Child Health

Data are for the U.S.

Health status
  • Percent of children aged 0-4 years who are in fair or poor health: 1.3% (2021)
  • Percent of children aged 5-11 years who are in fair or poor health: 1.8% (2021)
  • Percent of children aged 5-11 years who missed 11 or more days of school in the past 12 months because of illness, injury, or disability: 3.3% (2021)

Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Children: National Health Interview Survey, 2019-2021

Obesity
  • Percent of children aged 6-11 years who are obese: 20.3% (2017-2018)

Source: Health, United States, 2019, Table 21 [PDF – 9.8 MB]

Health insurance coverage
  • Percent of children under 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: 97.9% (2021)
  • Percent of children 5-11 years with a usual source of health care: 97.7% (2021)

Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Children: National Health Interview Survey, 2019-2021

Mortality

Children aged 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 aged 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 aged 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 aged 5-9 years

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

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

Children aged 10-14 years

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

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

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