Health statistics are numbers that summarize information related to health. Researchers and experts from government, private, and non-profit agencies and organizations collect health statistics. They use the statistics to learn about public health and health care. Some of the types of statistics include:

• How many people in the country have a disease or how many people got the disease within a certain period of time
• How many people of a certain group have a disease. The groups could be based on location, race, ethnic group, sex, age, profession, income level, level of education. This can help identify health disparities.
• Whether a treatment is safe and effective
• How many people were born and died. These are known as vital statistics.
• How many people have access to and use health care
• The quality and efficiency of our health care system
• Health care costs, including how much the government, employers, and individuals pay for health care. It could include how poor health can affect the country economically
• The impact of government programs and policies on health
• Risk factors for different diseases. An example would be how air pollution can raise your risk of lung diseases
• Ways to lower risk for diseases, such as exercise and weight loss to lower the risk of getting type 2 diabetes

Numbers on a graph or in a chart may seem straightforward, but that's not always the case. It's important to be critical and consider the source. If needed, ask questions to help you understand the statistics and what they are showing.

Data are for the U.S.

Live births

• Number of births: 3,664,292
• Percent of births with low birthweight (less than 2500 grams): 8.52%
• Percent of births that are preterm (less than 37 weeks gestation): 10.49%

Source: Births: Final Data for 2021, tables 1 and 13

Mortality

• Number of infant deaths: 19,920
• Deaths per 100,000 live births: 543.6
• Leading causes of infant deaths
  • Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities
  • Disorders related to short gestation and low birthweight: not elsewhere classified
  • Sudden infant death syndrome

Data are for the U.S.

Health status

• Percent of adolescents aged 12–17 years who are in fair or poor health: 3.1% (2021)
• Percent of adolescents aged 12–17 years who missed 11 or more days of school in the past 12 months because of illness, injury, or disability: 5.6% (2021)

Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Children: National Health Interview Survey, 2019-2021

Obesity

• Percent of adolescents aged 12–19 years who are obese: 21.2% (2017-2018)

Source: Health, United States, 2019, Table 21

Smoking and alcohol use

• Percent of adolescents aged 12–17 years who smoked cigarettes in the past month: 2.3% (2019)
• Percent of adolescents aged 12–17 years who used alcohol in the past month: 9.4% (2019)

Source: Health, United States, 2020-2021 Table SubUse

Access to health care

• Percent of adolescents aged 12–17 years with a usual source of health care: 96.3% (2021)
• Percent of adolescents aged 12–17 years without health insurance: 4.7% (2021)

Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Children: National Health Interview Survey, 2019-2021

Mortality

• Number of deaths for adolescents aged 15–19 years: 13,407
• Deaths per 100,000 population for adolescents aged 15–19 years: 62.2

Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality data (2021) via CDC WONDER

Leading causes of death

Leading causes of deaths among adolescents aged 15–19 years:

• Accidents (unintentional injuries)
• Homicide
• Suicide

Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality data (2021) for via CDC WONDER

Data are for the U.S.

Health status

• Percent of children aged 0-4 years who are in fair or poor health: 1.3% (2021)
• Percent of children aged 5-11 years who are in fair or poor health: 1.8% (2021)
• Percent of children aged 5-11 years who missed 11 or more days of school in the past 12 months because of illness, injury, or disability: 3.3% (2021)

Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Children: National Health Interview Survey, 2019-2021

Obesity

• Percent of children aged 6-11 years who are obese: 20.3% (2017-2018)

Source: Health, United States, 2019, Table 21

Health insurance coverage

• Percent of children under age 18 years without health insurance: 4.1%

Source: Health Insurance Coverage: Early Release of Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, 2021 [PDF – 492 KB]

Access to care

• Percent of children 0-4 years with a usual source of health care: 97.9% (2021)
• Percent of children 5-11 years with a usual source of health care: 97.7% (2021)

Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Children: National Health Interview Survey, 2019-2021

Mortality

Children aged 1-4 years

• Number of deaths: 3,816
• Deaths per 100,000 population: 25.0

Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality data (2021) via CDC WONDER

Children aged 5-14 years

• Number of deaths: 5,975
• Deaths per 100,000 population: 14.3

Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality data (2021) via CDC WONDER

Leading causes of death

Children aged 1-4 years

• Accidents (unintentional injuries)
• Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities
• Assault (homicide)

Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality data (2021) via CDC WONDER

Children aged 5-9 years

• Accidents (unintentional injuries)
• Cancer
• Assault (homicide)

Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality data (2021) via CDC WONDER

Children aged 10-14 years

• Accidents (unintentional injuries)
• Intentional self-harm (suicide)
• Cancer

Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality data (2021) via CDC WONDER

Data are for the U.S.

