Health in Alabama, United States: official figures
Life expectancy at birth in Alabama was 73.8 years in 2022, 5th shortest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 77.5 years), according to NCHS state life tables.
How long do men and women live in Alabama?
Women in Alabama could expect to live 77.0 years and men 70.8 years at 2022 death rates, a gap of 6.2 years (U.S.: 80.2 for women, 74.8 for men).
Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copyIs life expectancy in Alabama going up?
Life expectancy in Alabama was 72.0 years in 2021, so the 2022 figure is up 1.8 years; nationally it rose from 76.4 to 77.5 years.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copyHow long do people live after 65 in Alabama?
A 65-year-old in Alabama could expect to live another 17.1 years in 2022 (18.3 for women, 15.7 for men); 6th shortest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 18.9).
Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copyWhat is the infant mortality rate in Alabama?
409 babies died before their first birthday in Alabama in 2024, an infant mortality rate of 7.06 per 1,000 live births; 8th highest among the 50 states and DC. In 2019 the rate was 7.71 (452 deaths).
Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copyHow many people die of drug overdoses in Alabama?
1,211 people died of drug overdoses in Alabama in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 25.0 per 100,000 people; 25th highest among the 50 states and DC. The rate was 33.9 in 2023 (1,608 deaths) and 16.3 in 2019.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copyAre overdose deaths falling in Alabama?
CDC provisional data count about 783 drug overdose deaths in Alabama in the 12 months to May 2026, down 23.3% on the 12 months to May 2025 (1,021); nationally the count went from 75,094 to 66,478. These counts are predicted values that allow for deaths still being investigated.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copyHow many overdose deaths in Alabama involve fentanyl?
Synthetic opioids other than methadone, mainly fentanyl, were involved in 346 of the 776 reported overdose deaths in Alabama in the 12 months to May 2026 (45%), and psychostimulants such as methamphetamine in 314 (40%). A death can involve more than one drug.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copyHow many people die of heart disease in Alabama?
Heart disease killed 14,727 people in Alabama in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 223.9 per 100,000; 3rd highest among the 50 states and DC (2019: 219.6).
Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copyWhat is the cancer death rate in Alabama?
Cancer caused 10,556 deaths in Alabama in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 154.0 per 100,000; 11th highest among the 50 states and DC (2019: 160.8).
Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copyWhat is the suicide rate in Alabama?
837 people in Alabama died by suicide in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 15.9 per 100,000; 25th highest among the 50 states and DC. In 2019 the rate was 16.3 (804 deaths).
Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copyHow many gun deaths are there in Alabama?
Firearms were involved in 1,212 deaths in Alabama in 2024, including suicides, homicides and accidents: an age-adjusted rate of 23.7 per 100,000, 4th highest among the 50 states and DC (2019: 22.2).
Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copyHow many people in Alabama have no health insurance?
8.2% of people in Alabama, about 418,000, had no health insurance in 2024; 19th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 8.2%). That is down 0.3 percentage points on 2023 (8.5%), according to the American Community Survey.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Alabama are uninsured?
4.3% of children under 19 in Alabama were uninsured in 2024, against 12.3% of adults aged 19 to 64 (U.S.: 6.0% and 11.3%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Alabama are on Medicaid?
13.5% of residents of Alabama were covered only by Medicaid or another means-tested public plan in 2024, and 43.0% only by employer-based insurance (U.S.: 14.5% and 45.3%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people are on Medicaid in Alabama?
930,919 people were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP in Alabama in June 2026 (preliminary state data reported to CMS), down 1.6% on June 2025 (946,316); across the 50 states and DC the total was 73.17 million.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · saved copyHow much has Medicaid enrollment in Alabama changed since the pandemic?
In March 2023, the last month before states resumed removing people who no longer qualified after the pandemic, Alabama had 1,197,004 Medicaid and CHIP enrollees, so enrollment has fallen 22.2% since then (50 states and DC: down 22.5%).
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · saved copyHow many children are on Medicaid in Alabama?
Children made up 668,650 of the Medicaid and CHIP enrollees in Alabama in June 2026 (72%), and adults enrolled in Medicaid numbered 262,269. Alabama has not expanded Medicaid to low-income adults under the Affordable Care Act.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · saved copyWhat is the obesity rate in Alabama?
38.9% of adults in Alabama had obesity (a body mass index of 30 or more) in the 2024 CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey; 4th highest among the 49 states and DC with data. In 2015 the figure was 35.6%; the median across the states and DC was 34.2% in 2024.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow many people smoke in Alabama?
14.0% of adults in Alabama smoked cigarettes in 2024 (10th highest among the 49 states and DC with data; state median 11.6%), down from 21.4% in 2015. 9.9% used e-cigarettes.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow many people have diabetes in Alabama?
