Wyoming sees increase in births, deaths, marriages in 2024 – County 17

CASPER, Wyo. — Provisional data from the Wyoming Department of Health show that in 2024, Wyoming saw more births, deaths and marriages than in 2023. In contrast, the number of divorces fell during this time, according to Vital Statistics Services records, a division of the WDH.

The 2024 totals are considered preliminary and are subject to minor adjustments as more data is finalized, according to the health department.

Births

Official birth certificate data shows that 6,079 births were recorded to Wyoming resident mothers in 2024, up from 5,989 in 2023. This figure has fluctuated in recent years, with 6,050 births in 2022, 6,240 in 2021, 6,132 in 2020, and 6,568 in 2019.

VSS records also track where births occurred. In 2024, 5,281 births took place within Wyoming, a slight decrease from the 5,337 births within the state in 2023.

Kyndra Herrera, deputy state registrar with VSS, said the difference between births to Wyoming residents and births occurring within the state is likely due to Wyoming mothers giving birth in other states.

“While a small number of births happen within the state to mothers who are not Wyoming residents, it is reasonable to assume the difference between resident and occurrent births is largely explained by Wyoming mothers traveling to other states to deliver their babies,” Herrera said.

Deaths

Regarding mortality, 5,725 deaths were recorded among Wyoming residents in 2024, an increase from the 5,566 deaths in 2023. Death totals in recent years include 5,895 in 2022, 6,574 in 2021, 5,986 in 2020, and 5,122 in 2019. Death certificates are completed by medical professionals, funeral directors and coroners before being filed with VSS.

Herrera noted that the top five causes of death for Wyoming residents remained consistent between 2023 and 2024: heart diseases, cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and related conditions, accidents and adverse effects, and cerebrovascular diseases.

WDH director Stefan Johansson highlighted the ongoing concern regarding suicide and overdose deaths in Wyoming, despite them not being among the leading causes of death.

“The tragic and unexpected nature of these deaths can have big impacts within our communities,” he said.

Johansson cautioned against interpreting year-to-year changes as definitive trends, citing Wyoming’s small population that can lead to natural variations in totals.

In 2024, there were 168 suicide deaths among Wyoming residents, compared to 156 in 2023. Provisional data indicates that about 88% of those deaths were among men. Firearms were involved in about 72% of suicide deaths, while roughly 12% involved hanging and over 8% involved poisoning.

Overdose deaths saw a decrease in 2024, with 97 recorded compared to 120 in 2023. That figure was 110 in 2022, 98 in 2021, 90 in 2020, and 81 in 2019. Of the overdose deaths in 2024, 62% were linked to illicit drugs, 31% to prescription drugs and 3% involved a combination.

Opioids, which include both prescription and illicit forms, were connected to 45 overdose deaths, while methamphetamine was linked to 48 and fentanyl to 21.

The WDH said it’s important to note that a single overdose death may involve multiple substances and can be counted in more than one category.

Marriages/Divorces

Marriage records also showed an increase, with 4,493 marriages recorded in Wyoming in 2024, up from 4,093 in 2023. Recent marriage totals include 4,273 in 2022, 4,286 in 2021, 4,016 in 2020, and 4,065 in 2019.

However, the number of divorces completed in Wyoming decreased in 2024 to 1,901, down from 1,959 in 2023. Divorce figures in previous years were 1,949 in 2022, 2,183 in 2021, 2,220 in 2020, and 2,241 in 2019.

More information about the VSS is available online at https://health.wyo.gov/admin/vitalstatistics/.

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