Age-adjusted mortality rate in Colorado, per 100,000

The death rate for 2023 is higher than the pre-pandemic rate. Both the age-adjusted death rate and the total number of deaths shot up during the first two years of the pandemic, before starting to decline after COVID-19 vaccines became widely available and treatment improved.

Note: Age-adjusted death rates are statistical estimates of what death rates would be if a population had the same age distribution as a "standard" population. It's used to eliminate bias caused by age when comparing populations with different age distributions.
Chart: Alison Borden/CPR News Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Colorado Public Radio (non-interactive)