Health status

• Percent of women aged 18 and over in fair or poor health: 13.9% (2021)

Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2019-2021

Alcohol use

• Percent of women aged 18 and over who had four or more drinks in 1 day at least once in the past year: 19.8%

Source: Early release of selected estimates based on data from the 2018 National Health Interview Survey, data table for figure 9.2

Physical activity

• Percent of women aged 18 and over who met the 2018 federal physical activity guidelines for aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity: 20.4%

Source: Physical Activity Among Adults Aged 18 and Over: United States, 2020

Smoking

• Percent of women aged 18 and over who currently smoke cigarettes: 10.1% (2021)

Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2019-2021

Obesity

• Percent of women aged 20 and over who are obese: 41.8% (2015-2018)

Source: Health, United States, 2019, table 26 [PDF – 9.8 MB]

Hypertension

• Percent of women aged 20 and over with hypertension (measured high blood pressure and/or taking antihypertensive medication): 45.2% (2015-2018)

Source: Health, United States, 2019, table 22

Health insurance coverage

• Percent of females under age 65 without health insurance coverage: 9.5%

Source: Health Insurance Coverage: Early Release of Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, 2021

Mortality

• Number of deaths (all ages): 1,626,123
• Deaths per 100,000 population: 970.8

Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality Data (2021) via CDC WONDER

Leading causes of death

• Heart disease
• Cancer
• COVID-19

Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality data (2021) via CDC WONDER

Data are for the U.S.

Health status

• Percent of men aged 18 and over in fair or poor health: 13.2% (2021)

Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2019-2021

Alcohol use

• Percent of men aged 18 and over who had five or more drinks in 1 day at least once in the past year: 30.9%

Source: Early release of selected estimates based on data from the 2018 National Health Interview Survey, data table for figure 9.2

Physical activity

• Percent of men aged 18 and over who met the 2018 federal physical activity guidelines for aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity: 28.3%

Source: Physical Activity Among Adults Aged 18 and Over: United States, 2020

Smoking

• Percent of men aged 18 and over who currently smoke cigarettes: 13.1% (2021)

Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2019-2021

Obesity

• Percent of men aged 20 and over with obesity: 40.5% (2015-2018)

Source: Health, United States, 2019, Table 26 

Hypertension

• Percent of men aged 20 and over with hypertension (measured high blood pressure and/or taking antihypertensive medication): 51.9% (2015-2018)

Source: Health, United States, 2019, Table 22 

Health insurance coverage

• Percent of males under age 65 without health insurance coverage: 12.5%

Source: Health Insurance Coverage: Early Release of Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, 2021 

Mortality

• Number of deaths (all ages): 1,838,108
• Deaths per 100,000 population: 1,118.2

Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality Data (2021) via CDC WONDER

Leading causes of death

• Heart disease
• Cancer
• COVID-19

Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality data (2021) via CDC WONDER

Data are for the U.S.

Life expectancy at 65 years

• Both sexes: 18.4 years
• Men: 17.0 years
• Women: 19.7 years

Source: Mortality in the United States, 2021 (Figure 1)

Fair or poor health

• Percent of noninstitutionalized persons aged 65 and over in fair or poor health: 22.6% (2021)

Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2019-2021

Difficulty with self care

• Percent of noninstitutionalized persons aged 65 and over who had any difficulty with self care: 8.3% (2021)

Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults, 2019-2021

Smoking

• Percent of noninstitutionalized persons aged 65 and over who currently smoke cigarettes: 8.3% (2021)

Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults, 2019-2021

Obesity

• Percent of noninstitutionalized persons with obesity (2015-2018)
  • Men aged 65-74: 41.9%
  • Men aged 75 and over: 31.8%
  • Women aged 65-74: 45.9%
  • Women aged 75 and over: 36.1%

Source: Health, United States, 2019, table 26

Hypertension

• Percent of noninstitutionalized persons with hypertension (measured high blood pressure and/or taking antihypertensive medication) (2015-2018)
  • Men aged 65-74: 66.7%
  • Men aged 75 and over: 81.5%
  • Women aged 65-74: 74.3%
  • Women aged 75 and over: 86.0%

Source: Health, United States, 2019, table 22

Percent of long-term care services users who are aged 65 and over

• Percent of adult day services center participants: 63.3% (2020)

Source: Long-Term Care Providers and Services Users in the United States, Adult Day Services Center Component: National Post-acute and Long-term Care Study, 2020: Weighted National Estimates and Standard Errors, sum of Questions 20b, 20c, 20d [PDF – 883]

• Percent of home health agency patients: 82.7% (2017)
• Percent of hospice patients: 94.8% (2017)
• Percent of nursing home residents : 83.1% (2018)
• Percent of inpatient rehabilitation facility patients: 87.9% (2017)
• Percent of long-term care hospital patients: 74.3% (2017)

Source: Post-acute and Long-term Care Providers and Services Users in the United States, 2017-2018, Appendix III. Detailed Tables, table XII [PDF – 1.2 MB]

• Percent of residential care community residents: 94.2% (2020)

Source: Long-Term Care Providers and Services Users in the United States, Residential Care Component: National Post-acute and Long-term Care Study, 2020: Weighted National Estimates and Standard Errors, sum of Questions 26b, 26c, 26d

Mortality

• Number of deaths of persons age 65 and over: 2,494,699
• Deaths per 100,000 population:
  • 65-74: 2,151.3
  • 75-84: 5,119.4
  • 85 and over: 15,743.3

Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality Data (2021) via CDC WONDER

Leading causes of death among persons aged 65 and over

• Heart disease
• Cancer
• COVID-19

Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality Data (2021) via CDC WONDER