps-data/maps/reference/us_regdiv.pdf
