COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Sampson County: higher-rate fatality band
Sampson County (NC) is in the higher per-capita third: 41.9/100k (#161 of 2,328). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 153
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 25
- Latest Year Deaths
- High count
- 41.9
- Per 100k Residents
- Well above average
- Increasing
- Trend
Higher per-capita fatality band
Sampson County ranks #161 of 2,328 by deaths per 100,000 residents (41.9/100k) - top-third rate among rated U.S. counties.
Sampson County in the higher-rate third
According to NHTSA FARS, Sampson County sits in the higher-rate third at 41.9 per 100k (#161 of 2,328), #6 of 94 in NC.
- #161 of 2,328
- higher-rate third
- #442 of 3,137
- larger-book third
- #6 of 94
- in NC by rate
- Increasing
- fatality trend
FARS milepost strip
Milepost SAMPSON-163 · Sampson 41.9/100k · #161 of 2,328
Sampson County · 41.9/100k · increasing
- BAND 41.9/100k
- VOL #161 of 2,328
- AVG 153 book
- YOY Increasing
- RATE 139 crash
- RANK +123.2% vs NC
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 → · North Carolina state profile →
How does Sampson County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Sampson County is 2.2× 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 North Carolina, Sampson County ranks 6 for per-capita risk, above the state's own per-capita average of 18.8 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 Sampson County's rate and the state average is 23.1 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Halifax County, at 44.4 per 100,000 (a difference of 2.5). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Robeson County (55.4), Scotland County (52.4), Montgomery County (49.8), Bertie County (47.3), Halifax County (44.4), Duplin County (38.4), Warren County (37.2), Alexander County (32.9), Anson County (32.0), Columbus County (31.9), Bladen County (30.5), Gates County (29.0), Edgecombe County (28.7), Swain County (28.7).
Sampson 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 Sampson County
Contextual links from this profile to rankings, tools, research, and peer geographies on PlainRoadSafety.
- Sampson County vs other counties by ratePer-100k fatality comparison
- North Carolina statewide fatality dataAll counties in this state
- Deadliest states for drivingContext for NC
- 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 SLetter index including NC counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Sampson County, North Carolina?
Sampson County recorded 153 total traffic fatalities across 139 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 25 fatalities. The county averages approximately 17.0 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Sampson County?
Despite a comparatively active crash history (139 recorded crashes), individual cause-code breakdowns are not published for Sampson County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for North Carolina may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Sampson County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Sampson 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 Sampson County?
Sampson County has a fatality rate of 41.9 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 Sampson County rank for road fatality rate?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Sampson County ranks #161 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #6 of 94 rated counties in NC, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does Sampson County compare to the rest of North Carolina?
Sampson County's per-capita rate of 41.9 per 100,000 residents is above the North Carolina county average of 18.8. Visit the North Carolina state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Sampson 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.