CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — The Ross County Health District has released its 2025 vital statistics report, highlighting key trends in births and deaths across the county as part of its ongoing effort to improve community health outcomes.
According to the report, there were 1,364 total births recorded in Ross County in 2025. The majority of those births — 91.1% — were full-term, while 8.8% were classified as preterm.
Health officials also reported 999 total deaths during the year, though they note the data is not yet finalized.
The leading causes of death in Ross County reflect broader national health trends. Heart disease was the top cause, accounting for 203 deaths, followed closely by cancer, which resulted in 201 deaths. Other leading causes included unintentional injuries (63 deaths), cerebrovascular disease (62 deaths), and chronic lower respiratory disease (58 deaths).
The report also broke down the most common types of cancer contributing to deaths in 2025. Lung cancer was the leading type, responsible for 45 deaths, followed by unspecified cancers (29), colon cancer (19), and pancreatic cancer (16).
Officials say the data provides valuable insight into the health challenges facing Ross County and will help guide future public health initiatives, prevention efforts, and resource allocation.
The health district emphasized that tracking these trends is critical to improving long-term outcomes and addressing the most pressing health concerns in the community.
