Adolescent Health

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 [PDF – 9.8 MB]

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 [PDF – 9.8 MB]

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

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