COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Wilkes County, North Carolina
Road fatality data for Wilkes County (NC). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 100
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 8
- Latest Year Deaths
- Near average count
- 12.1
- Per 100k Residents
- Below average
- Increasing
- Trend
Rising fatality trend
Wilkes County's FARS series is labeled Increasing with 8 deaths in the latest year.
Wilkes County on a rising FARS trend
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Wilkes County ranks #1,541 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #64 of 94 rated counties in NC. Wilkes County's fatality rate of 12.1 per 100,000 residents places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure.
- #1,541 of 2,328
- among rated U.S. counties by rate
- #715 of 3,137
- larger-book third
- #64 of 94
- in NC by rate
- Increasing
- fatality trend
FARS milepost strip
Milepost WILKES-193 · Wilkes 12.1/100k · #1,541 of 2,328
Wilkes County · 12.1/100k · increasing
- NHTSA 12.1/100k
- MILE #1,541 of 2,328
- POST 100 book
- BAND Increasing
- VOL 94 crash
- AVG -35.5% 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 Wilkes County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Wilkes County is 36% safer 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, Wilkes County ranks 15 for per-capita risk, below the state's own per-capita average of 18.8 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure. The gap between Wilkes County's rate and the state average is 6.7 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Edgecombe County, at 28.7 per 100,000 (a difference of 16.6). 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), Sampson County (41.9), 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).
Wilkes County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
12 Lower than most a lower per-capita rate than 66% 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 Wilkes County
Contextual links from this profile to rankings, tools, research, and peer geographies on PlainRoadSafety.
- Wilkes 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 WLetter index including NC counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Wilkes County, North Carolina?
Wilkes County recorded 100 total traffic fatalities across 94 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 8 fatalities. The county averages approximately 11.1 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Wilkes County?
Despite a comparatively active crash history (94 recorded crashes), individual cause-code breakdowns are not published for Wilkes County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for North Carolina may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Wilkes County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Wilkes 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 Wilkes County?
Wilkes County has a fatality rate of 12.1 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 Wilkes County rank for road fatality rate?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Wilkes County ranks #1,541 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #64 of 94 rated counties in NC, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does Wilkes County compare to the rest of North Carolina?
Wilkes County's per-capita rate of 12.1 per 100,000 residents is below 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 Wilkes 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.