COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Mercer County, Pennsylvania
Road fatality data for Mercer County (PA). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 107
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 21
- Latest Year Deaths
- 19.4
- Per 100k Residents
- Increasing
- Trend
The verdict
According to NHTSA FARS, Mercer County ranks #886 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #8 of 63 rated counties in PA. Mercer County's fatality rate of 19.4 per 100,000 residents places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure.
- #886 of 2,328
- national by fatality rate
- #8 of 63
- in PA by rate
- 38%
- of rated U.S. counties are deadlier per capita
- Increasing
- fatality trend
What the Data Shows
Mercer County, Pennsylvania recorded 107 total road fatalities across 100 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 21 deaths on county roads, and the annual average works out to approximately 11.9 fatalities per year. Adjusted for population, the fatality rate is 19.4 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.
Despite a comparatively active crash history (100 recorded crashes), individual cause-code breakdowns are not published for Mercer County in the current FARS release, so readers looking for contributing-factor data should use the Pennsylvania 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 Mercer County is increasing, which means annual fatalities have risen across the reporting period and may warrant closer attention from local transportation and enforcement agencies. Residents, insurers, and policy analysts can use this baseline alongside population density, highway mile data, and rural-versus-urban road mix to judge whether Mercer County's 107-death total is proportionate to its exposure. All numbers are for research and informational use only.
Total Fatalities
107
Latest Year
21
Avg Annual
11.9
Rate per 100K
19.4
Trend
↑ Increasing
How does Mercer County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Mercer County is 47% 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 Pennsylvania, Mercer County ranks 8 for per-capita risk, above the state's own per-capita average of 13.2 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure. The gap between Mercer County's rate and the state average is 6.2 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Franklin County, at 19.6 per 100,000 (a difference of 0.2). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Fulton County (62.2), Potter County (31.3), Bedford County (23.2), Bradford County (21.8), Susquehanna County (21.0), Huntingdon County (20.7), Franklin County (19.6), Carbon County (18.3), McKean County (17.7), Wayne County (17.6), Perry County (17.4), Mifflin County (17.4), Crawford County (17.1), Schuylkill County (16.7).
Mercer County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
19 38th percentile a lower per-capita rate than 38% 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
Mercer County's rate vs. the Pennsylvania state average
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Mercer County, Pennsylvania?
Mercer County recorded 107 total traffic fatalities across 100 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 21 fatalities. The county averages approximately 11.9 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Mercer County?
Despite a comparatively active crash history (100 recorded crashes), individual cause-code breakdowns are not published for Mercer County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for Pennsylvania may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Mercer County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Mercer 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 Mercer County?
Mercer County has a fatality rate of 19.4 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 Mercer County rank for road fatality rate?
According to NHTSA FARS, Mercer County ranks #886 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #8 of 63 rated counties in PA, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does Mercer County compare to the rest of Pennsylvania?
Mercer County's per-capita rate of 19.4 per 100,000 residents is above the Pennsylvania county average of 13.2. Visit the Pennsylvania state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Mercer 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.