Health in Georgia, United States: official figures

Life expectancy at birth in Georgia was 75.9 years in 2022, 16th shortest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 77.5 years), according to NCHS state life tables.

Life expectancy at birth

75.9 years

2022

Infant deaths per 1,000 live births

6.40

2024

Drug overdose deaths per 100,000

18.1

2024

Suicides per 100,000

14.3

2024

People without health insurance

12.0%

2024

Medicaid and CHIP enrollment

1,817,766

June 2026

Adults with obesity

35.4%

2024

How long do men and women live in Georgia?

Women in Georgia could expect to live 78.6 years and men 73.1 years at 2022 death rates, a gap of 5.5 years (U.S.: 80.2 for women, 74.8 for men).

Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copy

Is life expectancy in Georgia going up?

Life expectancy in Georgia was 74.3 years in 2021, so the 2022 figure is up 1.6 years; nationally it rose from 76.4 to 77.5 years.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copy

How long do people live after 65 in Georgia?

A 65-year-old in Georgia could expect to live another 17.9 years in 2022 (19.1 for women, 16.4 for men); 12th shortest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 18.9).

Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copy

What is the infant mortality rate in Georgia?

809 babies died before their first birthday in Georgia in 2024, an infant mortality rate of 6.40 per 1,000 live births; 15th highest among the 50 states and DC. In 2019 the rate was 7.02 (887 deaths).

Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copy

How many people die of drug overdoses in Georgia?

2,029 people died of drug overdoses in Georgia in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 18.1 per 100,000 people; 11th lowest among the 50 states and DC. The rate was 23.6 in 2023 (2,570 deaths) and 13.1 in 2019.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copy

Are overdose deaths falling in Georgia?

CDC provisional data count about 1,526 drug overdose deaths in Georgia in the 12 months to May 2026, down 20.6% on the 12 months to May 2025 (1,923); 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 copy

How many overdose deaths in Georgia involve fentanyl?

Synthetic opioids other than methadone, mainly fentanyl, were involved in 643 of the 1,496 reported overdose deaths in Georgia in the 12 months to May 2026 (43%), and psychostimulants such as methamphetamine in 561 (38%). A death can involve more than one drug.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copy

How many people die of heart disease in Georgia?

Heart disease killed 21,725 people in Georgia in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 175.2 per 100,000; 14th highest among the 50 states and DC (2019: 175.5).

Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copy

What is the cancer death rate in Georgia?

Cancer caused 18,932 deaths in Georgia in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 144.7 per 100,000; 22nd highest among the 50 states and DC (2019: 151.4).

Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copy

What is the suicide rate in Georgia?

1,648 people in Georgia died by suicide in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 14.3 per 100,000; 20th lowest among the 50 states and DC. In 2019 the rate was 14.6 (1,585 deaths).

Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copy

How many gun deaths are there in Georgia?

Firearms were involved in 1,985 deaths in Georgia in 2024, including suicides, homicides and accidents: an age-adjusted rate of 17.6 per 100,000, 15th highest among the 50 states and DC (2019: 15.8).

Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copy

How many people in Georgia have no health insurance?

12.0% of people in Georgia, about 1,314,000, had no health insurance in 2024; 2nd highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 8.2%). That is up 0.6 percentage points on 2023 (11.4%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many children in Georgia are uninsured?

7.9% of children under 19 in Georgia were uninsured in 2024, against 16.5% of adults aged 19 to 64 (U.S.: 6.0% and 11.3%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Georgia are on Medicaid?

11.5% of residents of Georgia were covered only by Medicaid or another means-tested public plan in 2024, and 44.6% only by employer-based insurance (U.S.: 14.5% and 45.3%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people are on Medicaid in Georgia?

1,817,766 people were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP in Georgia in June 2026 (preliminary state data reported to CMS), down 5.4% on June 2025 (1,921,784); across the 50 states and DC the total was 73.17 million.

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · saved copy

How much has Medicaid enrollment in Georgia changed since the pandemic?

In March 2023, the last month before states resumed removing people who no longer qualified after the pandemic, Georgia had 2,511,599 Medicaid and CHIP enrollees, so enrollment has fallen 27.6% since then (50 states and DC: down 22.5%).

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · saved copy

How many children are on Medicaid in Georgia?

Children made up 1,272,477 of the Medicaid and CHIP enrollees in Georgia in June 2026 (70%), and adults enrolled in Medicaid numbered 545,289. Georgia has not expanded Medicaid to low-income adults under the Affordable Care Act.

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · saved copy

What is the obesity rate in Georgia?

35.4% of adults in Georgia had obesity (a body mass index of 30 or more) in the 2024 CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey; 19th highest among the 49 states and DC with data. In 2015 the figure was 30.7%; the median across the states and DC was 34.2% in 2024.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

How many people smoke in Georgia?

11.2% of adults in Georgia smoked cigarettes in 2024 (24th lowest among the 49 states and DC with data; state median 11.6%), down from 17.7% in 2015. 7.6% used e-cigarettes.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

How many people have diabetes in Georgia?

12.8% of adults in Georgia had been told by a doctor they have diabetes, and 19.9% described their health as fair or poor, in 2024; the diabetes share is 18th highest among the 49 states and DC with data (state medians: 12.0% and 18.6%).

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

How many people in Georgia cannot afford to see a doctor?

In 2024, 23.0% of adults in Georgia said they had done no physical activity or exercise outside work in the past month, and 16.4% 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 copy

How common is depression in Georgia?

13.4% of adults in Georgia reported binge drinking in 2024, and 18.4% had ever been told they have a depressive disorder (state medians: 15.5% and 22.0%).

