COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Luna County: higher-rate fatality band
Luna County (NM) is in the higher per-capita third: 39.5/100k (#189 of 2,328). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 86
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 10
- Latest Year Deaths
- Near average count
- 39.5
- Per 100k Residents
- Well above average
- Increasing
- Trend
Higher per-capita fatality band
Luna County ranks #189 of 2,328 by deaths per 100,000 residents (39.5/100k) - top-third rate among rated U.S. counties.
Luna County in the higher-rate third
According to NHTSA FARS, Luna County sits in the higher-rate third at 39.5 per 100k (#189 of 2,328), #8 of 24 in NM.
- #189 of 2,328
- higher-rate third
- #844 of 3,137
- larger-book third
- #8 of 24
- in NM by rate
- Increasing
- fatality trend
Highway fatality milepost
Milepost LUNA-29 · Luna 39.5/100k · #189 of 2,328
Luna County · 39.5/100k · increasing
- AVG 39.5/100k
- YOY #189 of 2,328
- RATE 86 book
- RANK Increasing
- BOOK 72 crash
- TREND +25.9% vs NM
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 → · New Mexico state profile →
How does Luna County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Luna County is 26% 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 New Mexico, Luna County ranks 8 for per-capita risk, above the state's own per-capita average of 31.4 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 Luna County's rate and the state average is 8.1 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Colfax County, at 40.8 per 100,000 (a difference of 1.3). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Torrance County (102.3), Socorro County (75.2), Cibola County (56.0), Lincoln County (49.9), Sierra County (43.5), McKinley County (42.2), Colfax County (40.8), Rio Arriba County (37.6), San Miguel County (33.7), Eddy County (29.9), Grant County (25.5), Lea County (25.0), Otero County (18.9), Valencia County (17.7).
Luna County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
40 Higher than most a lower per-capita rate than 8% 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 Luna County
Contextual links from this profile to rankings, tools, research, and peer geographies on PlainRoadSafety.
- Luna County vs other counties by ratePer-100k fatality comparison
- New Mexico statewide fatality dataAll counties in this state
- Deadliest states for drivingContext for NM
- 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 LLetter index including NM counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Luna County, New Mexico?
Luna County recorded 86 total traffic fatalities across 72 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 10 fatalities. The county averages approximately 9.6 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Luna County?
Despite a comparatively active crash history (72 recorded crashes), individual cause-code breakdowns are not published for Luna County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for New Mexico may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Luna County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Luna 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 Luna County?
Luna County has a fatality rate of 39.5 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 Luna County rank for road fatality rate?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Luna County ranks #189 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #8 of 24 rated counties in NM, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does Luna County compare to the rest of New Mexico?
Luna County's per-capita rate of 39.5 per 100,000 residents is above the New Mexico county average of 31.4. Visit the New Mexico state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Luna 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.