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
Related FastStats
More data
- Trends in Child and Adolescent Health from Health, United States
- United States Life Tables, 2020 [PDF – 3 MB]
- U.S. State Life Tables, 2020 [PDF – 955 KB]
- Key Statistics from the National Survey of Family Growth (from A to Z)
- National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2018 Emergency Department Summary Tables [PDF – 786 KB]
- National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2018 National Summary Tables [PDF – 682 KB]
- Organized Sports Participation Among Children Aged 6–17 Years: United States, 2020
- QuickStats: Percentage of Children and Adolescents Aged 5-17 Years Who Reported Being Tired Most Days or Every Day, by Age Group and Hours of Screen Time-National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2020
- Concussions and Brain Injuries in Children: United States, 2020
- Children Living in Households that Experienced Food Insecurity: United States, 2019-2020
- Dental Care Utilization Among Children Aged 1-17 Years: United States, 2019 and 2020
- Stressful Life Events Among Children Aged 5-17 Years by Disability Status: United States, 2019
- Disparities in Stressful Life Events Among Children Aged 5-17 Years: United States, 2019
- Influenza Vaccination in the Past 12 Months Among Children Aged 6 Months–17 Years: United States, 2019
- Urgent Care Center and Retail Health Clinic Utilization Among Children: United States, 2019
- Mental Health Treatment Among Children Aged 5–17 Years: United States, 2019
- Urban-rural Differences in Unintentional Injury Death Rates Among Children Aged 0-17 Years: United States, 2018-2019
- Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Prevalence of Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Learning Disabilities Among U.S. Children Aged 3–17 Years
- Secondhand Smoke Exposure Among Nonsmoking Youth: United States, 2013–2016
- Attempts to Lose Weight Among Adolescents Aged 16–19 in the United States, 2013–2016
- Current Contraceptive Status Among Women Aged 15-49: United States, 2015-2017
- Use of Yoga, Meditation, and Chiropractors Among U.S. Children Aged 4–17 Years
- Parental Report of Significant Head Injuries in Children Aged 3-17 Years: United States, 2016
- Prevalence of Total and Untreated Dental Caries Among Youth: United States, 2015–2016
- Prevalence of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 and Type 2 in Persons Aged 14–49: United States, 2015–2016
- Chronic School Absenteeism Among Children With Selected Developmental Disabilities: National Health Interview Survey, 2014–2016 [PDF – 336 KB]
- Estimated Prevalence of Children With Diagnosed Developmental Disabilities in the United States, 2014-2016
- Beverage Consumption Among Youth in the United States, 2013–2016
- Declines in Births to Females Aged 10–14 in the United States, 2000–2016
- Recent Increases in Injury Mortality Among Children and Adolescents Aged 10–19 Years in the United States: 1999–2016 [PDF – 413 KB]
- America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being