COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Mahaska County, Iowa
Road fatality data for Mahaska County (IA). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 21
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 4
- Latest Year Deaths
- 18.3
- Per 100k Residents
- Stable
- Trend
The verdict
According to NHTSA FARS, Mahaska County ranks #975 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #22 of 68 rated counties in IA. Mahaska County's fatality rate of 18.3 per 100,000 residents places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure.
- #975 of 2,328
- national by fatality rate
- #22 of 68
- in IA by rate
- 42%
- of rated U.S. counties are deadlier per capita
- Stable
- fatality trend
What the Data Shows
Mahaska County, Iowa recorded 21 total road fatalities across 19 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 4 deaths on county roads, and the annual average works out to approximately 2.3 fatalities per year. Adjusted for population, the fatality rate is 18.3 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 Mahaska County in the current FARS release, so readers looking for contributing-factor data should use the Iowa 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 Mahaska 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 Mahaska County's 21-death total is proportionate to its exposure. All numbers are for research and informational use only.
Total Fatalities
21
Latest Year
4
Avg Annual
2.3
Rate per 100K
18.3
Trend
↔ Stable
How does Mahaska County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Mahaska County is About the same as 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 Iowa, Mahaska County ranks 15 for per-capita risk, above the state's own per-capita average of 15.8 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure. The gap between Mahaska County's rate and the state average is 2.5 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Madison County, at 23.6 per 100,000 (a difference of 5.3). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Louisa County (66.6), Union County (50.4), Harrison County (47.7), Cass County (38.1), Floyd County (32.6), Grundy County (32.3), Iowa County (30.5), Cedar County (27.3), Poweshiek County (27.1), Page County (26.6), Boone County (26.3), Winneshiek County (25.2), Wright County (23.7), Madison County (23.6).
Mahaska County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
18 42nd percentile a lower per-capita rate than 42% of 2,328 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 · 2026-08-09
Mahaska County's rate vs. the Iowa state average
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Mahaska County, Iowa?
Mahaska County recorded 21 total traffic fatalities across 19 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 4 fatalities. The county averages approximately 2.3 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Mahaska County?
Cause-code breakdowns are not individually published for Mahaska County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for Iowa may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Mahaska County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Mahaska County is stable. Fatality counts have remained relatively consistent over the data period.
What is the fatality rate per capita in Mahaska County?
Mahaska County has a fatality rate of 18.3 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.
Where does Mahaska County rank for road fatality rate?
According to NHTSA FARS, Mahaska County ranks #975 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #22 of 68 rated counties in IA, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does Mahaska County compare to the rest of Iowa?
Mahaska County's per-capita rate of 18.3 per 100,000 residents is above the Iowa county average of 15.8. Visit the Iowa state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Mahaska 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) 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.