Child Health

Data are for the U.S.

Health status
  • Percent of children ages 0–4 years who are in fair or poor health: 1.5% (2022)
  • Percent of children ages 5–11 years who are in fair or poor health: 2.2% (2022)
  • Percent of children ages 5–11 years who missed 11 or more days of school in the past 12 months because of illness, injury, or disability: 8.0% (2022)

Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Children: National Health Interview Survey, 2019-2022

Obesity
  • Percent of children ages 2–5 years with obesity: 12.7% (2017-March 2020)
  • Percent of children ages 6–11 years with obesity: 20.7% (2017-March 2020)

Source: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-March 2020 Prepandemic Data Files-Development of Files and Prevalence Estimates for Selected Health Outcomes, table 3 [PDF – 436 KB]

Health insurance coverage
  • Percent of children younger than age 18 years without health insurance: 4.2%

Source: Health Insurance Coverage: Early Release of Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, 2022 [PDF – 726 KB]

Access to care
  • Percent of children 0-4 years with a usual source of health care: 97.5% (2022)
  • Percent of children 5-11 years with a usual source of health care: 97.2% (2022)

Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Children: National Health Interview Survey, 2019-2022

Mortality

Children ages 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 ages 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 ages 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 ages 5-9 years

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

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

Children ages 10-14 years

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

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