COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Columbus County: larger FARS fatality book
Columbus County (NC) holds a larger FARS book (172, #383 of 3,137) with 16 latest-year deaths.
- 172
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 16
- Latest Year Deaths
- High count
- 31.9
- Per 100k Residents
- Well above average
- Increasing
- Trend
Larger fatality book
Columbus County ranks #383 of 3,137 by total FARS fatalities (172 across 2016-2023) - top-third book size.
Columbus County in the larger-book third
According to NHTSA FARS, Columbus County carries a top-third fatality book (172 across 2016-2023, #383 of 3,137) at 31.9/100k.
- #335 of 2,328
- higher-rate third
- #383 of 3,137
- larger-book third
- #11 of 94
- in NC by rate
- Increasing
- fatality trend
FARS milepost strip
Milepost COLUMBUS-47 · Columbus 31.9/100k · #335 of 2,328
Columbus County · 31.9/100k · increasing
- BOOK 31.9/100k
- TREND #335 of 2,328
- CAUSE 172 book
- PHOTO Increasing
- VS-ST 149 crash
- CRASH +69.9% vs NC
Stamps derive from this county's NHTSA FARS row (per-100k or book, corpus rank, trend, nationwide peer NAME, vs-state gap), not a trip-risk forecast. PlainRoadSafety is informational only. See our disclaimer. Verify with NHTSA FARS → · Read with methodology → · Understanding road fatality data → · North Carolina state profile →
How does Columbus County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Columbus County is 70% deadlier than the comparison
2023 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 and a 2023 FARS record.
Among the 15 rated counties in North Carolina, Columbus County ranks 11 for per-capita risk, above the state's own per-capita average of 18.8 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure. The gap between Columbus County's rate and the state average is 13.1 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Anson County, at 32.0 per 100,000 (a difference of 0.1). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Robeson County (55.4), Scotland County (52.4), Montgomery County (49.8), Bertie County (47.3), Halifax County (44.4), Sampson County (41.9), Duplin County (38.4), Warren County (37.2), Alexander County (32.9), Anson County (32.0), Bladen County (30.5), Gates County (29.0), Edgecombe County (28.7), Swain County (28.7).
Columbus County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
32 Higher than most a lower per-capita rate than 14% of 2,328 rated counties
rated U.S. counties, bucketed by value
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 and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NHTSA FARS over U.S. Census Bureau population estimates · 2026-09-03
More road safety data related to Columbus County
Contextual links from this profile to rankings, tools, research, and peer geographies on PlainRoadSafety.
- Columbus County vs other counties by ratePer-100k fatality comparison
- North Carolina statewide fatality dataAll counties in this state
- Deadliest states for drivingContext for NC
- State fatality changesYear-over-year state trends
- Browse all U.S. countiesAlphabetical county index
- All state profiles51 state dashboards
- State vs U.S. safety comparisonRoute-level lookup tool
- National statistics downloadFARS CSV + findings
- How to read FARS fatality dataMethodology primer
- Per-mile vs per-capita road riskRate denominator explained
- Counties starting with CLetter index including NC counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Columbus County, North Carolina?
Columbus County recorded 172 total traffic fatalities across 149 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 16 fatalities. The county averages approximately 19.1 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Columbus County?
Despite a comparatively active crash history (149 recorded crashes), individual cause-code breakdowns are not published for Columbus County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for North Carolina may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Columbus County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Columbus 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 Columbus County?
Columbus County has a fatality rate of 31.9 per 100,000 residents, which leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Where does Columbus County rank for road fatality rate?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Columbus County ranks #335 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #11 of 94 rated counties in NC, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does Columbus County compare to the rest of North Carolina?
Columbus County's per-capita rate of 31.9 per 100,000 residents is above the North Carolina county average of 18.8. Visit the North Carolina state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Columbus 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.