COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Barnes County, North Dakota
Road fatality data for Barnes County (ND). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 16
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 3
- Latest Year Deaths
- 16.8
- Per 100k Residents
- Stable
- Trend
The verdict
Barnes County's fatality rate of 16.8 per 100,000 residents places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure.
- 41%
- of rated U.S. counties are deadlier per capita
- 16.1/100k
- North Dakota county average
- Stable
- fatality trend
What the Data Shows
Barnes County, North Dakota recorded 16 total road fatalities across 15 reported crashes during the 2016-2023 reporting window, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The most recent year covered by the data logged 3 deaths on county roads, and the annual average works out to approximately 1.8 fatalities per year. Adjusted for population, the fatality rate is 16.8 per 100,000 residents, which places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Cause-code breakdowns are not individually published for Barnes County in the current FARS release, so readers looking for contributing-factor data should use the North Dakota state page, which aggregates county-level case files into statewide totals. Either way, the underlying records are drawn from a census of fatal crashes, not a statistical sample, so the counts are actual deaths rather than estimates.
The directional trend for Barnes County is stable, meaning annual counts have stayed within a narrow band relative to the average. Residents, insurers, and policy analysts can use this baseline alongside population density, highway mile data, and rural-versus-urban road mix to judge whether Barnes County's 16-death total is proportionate to its exposure. All numbers are for research and informational use only.
Total Fatalities
16
Latest Year
3
Avg Annual
1.8
Rate per 100K
16.8
Trend
↔ Stable
How does Barnes County compare?
Average annual road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Barnes County is About the same as the comparison
Average annual road deaths from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System over population from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2023). Rates shown for counties with 10,000+ residents.
Among the 14 rated counties in North Dakota, Barnes County ranks 5 for per-capita risk, above the state's own per-capita average of 16.1 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure. The gap between Barnes County's rate and the state average is 0.7 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Richland County, at 18.7 per 100,000 (a difference of 1.9). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: McKenzie County (43.5), Rolette County (40.1), Walsh County (19.4), Richland County (18.7), Williams County (14.8), Morton County (14.5), Stutsman County (11.2), Ramsey County (10.5), Stark County (10.0), Ward County (8.5), Grand Forks County (8.3), Burleigh County (4.7), Cass County (4.2).
Barnes County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
17 41st percentile a lower per-capita rate than 41% of 2,392 rated counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more rated counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NHTSA FARS over U.S. Census Bureau population estimates · 2026-06-03
Barnes County's rate vs. the North Dakota state average
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Barnes County, North Dakota?
Barnes County recorded 16 total traffic fatalities across 15 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 3 fatalities. The county averages approximately 1.8 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Barnes County?
Cause-code breakdowns are not individually published for Barnes County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for North Dakota may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Barnes County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Barnes County is stable. Fatality counts have remained relatively consistent over the data period.
What is the fatality rate per capita in Barnes County?
Barnes County has a fatality rate of 16.8 per 100,000 residents, which places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
How does Barnes County compare to the rest of North Dakota?
Barnes County's per-capita rate of 16.8 per 100,000 residents is above the North Dakota county average of 16.1. Visit the North Dakota state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Barnes County come from?
All road fatality data comes from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a census of fatal motor vehicle crashes on public roads in the United States. FARS data covers the period 2016-2023 and includes all crashes resulting in at least one fatality within 30 days.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) This information is for research and informational purposes only
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Every figure on PlainRoadSafety is computed directly from NHTSA FARS census data, no number is typed in by an editor. County figures are computed directly from NHTSA FARS census data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.