I learned to do this when I was in the Marines. Did it on a fairly regular basis, but I gotta tell ya...it never made sense to jump out of a perfectly good aircraft..
I HAVE NOT done it since I got out...and have no plans to do so either.
In 2001, I worked on a construction job right next to the Lodi Parachute Center...IIRC, we watched 3 people die...It's pretty eerie watching someone fall from 13,000 feet...one almost made it...the chute failed to open right, and they spiraled into the vineyard...Several other accidents that didn't kill the jumper, some "walked away", others survived, but were seriously injured.
Nationwide, the death rate from this sport is very low, but it's also one where a slight mishap can kill you, as compared to other sports, where a sprained ankle or broken leg is the worst you can expect...