COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Wayne County: higher-rate fatality band
Wayne County (MS) is in the higher per-capita third: 35.5/100k (#258 of 2,328). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 50
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 7
- Latest Year Deaths
- Near average count
- 35.5
- Per 100k Residents
- Well above average
- Increasing
- Trend
Higher per-capita fatality band
Wayne County ranks #258 of 2,328 by deaths per 100,000 residents (35.5/100k) - top-third rate among rated U.S. counties.
Wayne County in the higher-rate third
According to NHTSA FARS, Wayne County sits in the higher-rate third at 35.5 per 100k (#258 of 2,328), #18 of 64 in MS.
- #258 of 2,328
- higher-rate third
- #1,424 of 3,137
- by total FARS fatalities
- #18 of 64
- in MS by rate
- Increasing
- fatality trend
FARS milepost strip
Milepost WAYNE-153 · Wayne 35.5/100k · #258 of 2,328
Wayne County · 35.5/100k · increasing
- BOOK 35.5/100k
- TREND #258 of 2,328
- CAUSE 50 book
- PHOTO Increasing
- VS-ST 45 crash
- CRASH +21.6% vs MS
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 → · Mississippi state profile →
How does Wayne County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Wayne County is 22% 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 Mississippi, Wayne County ranks 15 for per-capita risk, above the state's own per-capita average of 29.2 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure. The gap between Wayne County's rate and the state average is 6.3 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Yalobusha County, at 40.4 per 100,000 (a difference of 4.9). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Scott County (69.1), Covington County (66.4), Holmes County (63.4), Stone County (58.6), Grenada County (57.0), Panola County (55.1), Copiah County (47.0), Washington County (45.3), Marshall County (44.0), Warren County (42.6), Yazoo County (42.6), Leake County (42.3), Chickasaw County (41.5), Yalobusha County (40.4).
Wayne County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
36 Higher than most a lower per-capita rate than 11% 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 Wayne County
Contextual links from this profile to rankings, tools, research, and peer geographies on PlainRoadSafety.
- Wayne County vs other counties by ratePer-100k fatality comparison
- Mississippi statewide fatality dataAll counties in this state
- Deadliest states for drivingContext for MS
- 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 WLetter index including MS counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Wayne County, Mississippi?
Wayne County recorded 50 total traffic fatalities across 45 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 7 fatalities. The county averages approximately 5.6 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Wayne County?
Cause-code breakdowns are not individually published for Wayne County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for Mississippi may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Wayne County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Wayne 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 Wayne County?
Wayne County has a fatality rate of 35.5 per 100,000 residents, which leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Where does Wayne County rank for road fatality rate?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Wayne County ranks #258 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #18 of 64 rated counties in MS, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does Wayne County compare to the rest of Mississippi?
Wayne County's per-capita rate of 35.5 per 100,000 residents is above the Mississippi county average of 29.2. Visit the Mississippi state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Wayne 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.