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

How Georgia compares with other states

Life expectancy at birth (2022)

Georgia ranks 36 of 51, highest first. NCHS state life tables

Rank	Region	Life expectancy at birth
33	Kansas	76.5 years
34	Delaware	76.5 years
35	Nevada	76.4 years
36	Georgia	75.9 years
37	North Carolina	75.9 years
38	Alaska	75.8 years
39	Ohio	75.6 years

Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copy

Life expectancy at age 65 (2022)

Georgia ranks 39 of 51, highest first. Further years of life expected at 65

Rank	Region	Life expectancy at age 65
36	North Carolina	18.1 years
37	Kansas	18.1 years
38	South Carolina	18.0 years
39	Georgia	17.9 years
40	Nevada	17.9 years
41	Ohio	17.8 years
42	Missouri	17.8 years

Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copy

Infant deaths per 1,000 live births (2024)

Georgia ranks 15 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Infant deaths per 1,000 live births
12	Nebraska	6.54
13	Missouri	6.44
14	Tennessee	6.41
15	Georgia	6.40
16	Michigan	6.33
17	Indiana	6.33
18	North Carolina	6.24

Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copy

Drug overdose deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted) (2024)

Georgia ranks 41 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Drug overdose deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
38	Illinois	19.3
39	Michigan	19.1
40	Mississippi	18.6
41	Georgia	18.1
42	Virginia	17.6
43	Minnesota	17.3
44	Idaho	17.3

Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copy

Drug overdose deaths, 12 months to May 2026 (provisional) (2025-2026)

Georgia ranks 14 of 51, highest first. Predicted provisional counts

Rank	Region	Drug overdose deaths, 12 months to May 2026 (provisional)
11	Illinois	1,915
12	Colorado	1,847
13	Michigan	1,720
14	Georgia	1,526
15	New Jersey	1,475
16	Nevada	1,323
17	Massachusetts	1,308

Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copy

Heart disease deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted) (2024)

Georgia ranks 14 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Heart disease deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
11	Ohio	183.7
12	Nevada	179.8
13	Indiana	179.6
14	Georgia	175.2
15	South Carolina	175.0
16	Iowa	169.9
17	Montana	164.8

Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copy

Cancer deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted) (2024)

Georgia ranks 22 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Cancer deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
19	North Carolina	148.8
20	Pennsylvania	145.7
21	South Dakota	145.5
22	Georgia	144.7
23	Vermont	144.1
24	Wisconsin	143.9
25	Nebraska	143.9

Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copy

Suicides per 100,000 (age-adjusted) (2024)

Georgia ranks 32 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Suicides per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
29	Wisconsin	14.8
30	Vermont	14.7
31	Washington	14.5
32	Georgia	14.3
33	Texas	14.2
34	North Carolina	14.1
35	Louisiana	14.1

Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copy

Firearm deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted) (2024)

Georgia ranks 15 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Firearm deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
12	South Carolina	19.5
13	Oklahoma	19.1
14	Kentucky	18.5
15	Georgia	17.6
16	South Dakota	17.3
17	Indiana	17.2
18	Nevada	17.2

Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copy

People without health insurance (2024)

Georgia ranks 2 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey, civilian noninstitutionalized population

Rank	Region	People without health insurance
1	Texas	16.7%
2	Georgia	12.0%
3	Oklahoma	11.5%
4	Nevada	11.4%
5	Alaska	11.0%
6	Florida	10.9%
7	Arizona	10.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Children under 19 without health insurance (2024)

Georgia ranks 10 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey

Rank	Region	Children under 19 without health insurance
7	Idaho	8.1%
8	Nevada	8.0%
9	South Dakota	8.0%
10	Georgia	7.9%
11	Arkansas	7.7%
12	Montana	7.7%
13	Kansas	7.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Medicaid and CHIP enrollment, June 2026 (2026-06)

Georgia ranks 10 of 51, highest first. CMS performance indicator data (preliminary)

Rank	Region	Medicaid and CHIP enrollment, June 2026
7	North Carolina	2,811,382
8	Ohio	2,597,852
9	Michigan	2,130,181
10	Georgia	1,817,766
11	Washington	1,781,187
12	New Jersey	1,725,496
13	Virginia	1,635,168

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · saved copy

Change in Medicaid and CHIP enrollment since March 2023 (2023-03 to 2026-06)

Georgia ranks 37 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
34	Oklahoma	-25.2%
35	Mississippi	-25.8%
36	West Virginia	-26.6%
37	Georgia	-27.6%
38	South Carolina	-27.6%
39	Arkansas	-28.9%
40	Florida	-29.9%

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · saved copy

Adults with obesity (BMI 30 or more) (2024)

Georgia ranks 19 of 50, highest first. BRFSS 2024, crude prevalence; Tennessee did not report for 2024

Rank	Region	Adults with obesity (BMI 30 or more)
16	Delaware	36.6%
17	Michigan	36.1%
18	Texas	35.6%
19	Georgia	35.4%
20	Missouri	34.6%
21	South Carolina	34.6%
22	New Mexico	34.5%

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

Adults who currently smoke cigarettes (2024)

Georgia ranks 27 of 50, highest first. BRFSS 2024, crude prevalence

Rank	Region	Adults who currently smoke cigarettes
24	Nevada	11.9%
25	Pennsylvania	11.7%
26	North Carolina	11.5%
27	Georgia	11.2%
28	Virginia	11.1%
29	Florida	10.6%
30	Oregon	10.6%

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

Adults ever told they have diabetes (2024)

Georgia ranks 18 of 50, highest first. BRFSS 2024, crude prevalence

Rank	Region	Adults ever told they have diabetes
15	North Carolina	13.2%
16	Ohio	13.1%
17	Virginia	12.9%
18	Georgia	12.8%
19	Illinois	12.8%
20	California	12.6%
21	Kansas	12.5%

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

More on Georgia: 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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