COUNTY FATALITY DATA
McKinley County: higher-rate fatality band
McKinley County (NM) is in the higher per-capita third: 42.2/100k (#159 of 2,328). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 238
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 29
- Latest Year Deaths
- Very high count
- 42.2
- Per 100k Residents
- Well above average
- Increasing
- Trend
Higher per-capita fatality band
McKinley County ranks #159 of 2,328 by deaths per 100,000 residents (42.2/100k) - top-third rate among rated U.S. counties.
McKinley County in the higher-rate third
According to NHTSA FARS, McKinley County sits in the higher-rate third at 42.2 per 100k (#159 of 2,328), #6 of 24 in NM.
- #159 of 2,328
- higher-rate third
- #256 of 3,137
- larger-book third
- #6 of 24
- in NM by rate
- Increasing
- fatality trend
NHTSA county milepost
Milepost MCKINLEY-31 · McKinley 42.2/100k · #159 of 2,328
McKinley County · 42.2/100k · increasing
- YOY 42.2/100k
- RATE #159 of 2,328
- RANK 238 book
- BOOK Increasing
- TREND 205 crash
- CAUSE +34.5% 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 McKinley County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
McKinley County is 34% 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, McKinley County ranks 6 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 McKinley County's rate and the state average is 10.8 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Sierra County, at 43.5 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), Colfax County (40.8), Luna County (39.5), 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).
McKinley County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
42 Higher than most a lower per-capita rate than 7% 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 McKinley County
Contextual links from this profile to rankings, tools, research, and peer geographies on PlainRoadSafety.
- McKinley 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 MLetter index including NM counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in McKinley County, New Mexico?
McKinley County recorded 238 total traffic fatalities across 205 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 29 fatalities. The county averages approximately 26.4 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in McKinley County?
Despite a comparatively active crash history (205 recorded crashes), individual cause-code breakdowns are not published for McKinley County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for New Mexico may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in McKinley County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in McKinley 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 McKinley County?
McKinley County has a fatality rate of 42.2 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 McKinley County rank for road fatality rate?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, McKinley County ranks #159 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #6 of 24 rated counties in NM, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does McKinley County compare to the rest of New Mexico?
McKinley County's per-capita rate of 42.2 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 McKinley 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.