Health in Illinois, United States: official figures

Life expectancy at birth in Illinois was 77.5 years in 2022, 22nd longest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 77.5 years), according to NCHS state life tables.

Life expectancy at birth

77.5 years

2022

Infant deaths per 1,000 live births

5.73

2024

Drug overdose deaths per 100,000

19.3

2024

Suicides per 100,000

10.8

2024

People without health insurance

6.9%

2024

Medicaid and CHIP enrollment

2,932,625

June 2026

Adults with obesity

34.2%

2024

How long do men and women live in Illinois?

Women in Illinois could expect to live 80.3 years and men 74.9 years at 2022 death rates, a gap of 5.4 years (U.S.: 80.2 for women, 74.8 for men).

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

Is life expectancy in Illinois going up?

Life expectancy in Illinois was 77.1 years in 2021, so the 2022 figure is up 0.4 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 Illinois?

A 65-year-old in Illinois could expect to live another 18.7 years in 2022 (19.9 for women, 17.3 for men); 25th 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 Illinois?

720 babies died before their first birthday in Illinois in 2024, an infant mortality rate of 5.73 per 1,000 live births; 25th lowest among the 50 states and DC. In 2019 the rate was 5.67 (794 deaths).

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

How many people die of drug overdoses in Illinois?

2,531 people died of drug overdoses in Illinois in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 19.3 per 100,000 people; 14th lowest among the 50 states and DC. The rate was 27.3 in 2023 (3,525 deaths) and 21.9 in 2019.

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

Are overdose deaths falling in Illinois?

CDC provisional data count about 1,915 drug overdose deaths in Illinois in the 12 months to May 2026, down 14.3% on the 12 months to May 2025 (2,235); 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 Illinois involve fentanyl?

Synthetic opioids other than methadone, mainly fentanyl, were involved in 1,016 of the 1,894 reported overdose deaths in Illinois in the 12 months to May 2026 (54%), and psychostimulants such as methamphetamine in 318 (17%). 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 Illinois?

Heart disease killed 25,150 people in Illinois in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 153.2 per 100,000; 22nd lowest among the 50 states and DC (2019: 162.0).

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

What is the cancer death rate in Illinois?

Cancer caused 23,456 deaths in Illinois in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 140.9 per 100,000; 25th lowest among the 50 states and DC (2019: 151.9).

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

What is the suicide rate in Illinois?

1,426 people in Illinois died by suicide in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 10.8 per 100,000; 9th lowest among the 50 states and DC. In 2019 the rate was 10.9 (1,439 deaths).

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

How many gun deaths are there in Illinois?

Firearms were involved in 1,563 deaths in Illinois in 2024, including suicides, homicides and accidents: an age-adjusted rate of 12.4 per 100,000, 21st lowest among the 50 states and DC (2019: 10.8).

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

How many people in Illinois have no health insurance?

6.9% of people in Illinois, about 861,000, had no health insurance in 2024; joint 25th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 8.2%). That is up 0.7 percentage points on 2023 (6.2%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many children in Illinois are uninsured?

3.6% of children under 19 in Illinois were uninsured in 2024, against 9.9% of adults aged 19 to 64 (U.S.: 6.0% and 11.3%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Illinois are on Medicaid?

14.2% of residents of Illinois were covered only by Medicaid or another means-tested public plan in 2024, and 50.8% 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 Illinois?

2,932,625 people were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP in Illinois in June 2026 (preliminary state data reported to CMS), down 6.1% on June 2025 (3,122,783); 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 Illinois changed since the pandemic?

In March 2023, the last month before states resumed removing people who no longer qualified after the pandemic, Illinois had 3,826,461 Medicaid and CHIP enrollees, so enrollment has fallen 23.4% since then (50 states and DC: down 22.5%).

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · saved copy

How many children are on Medicaid in Illinois?

Children made up 1,318,030 of the Medicaid and CHIP enrollees in Illinois in June 2026 (45%), and adults enrolled in Medicaid numbered 1,614,595. Illinois has 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 Illinois?

34.2% of adults in Illinois had obesity (a body mass index of 30 or more) in the 2024 CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey; 25th lowest among the 49 states and DC with data. In 2015 the figure was 30.8%; 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 Illinois?

10.5% of adults in Illinois smoked cigarettes in 2024 (19th lowest among the 49 states and DC with data; state median 11.6%), down from 15.1% in 2015. 6.8% used e-cigarettes.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

How many people have diabetes in Illinois?

12.8% of adults in Illinois had been told by a doctor they have diabetes, and 19.8% described their health as fair or poor, in 2024; the diabetes share is 19th 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 Illinois cannot afford to see a doctor?

In 2024, 23.3% of adults in Illinois said they had done no physical activity or exercise outside work in the past month, and 11.7% 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 Illinois?

18.4% of adults in Illinois reported binge drinking in 2024, and 20.8% had ever been told they have a depressive disorder (state medians: 15.5% and 22.0%).

