How Healthy Are We?

Data are for the U.S.

Life expectancy

  • Life expectancy at birth for females: 81.2 years
  • Life expectancy at birth for males: 76.4 years

Source: Deaths: Final Data for 2013, table 7 [PDF – 1.5 MB]

Health risk factors: Exercise, smoking, and alcohol use

  • Percent of adults 18 years and over who met the 2008 federal physical activity guidelines for aerobic activity through leisure-time aerobic activity: 49.2%
  • Percent of adults 18 years and over who currently smoke cigarettes: 16.8%
  • Percent of adults 18 years and over who had 5 or more drinks in 1 day at least once in the past year: 24.9%

Source: Early release of selected estimates based on data from the 2014 National Health Interview Survey, data table for figure 7.1, 8.1, 9.2 [PDF – 1.1 MB]

Health risk factors: Obesity and hypertension

  • Percent of children 2-5 years who are obese: 8.4% (2011-2012)
  • Percent of children 6-11 years who are obese: 17.7% (2011-2012)
  • Percent of children 12-19 years who are obese: 20.5% (2011-2012)
  • Percent of adults 20 years and over who are obese: 35.1% (2011-2012)
  • Percent of adults 20 years and over with hypertension: 32.5% (2011-2012)

Source: Health, United States, 2014, table 59 [PDF – 9.8 MB]

Vaccinations

  • Percent of persons 65 years and over who had received an influenza shot during the past 12 months: 70.0%
  • Percent of persons 65 years and over who had ever received a pneumococcal vaccination: 61.3%

Source: Early Release of Selected Estimates based on data from the 2014 National Health Interview Survey, table 4.2, data table for figure 5.1

Health insurance coverage

  • Percent of persons under 65 years without health insurance coverage: 16.9%

Source: Summary Health Statistics for the U.S. Population: National Health Interview Survey, 2012, Appendix III, table XV [PDF – 1 MB]

Mortality

  • Number of deaths: 2,596,993
  • Deaths per 100,000 population: 821.5
  • Infant mortality rate: 594.7 deaths per 100,000 live births
  • Leading causes of death
    • Heart disease
    • Cancer
    • Chronic lower respiratory diseases

Source: Deaths: Final Data for 2013, tables 1, 9, 21 [PDF – 1.5 MB]

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