People exposed to cold temperatures, winter weather conditions, or cold water can experience acute illness that may result in visiting the Emergency Department (ED), hospitalization, or even death. Deaths are the most severe health outcome from cold exposure. Cold-related deaths are sometimes not identified as being related to cold, which means the data may underestimate cold-related deaths.

  • Death rate by year and sex
  • Death rate by age and sex
  • Death rate by sex

Cold-related death rates in Minnesota annually by sex

Cold-related illness directly accounted for 1,864 deaths in Minnesota from 2000-2024. While the number and rate of cold-related deaths vary from year to year, the overall trend shows an increase in cold-related deaths. In 2024, there were 59 deaths (almost 1 death per 100,000 Minnesotans).

Source: Minnesota Center for Health Statistics. Deaths due explicitly to cold only.

Display ID
Topic
Dataset
Subtopic
Year
Month
Geography
Geo ID
Geo Name
Variable
Sex
Value
Measure
Count
Population
Note
Upper CL
Lower CL
Label

    Cold-related death rates in Minnesota, by age and sex, 2020-2024

    Males aged 65 and older had the highest rate of deaths from cold-related illness.

    Source: Minnesota Center for Health Statistics. Deaths due explicitly to cold only.

    Display ID
    Topic
    Dataset
    Subtopic
    Year
    Month
    Geography
    Geo ID
    Geo Name
    Variable
    Sex
    Value
    Measure
    Count
    Population
    Note
    Upper CL
    Lower CL
    Label

      Cold-related death rates in Minnesota by sex, 2020-2024

      Males had the highest rate of cold-related deaths.

      Source: Minnesota Center for Health Statistics. Deaths due explicitly to cold only.

      Display ID
      Topic
      Dataset
      Subtopic
      Year
      Month
      Geography
      Geo ID
      Geo Name
      Variable
      Sex
      Value
      Measure
      Count
      Population
      Note
      Upper CL
      Lower CL
      Label
        • Death rate (County)

        Cold-related death rates by county, 2015-2024

        The map of cold-related illness deaths shows generally higher rates in Northern Minnesota.

        Source: Minnesota Center for Health Statistics. Rates based on counts less than or equal to 20 should be interpreted with caution; the rate maybe unstable because it can change dramatically with the addition or subtraction of one case.
        Display ID
        Topic
        Dataset
        Subtopic
        Year
        Month
        Geography
        Geo ID
        Geo Name
        Variable
        Sex
        Value
        Measure
        Count
        Population
        Note
        Upper CL
        Lower CL
        Label