2008 Fluoridation Statistics
These statistics were prepared using water system data reported by states to the CDC Water Fluoridation Reporting System as of December 31, 2008, and the U.S. Census Bureau estimates from 2008.
2008 National Water Fluoridation Statistics
| Total U.S. population, personsa | 304,059,724 |
|---|---|
| U.S. population on public water systems, personsb | 269,911,707 |
| Total U.S. population on fluoridated drinking water systems, personsb | 195,545,109 |
| Percentage of U.S. population receiving fluoridated waterc | 64.3% |
| Percentage of U.S. population on public water systems receiving fluoridated waterd |
72.4% |
| Total number of community water systems (CWS) in United Statesb | 55,396 |
| Number of CWS providing fluoridated waterb | 16,977 |
| Number of CWS adjusting fluorideb | 6,143 |
| Number of CWS consecutive to systems with optimal fluoride levelsb | 6,176 |
| Number of CWS with naturally occurring fluoride at or above optimal levelsb | 4,658 |
| Population served by CWS with naturally occurring fluorideb | 8,805,304 |
2008 State Fluoridation Percentage Calculations and States Ranked by Fluoridation Percentage
| State | Persons receiving fluoridated water | Persons served by CWS | % | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 195,545,109 | 269,911,707 | 72.4% | |
| Alabamae | 3,834,244 | 4,661,900 | 82.2% | 20 |
| Alaska | 404,213 | 643,171 | 62.8% | 33 |
| Arizona | 2,891,937 | 5,540,666 | 52.3% | 41 |
| Arkansas | 1,548,556 | 2,560,592 | 60.5% | 35 |
| Californiae,f | 21,545,671 | 36,756,666 | 58.8% | 36 |
| Coloradoe | 3,456,845 | 4,894,967 | 70.6% | 30 |
| Connecticut | 2,381,617 | 2,650,064 | 89.9% | 14 |
| Delawaree | 629,375 | 819,176 | 76.8% | 26 |
| District of Columbia | 595,000 | 595,000 | 100% | |
| Florida | 13,358,020 | 17,054,168 | 78.3% | 23 |
| Georgiae | 9,275,167 | 9,685,744 | 95.8% | 5 |
| Hawaiie,f | 139,344 | 1,288,198 | 10.8% | 50 |
| Idaho | 316,176 | 1,011,975 | 31.2% | 45 |
| Illinois | 10,962,689 | 11,488,921 | 95.4% | 6 |
| Indianae | 4,329,107 | 4,679,082 | 94.5% | 8 |
| Iowa | 2,329,107 | 2,559,374 | 91.8% | 10 |
| Kansas | 1,152,217 | 2,575,758 | 44.7% | 42 |
| Kentuckye | 3,913,321 | 3,937,857 | 99.4% | 2 |
| Louisianae | 1,251,996 | 4,410,796 | 28.3% | 47 |
| Maine | 504,915 | 633,761 | 79.7% | 22 |
| Maryland | 4,839,490 | 4,847,653 | 99.8% | 1 |
| Massachusettse | 4,248,364 | 6,497,967 | 65.4% | 32 |
| Michigan | 6,634,800 | 7,387,236 | 89.8% | 15 |
| Minnesota | 4,097,816 | 4,149,298 | 98.8% | 3 |
| Mississippie | 1,603,339 | 2,938,618 | 54.6% | 38 |
| Missourie | 3,965,831 | 4,971,878 | 79.8% | 21 |
| Montana | 239,365 | 796,592 | 30.0% | 46 |
| Nebraskae | 992,733 | 1,420,624 | 69.9% | 31 |
| Nevadae | 1,757,184 | 2,421,488 | 72.0% | 29 |
| New Hampshire | 354,637 | 832,656 | 42.6% | 43 |
| New Jersey | 1,120,552 | 8,221,172 | 13.6% | 49 |
| New Mexico | 1,210,777 | 1,571,600 | 77.0% | 25 |
| New York | 12,635,191 | 17,501,433 | 72.2% | 28 |
| North Carolina | 5,562,402 | 6,498,294 | 85.6% | 17 |
| North Dakota | 557,291 | 577,894 | 96.4% | 4 |
| Ohioe | 8,579,976 | 10,197,583 | 84.1% | 19 |
| Oklahomae | 2,741,327 | 3,642,361 | 75.3% | 27 |
| Oregon | 838,902 | 3,068,579 | 27.4% | 48 |
| Pennsylvania | 5,805,181 | 10,699,115 | 54.3% | Tied for 39 |
| Rhode Islande | 826,863 | 977,261 | 84.6% | 18 |
| South Carolina | 3,401,207 | 3,722,944 | 94.4% | 9 |
| South Dakotae | 640,871 | 686,502 | 93.3% | 11 |
| Tennessee | 5,268,629 | 5,762,029 | 91.4% | 12 |
| Texas | 16,979,812 | 21,891,651 | 78.6% | 24 |
| Utah | 1,217,240 | 2,243,157 | 54.3% | Tied for 39 |
| Vermonte | 308,051 | 527,051 | 58.5% | 37 |
| Virginia | 5,972,601 | 6,295,305 | 94.9% | 7 |
| Washington | 3,461,572 | 5,545,595 | 62.4% | 34 |
| West Virginiae | 1,209,238 | 1,334,504 | 90.6% | 13 |
| Wisconsine | 3,471,706 | 3,868,775 | 89.7% | 16 |
| Wyominge | 165,296 | 449,223 | 36.8% | 44 |
Footnotes
a. Annual Population Estimates and Estimated Components of Population Change for the United States and States: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008. Source: Population Estimates Program, U.S. Census Bureau. Internet release date: December 22, 2008.
b. Reported in CDC Water Fluoridation Reporting System (WFRS).
c. Fluoridated population divided by total population.
d. Fluoridated population divided by population served by community water systems.
e. Population served by CWS exceeded the U.S. Census state population estimate; number of persons was reduced by the ratio of the population estimate to the CWS population estimate. Use care in comparing the 2008 estimates for the number of persons receiving fluoridated water and persons served by CWS for these states to estimates from 2002, 2004, and 2006 because a different vintage of U.S. Census population estimates was used. The 2008 vintage was used for the 2008 fluoridation statistics, and the 2006 vintage was used for the 2002, 2004, and 2006 statistics.
f . Complete data were not available from WFRS; state provided additional information.
Additional Resources
More detail on U.S. Census Bureau estimates can be found at Calculating Fluoridation Statistics
Historical fluoridation statistics are available at Fluoridation Statistics