15.1% of adults in Alabama had been told by a doctor they have diabetes, and 22.1% described their health as fair or poor, in 2024; the diabetes share is 6th highest among the 49 states and DC with data (state medians: 12.0% and 18.6%).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow many people in Alabama cannot afford to see a doctor?
In 2024, 27.7% of adults in Alabama said they had done no physical activity or exercise outside work in the past month, and 14.1% said that in the past year they had needed to see a doctor but could not because of the cost (state medians: 21.8% and 11.5%).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow common is depression in Alabama?
15.1% of adults in Alabama reported binge drinking in 2024, and 24.8% had ever been told they have a depressive disorder (state medians: 15.5% and 22.0%).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow Alabama compares with other states
Life expectancy at birth (2022)
Alabama ranks 46 of 51, highest first. NCHS state life tables
| Rank | Region | Life expectancy at birth |
|---|---|---|
| 43 | New Mexico | 74.5 years |
| 44 | Arkansas | 73.9 years |
| 45 | Tennessee | 73.8 years |
| 46 | Alabama | 73.8 years |
| 47 | Louisiana | 73.8 years |
| 48 | Oklahoma | 73.8 years |
| 49 | Kentucky | 73.6 years |
Life expectancy at age 65 (2022)
Alabama ranks 46 of 51, highest first. Further years of life expected at 65
| Rank | Region | Life expectancy at age 65 |
|---|---|---|
| 43 | Indiana | 17.7 years |
| 44 | Louisiana | 17.5 years |
| 45 | Tennessee | 17.2 years |
| 46 | Alabama | 17.1 years |
| 47 | Arkansas | 17.0 years |
| 48 | Kentucky | 16.8 years |
| 49 | Oklahoma | 16.8 years |
Infant deaths per 1,000 live births (2024)
Alabama ranks 8 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States
| Rank | Region | Infant deaths per 1,000 live births |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | South Carolina | 7.49 |
| 6 | Oklahoma | 7.42 |
| 7 | South Dakota | 7.34 |
| 8 | Alabama | 7.06 |
| 9 | Alaska | 6.82 |
| 10 | Ohio | 6.65 |
| 11 | West Virginia | 6.64 |
Drug overdose deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted) (2024)
Alabama ranks 25 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States
| Rank | Region | Drug overdose deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted) |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Colorado | 25.7 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | 25.6 |
| 24 | Oklahoma | 25.5 |
| 25 | Alabama | 25.0 |
| 26 | Missouri | 23.7 |
| 27 | Massachusetts | 21.8 |
| 28 | California | 21.7 |
Drug overdose deaths, 12 months to May 2026 (provisional) (2025-2026)
Alabama ranks 30 of 51, highest first. Predicted provisional counts
| Rank | Region | Drug overdose deaths, 12 months to May 2026 (provisional) |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | Minnesota | 981 |
| 28 | Oregon | 848 |
| 29 | Connecticut | 787 |
| 30 | Alabama | 783 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | 781 |
| 32 | West Virginia | 663 |
| 33 | Utah | 646 |
Heart disease deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted) (2024)
Alabama ranks 3 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States
| Rank | Region | Heart disease deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma | 254.3 |
| 2 | Mississippi | 236.5 |
| 3 | Alabama | 223.9 |
| 4 | Louisiana | 220.0 |
| 5 | Arkansas | 217.1 |
| 6 | Tennessee | 210.0 |
| 7 | West Virginia | 205.3 |
Cancer deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted) (2024)
Alabama ranks 11 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States
| Rank | Region | Cancer deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Louisiana | 158.3 |
| 9 | Indiana | 156.4 |
| 10 | Ohio | 154.9 |
| 11 | Alabama | 154.0 |
| 12 | South Carolina | 151.9 |
| 13 | Kansas | 151.4 |
| 14 | Michigan | 151.1 |
Suicides per 100,000 (age-adjusted) (2024)
Alabama ranks 25 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States
| Rank | Region | Suicides per 100,000 (age-adjusted) |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | West Virginia | 16.4 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | 16.4 |
| 24 | South Carolina | 16.0 |
| 25 | Alabama | 15.9 |
| 26 | Ohio | 15.2 |
| 27 | Mississippi | 15.1 |
| 28 | Nebraska | 14.9 |
Firearm deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted) (2024)
Alabama ranks 4 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States
| Rank | Region | Firearm deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | 28.0 |
| 2 | New Mexico | 26.6 |
| 3 | Alaska | 24.4 |
| 4 | Alabama | 23.7 |
| 5 | Wyoming | 23.4 |
| 6 | Louisiana | 22.9 |
| 7 | Arkansas | 20.6 |
People without health insurance (2024)
Alabama ranks 19 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey, civilian noninstitutionalized population
| Rank | Region | People without health insurance |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | North Carolina | 8.6% |
| 17 | Kansas | 8.5% |
| 18 | Utah | 8.3% |
| 19 | Alabama | 8.2% |
| 20 | South Dakota | 8.1% |
| 21 | Colorado | 7.9% |
| 22 | New Jersey | 7.7% |
