COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Butler County, Pennsylvania
Road fatality data for Butler County (PA). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 151
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 25
- Latest Year Deaths
- 8.5
- Per 100k Residents
- Increasing
- Trend
The verdict
Butler County's fatality rate of 8.5 per 100,000 residents leaves it safer than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure.
- 83%
- of rated U.S. counties are deadlier per capita
- 11.4/100k
- Pennsylvania county average
- Increasing
- fatality trend
What the Data Shows
Butler County, Pennsylvania recorded 151 total road fatalities across 141 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 25 deaths on county roads, and the annual average works out to approximately 16.8 fatalities per year. Adjusted for population, the fatality rate is 8.5 per 100,000 residents, which leaves it safer than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Despite a comparatively active crash history (141 recorded crashes), individual cause-code breakdowns are not published for Butler County in the current FARS release, so readers looking for contributing-factor data should use the Pennsylvania 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 Butler County is increasing, which means annual fatalities have risen across the reporting period and may warrant closer attention from local transportation and enforcement agencies. Residents, insurers, and policy analysts can use this baseline alongside population density, highway mile data, and rural-versus-urban road mix to judge whether Butler County's 151-death total is proportionate to its exposure. All numbers are for research and informational use only.
Total Fatalities
151
Latest Year
25
Avg Annual
16.8
Rate per 100K
8.5
Trend
↑ Increasing
How does Butler County compare?
Average annual road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Butler County is 25% safer than 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 15 rated counties in Pennsylvania, Butler County ranks 15 for per-capita risk, below the state's own per-capita average of 11.4 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate leaves it safer than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure. The gap between Butler County's rate and the state average is 2.9 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Clarion County, at 14.6 per 100,000 (a difference of 6.1). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Fulton County (28.3), Susquehanna County (21.5), Bedford County (17.3), Potter County (16.9), Tioga County (16.4), Clinton County (16.0), Clearfield County (15.3), Bradford County (15.1), Wayne County (15.0), Perry County (14.8), Fayette County (14.8), Greene County (14.8), Clarion County (14.6), Venango County (14.6).
Butler County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
9 Among the safer counties a lower per-capita rate than 83% 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
Butler County's rate vs. the Pennsylvania state average
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Butler County, Pennsylvania?
Butler County recorded 151 total traffic fatalities across 141 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 25 fatalities. The county averages approximately 16.8 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Butler County?
Despite a comparatively active crash history (141 recorded crashes), individual cause-code breakdowns are not published for Butler County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for Pennsylvania may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Butler County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Butler County is increasing. This indicates that traffic fatalities have risen over the data period, warranting attention to road safety initiatives.
What is the fatality rate per capita in Butler County?
Butler County has a fatality rate of 8.5 per 100,000 residents, which leaves it safer than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
How does Butler County compare to the rest of Pennsylvania?
Butler County's per-capita rate of 8.5 per 100,000 residents is below the Pennsylvania county average of 11.4. Visit the Pennsylvania state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Butler 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.