Understanding lightning related casualties is more than just reporting numbers of deaths. Although more people are killed by lightning in Florida than in all other states on average, this article reveals that other states are considered more dangerous. (Look at the Top 10 States for Lightning Deaths.)
According to the NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS SR-193, the United States average was 0.41 deaths per million people per year from 1959 through 1994. Here you will find statistics on the number of lightning deaths based on population density. Not included are the number of deaths and injuries combined. When viewing the number of lightning strikes the data changes slightly.
Lightning Deaths by Population
| Lightning Deaths in the US per Million People | |||
| 1 | New Mexico | 1.88 | |
| 2 | Wyoming | 1.47 | |
| 3 | Arkansas | 1.46 | |
| 4 | Florida | 1.10 | |
| 5 | Mississippi | 1.04 | |
| 6 | Colorado | 1.04 | |
| 7 | Oklahoma | 0.88 | |
| 8 | North Carolina | 0.84 | |
| 9 | Louisiana | 0.83 | |
| 10 | South Dakota | 0.81 | |