Children under 19 without health insurance (2024)
Alabama ranks 33 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey
| Rank | Region | Children under 19 without health insurance |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | New Jersey | 4.7% |
| 31 | Maryland | 4.6% |
| 32 | Maine | 4.5% |
| 33 | Alabama | 4.3% |
| 34 | Wisconsin | 4.2% |
| 35 | Louisiana | 4.1% |
| 36 | Washington | 3.9% |
Medicaid and CHIP enrollment, June 2026 (2026-06)
Alabama ranks 28 of 51, highest first. CMS performance indicator data (preliminary)
| Rank | Region | Medicaid and CHIP enrollment, June 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Wisconsin | 1,107,383 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | 992,735 |
| 27 | South Carolina | 958,052 |
| 28 | Alabama | 930,919 |
| 29 | Connecticut | 895,290 |
| 30 | Arkansas | 773,838 |
| 31 | Nevada | 711,617 |
Change in Medicaid and CHIP enrollment since March 2023 (2023-03 to 2026-06)
Alabama ranks 19 of 51, highest first. March 2023 was the last month of pandemic continuous enrollment
| Rank | Region | Change in Medicaid and CHIP enrollment since March 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Nevada | -20.6% |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | -20.8% |
| 18 | Iowa | -21.8% |
| 19 | Alabama | -22.2% |
| 20 | North Dakota | -22.5% |
| 21 | Alaska | -22.7% |
| 22 | Kentucky | -22.9% |
Adults with obesity (BMI 30 or more) (2024)
Alabama ranks 4 of 50, highest first. BRFSS 2024, crude prevalence; Tennessee did not report for 2024
| Rank | Region | Adults with obesity (BMI 30 or more) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | 41.4% |
| 2 | Mississippi | 40.4% |
| 3 | Louisiana | 39.2% |
| 4 | Alabama | 38.9% |
| 5 | Arkansas | 38.9% |
| 6 | Indiana | 38.4% |
| 7 | Nebraska | 37.6% |
Adults who currently smoke cigarettes (2024)
Alabama ranks 10 of 50, highest first. BRFSS 2024, crude prevalence
| Rank | Region | Adults who currently smoke cigarettes |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Maine | 14.4% |
| 8 | Ohio | 14.1% |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 14.1% |
| 10 | Alabama | 14.0% |
| 11 | Indiana | 13.9% |
| 12 | Mississippi | 13.8% |
| 13 | Kansas | 13.7% |
Adults ever told they have diabetes (2024)
Alabama ranks 6 of 50, highest first. BRFSS 2024, crude prevalence
| Rank | Region | Adults ever told they have diabetes |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Louisiana | 15.4% |
| 4 | Arkansas | 15.3% |
| 5 | Mississippi | 15.2% |
| 6 | Alabama | 15.1% |
| 7 | Indiana | 14.2% |
| 8 | South Carolina | 13.9% |
| 9 | Michigan | 13.6% |
More on Alabama: overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Types of health insurance coverage by age (B27010), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 737090000f71…)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Prevalence Data, 2011 to present: selected questions, 2015 and 2023-2025, all adults, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7ab093888a27…)
- National Center for Health Statistics (CDC): Stats of the States: Cancer mortality by state (National Vital Statistics System via CDC WONDER), map data file, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 16647d000278…)
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: State Medicaid and CHIP Applications, Eligibility Determinations, and Enrollment Data (Performance Indicator data, September 2026 release), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6fc730af4f67…)
- National Center for Health Statistics (CDC): Stats of the States: Firearm mortality by state (National Vital Statistics System via CDC WONDER), map data file, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 93f4daddcb09…)
- National Center for Health Statistics (CDC): Stats of the States: Heart disease mortality by state (National Vital Statistics System via CDC WONDER), map data file, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 53ffcd80b442…)
- National Center for Health Statistics (CDC): Stats of the States: Infant mortality rates by state (National Vital Statistics System via CDC WONDER), map data file, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c8e6ba1c198b…)
- National Center for Health Statistics (CDC): U.S. State Life Tables, 2022 (National Vital Statistics Reports Vol. 74, No. 12), Tables A, B and C, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c1373546ce89…)
- National Center for Health Statistics (CDC): Stats of the States: Drug overdose mortality by state (National Vital Statistics System via CDC WONDER), map data file, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1990aeae39f4…)
- National Center for Health Statistics (CDC): Stats of the States: Suicide mortality by state (National Vital Statistics System via CDC WONDER), map data file, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5df6571a02ff…)
- National Center for Health Statistics (CDC): VSRR Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts (12-month ending periods, May and December 2019-2026, selected indicators), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 68a227998fc5…)
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