Revealing Montana’s Most Common Causes of Death for 2025

BUTTE, MT - Montana is a state that provokes thoughts of wide-open skies, snow-dusted peaks, and tight-knit communities. In short: the best.

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Life here moves at a pace that honors the land and its people.

But even in the beauty of Big Sky Country, there are quiet realities that touch every family and neighborhood—one of which is the conversation around death and the causes behind it.

While it's not an easy topic to discuss, understanding why people in Montana are dying is one of the most important things we can do to improve public health, guide policy, and ensure that support systems are meeting the needs of real Montanans.

Montana presents a unique landscape for health outcomes. Our rural nature means that access to medical care can vary widely depending on where you live.

Lifestyle, environmental factors, occupational hazards, and mental health challenges all play roles in shaping the health of our communities. Add to that an aging population and a deeply rooted culture of independence, and you begin to see how complex the picture becomes.

What is Montana's Number One Leading Cause of Death?

This article doesn’t aim to alarm—but to inform. We’ve reviewed the latest available data to identify the most common causes of death in Montana. Some are expected. Others may surprise you. But all deserve a moment of our attention, especially if the knowledge might one day save a life or spark a conversation.

So, with care and respect, here are the ten leading causes of death in the state of Montana.