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

How Illinois compares with other states

Life expectancy at birth (2022)

Illinois ranks 22 of 51, highest first. NCHS state life tables

Rank	Region	Life expectancy at birth
19	North Dakota	77.9 years
20	Maryland	77.8 years
21	Oregon	77.7 years
22	Illinois	77.5 years
23	Virginia	77.5 years
24	Pennsylvania	77.3 years
25	Montana	77.3 years

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

Life expectancy at age 65 (2022)

Illinois ranks 26 of 51, highest first. Further years of life expected at 65

Rank	Region	Life expectancy at age 65
23	Oregon	18.8 years
24	Delaware	18.8 years
25	Pennsylvania	18.7 years
26	Illinois	18.7 years
27	Iowa	18.7 years
28	New Mexico	18.7 years
29	Maine	18.7 years

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

Infant deaths per 1,000 live births (2024)

Illinois ranks 27 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Infant deaths per 1,000 live births
24	Kentucky	5.88
25	Kansas	5.86
26	Florida	5.74
27	Illinois	5.73
28	Texas	5.70
29	Pennsylvania	5.68
30	Vermont	5.57

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

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

Illinois ranks 38 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Drug overdose deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
35	Wyoming	20.1
36	Wisconsin	19.8
37	Kansas	19.7
38	Illinois	19.3
39	Michigan	19.1
40	Mississippi	18.6
41	Georgia	18.1

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

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

Illinois ranks 11 of 51, highest first. Predicted provisional counts

Rank	Region	Drug overdose deaths, 12 months to May 2026 (provisional)
8	Ohio	2,319
9	North Carolina	2,139
10	Tennessee	1,967
11	Illinois	1,915
12	Colorado	1,847
13	Michigan	1,720
14	Georgia	1,526

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

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

Illinois ranks 30 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Heart disease deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
27	North Carolina	155.5
28	New Mexico	155.5
29	District of Columbia	154.6
30	Illinois	153.2
31	Nebraska	152.7
32	Virginia	151.7
33	Delaware	151.5

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

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

Illinois ranks 27 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Cancer deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
24	Wisconsin	143.9
25	Nebraska	143.9
26	Oregon	142.3
27	Illinois	140.9
28	Virginia	139.7
29	Washington	139.7
30	Montana	139.3

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

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

Illinois ranks 43 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Suicides per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
40	Pennsylvania	13.3
41	Virginia	12.9
42	Delaware	11.8
43	Illinois	10.8
44	Connecticut	10.0
45	Maryland	9.7
46	California	9.6

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

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

Illinois ranks 31 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Firearm deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
28	Utah	13.3
29	Virginia	12.8
30	Florida	12.7
31	Illinois	12.4
32	North Dakota	12.2
33	Wisconsin	12.1
34	Pennsylvania	11.9

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

People without health insurance (2024)

Illinois ranks 27 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey, civilian noninstitutionalized population

Rank	Region	People without health insurance
24	Louisiana	7.7%
25	Indiana	7.5%
26	Nebraska	7.1%
27	Illinois	6.9%
28	Virginia	6.9%
29	Delaware	6.9%
30	Kentucky	6.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Children under 19 without health insurance (2024)

Illinois ranks 40 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey

Rank	Region	Children under 19 without health insurance
37	Iowa	3.8%
38	Minnesota	3.7%
39	Rhode Island	3.7%
40	Illinois	3.6%
41	Michigan	3.5%
42	California	3.1%
43	Hawaii	2.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Illinois ranks 6 of 51, highest first. CMS performance indicator data (preliminary)

Rank	Region	Medicaid and CHIP enrollment, June 2026
3	Texas	3,915,559
4	Florida	3,565,369
5	Pennsylvania	2,952,912
6	Illinois	2,932,625
7	North Carolina	2,811,382
8	Ohio	2,597,852
9	Michigan	2,130,181

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · saved copy

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

Illinois ranks 28 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
25	Tennessee	-23.2%
26	Wisconsin	-23.3%
27	Rhode Island	-23.3%
28	Illinois	-23.4%
29	Delaware	-23.5%
30	Ohio	-24.1%
31	New Mexico	-24.4%

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · saved copy

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

Illinois ranks 26 of 50, highest first. BRFSS 2024, crude prevalence; Tennessee did not report for 2024

Rank	Region	Adults with obesity (BMI 30 or more)
23	North Carolina	34.5%
24	Nevada	34.2%
25	Pennsylvania	34.2%
26	Illinois	34.2%
27	Alaska	34.0%
28	Oregon	33.6%
29	Arizona	33.3%

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

Adults who currently smoke cigarettes (2024)

Illinois ranks 32 of 50, highest first. BRFSS 2024, crude prevalence

Rank	Region	Adults who currently smoke cigarettes
29	Florida	10.6%
30	Oregon	10.6%
31	Vermont	10.5%
32	Illinois	10.5%
33	Minnesota	10.2%
34	Arizona	10.2%
35	Delaware	10.1%

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

Adults ever told they have diabetes (2024)

Illinois ranks 19 of 50, highest first. BRFSS 2024, crude prevalence

Rank	Region	Adults ever told they have diabetes
16	Ohio	13.1%
17	Virginia	12.9%
18	Georgia	12.8%
19	Illinois	12.8%
20	California	12.6%
21	Kansas	12.5%
22	Maryland	12.4%

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

More on Illinois: 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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