COUNTY FATALITY DATA
De Soto County: higher-rate fatality band
De Soto County (FL) is in the higher per-capita third: 36.1/100k (#245 of 2,328). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 110
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 13
- Latest Year Deaths
- Near average count
- 36.1
- Per 100k Residents
- Well above average
- Increasing
- Trend
Higher per-capita fatality band
De Soto County ranks #245 of 2,328 by deaths per 100,000 residents (36.1/100k) - top-third rate among rated U.S. counties.
De Soto County in the higher-rate third
According to NHTSA FARS, De Soto County sits in the higher-rate third at 36.1 per 100k (#245 of 2,328), #13 of 65 in FL.
- #245 of 2,328
- higher-rate third
- #631 of 3,137
- larger-book third
- #13 of 65
- in FL by rate
- Increasing
- fatality trend
NHTSA FARS milepost
Milepost DE-SOTO-27 · De Soto 36.1/100k · #245 of 2,328
De Soto County · 36.1/100k · increasing
- NHTSA 36.1/100k
- MILE #245 of 2,328
- POST 110 book
- BAND Increasing
- VOL 100 crash
- AVG +49.8% vs FL
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 → · Florida state profile →
How does De Soto County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
De Soto County is 50% 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 Florida, De Soto County ranks 13 for per-capita risk, above the state's own per-capita average of 24.1 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate puts it among the most dangerous one in ten U.S. counties by that per-capita measure. The gap between De Soto County's rate and the state average is 12.0 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Bradford County, at 35.9 per 100,000 (a difference of 0.2). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Glades County (86.0), Hardee County (58.2), Dixie County (57.3), Madison County (54.0), Calhoun County (52.0), Gadsden County (47.9), Franklin County (47.6), Levy County (45.1), Suwannee County (41.2), Gulf County (38.2), Hamilton County (37.1), Hendry County (36.9), Bradford County (35.9), Holmes County (35.1).
De Soto County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
36 Higher than most a lower per-capita rate than 10% 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 De Soto County
Contextual links from this profile to rankings, tools, research, and peer geographies on PlainRoadSafety.
- De Soto County vs other counties by ratePer-100k fatality comparison
- Florida statewide fatality dataAll counties in this state
- Deadliest states for drivingContext for FL
- 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 DLetter index including FL counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in De Soto County, Florida?
De Soto County recorded 110 total traffic fatalities across 100 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 13 fatalities. The county averages approximately 12.2 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in De Soto County?
Despite a comparatively active crash history (100 recorded crashes), individual cause-code breakdowns are not published for De Soto County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for Florida may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in De Soto County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in De Soto 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 De Soto County?
De Soto County has a fatality rate of 36.1 per 100,000 residents, which puts it among the most dangerous one in ten U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Where does De Soto County rank for road fatality rate?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, De Soto County ranks #245 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #13 of 65 rated counties in FL, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does De Soto County compare to the rest of Florida?
De Soto County's per-capita rate of 36.1 per 100,000 residents is above the Florida county average of 24.1. Visit the Florida state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for De Soto 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.