Health in Kentucky, United States: official figures
Life expectancy at birth in Kentucky was 73.6 years in 2022, 3rd 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 Kentucky?
Women in Kentucky could expect to live 76.2 years and men 71.1 years at 2022 death rates, a gap of 5.1 years (U.S.: 80.2 for women, 74.8 for men).
Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copyIs life expectancy in Kentucky going up?
Life expectancy in Kentucky was 72.3 years in 2021, so the 2022 figure is up 1.3 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 Kentucky?
A 65-year-old in Kentucky could expect to live another 16.8 years in 2022 (17.8 for women, 15.6 for men); 3rd 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 Kentucky?
311 babies died before their first birthday in Kentucky in 2024, an infant mortality rate of 5.88 per 1,000 live births; 24th highest among the 50 states and DC. In 2019 the rate was 4.90 (260 deaths).
Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copyHow many people die of drug overdoses in Kentucky?
1,492 people died of drug overdoses in Kentucky in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 33.5 per 100,000 people; joint 10th highest among the 50 states and DC. The rate was 48.0 in 2023 (2,077 deaths) and 32.5 in 2019.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copyAre overdose deaths falling in Kentucky?
CDC provisional data count about 1,034 drug overdose deaths in Kentucky in the 12 months to May 2026, down 26.7% on the 12 months to May 2025 (1,410); 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 Kentucky involve fentanyl?
Synthetic opioids other than methadone, mainly fentanyl, were involved in 463 of the 1,034 reported overdose deaths in Kentucky in the 12 months to May 2026 (45%), and psychostimulants such as methamphetamine in 503 (49%). A death can involve more than one drug.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copyHow many people die of heart disease in Kentucky?
Heart disease killed 11,292 people in Kentucky in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 196.9 per 100,000; 8th highest among the 50 states and DC (2019: 196.4).
Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copyWhat is the cancer death rate in Kentucky?
Cancer caused 10,528 deaths in Kentucky in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 175.6 per 100,000; the highest among the 50 states and DC (2019: 176.4).
Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copyWhat is the suicide rate in Kentucky?
844 people in Kentucky died by suicide in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 17.9 per 100,000; joint 16th highest among the 50 states and DC. In 2019 the rate was 16.5 (756 deaths).
Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copyHow many gun deaths are there in Kentucky?
Firearms were involved in 870 deaths in Kentucky in 2024, including suicides, homicides and accidents: an age-adjusted rate of 18.5 per 100,000, 14th highest among the 50 states and DC (2019: 14.9).
Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) · saved copyHow many people in Kentucky have no health insurance?
6.8% of people in Kentucky, about 309,000, had no health insurance in 2024; 22nd lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 8.2%). That is up 1.4 percentage points on 2023 (5.4%), according to the American Community Survey.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Kentucky are uninsured?
5.0% of children under 19 in Kentucky were uninsured in 2024, against 9.5% of adults aged 19 to 64 (U.S.: 6.0% and 11.3%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Kentucky are on Medicaid?
19.2% of residents of Kentucky were covered only by Medicaid or another means-tested public plan in 2024, and 42.7% 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 Kentucky?
1,264,449 people were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP in Kentucky in June 2026 (preliminary state data reported to CMS), down 7.8% on June 2025 (1,371,559); 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 Kentucky changed since the pandemic?
In March 2023, the last month before states resumed removing people who no longer qualified after the pandemic, Kentucky had 1,640,141 Medicaid and CHIP enrollees, so enrollment has fallen 22.9% since then (50 states and DC: down 22.5%).
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · saved copyHow many children are on Medicaid in Kentucky?
Children made up 549,841 of the Medicaid and CHIP enrollees in Kentucky in June 2026 (43%), and adults enrolled in Medicaid numbered 714,608. Kentucky has expanded Medicaid to low-income adults under the Affordable Care Act.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · saved copyWhat is the obesity rate in Kentucky?
37.2% of adults in Kentucky had obesity (a body mass index of 30 or more) in the 2024 CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey; 10th highest among the 49 states and DC with data. In 2015 the figure was 34.6%; 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 Kentucky?
17.2% of adults in Kentucky smoked cigarettes in 2024 (2nd highest among the 49 states and DC with data; state median 11.6%), down from 26.0% in 2015. 10.7% used e-cigarettes.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow many people have diabetes in Kentucky?
16.2% of adults in Kentucky had been told by a doctor they have diabetes, and 23.9% described their health as fair or poor, in 2024; the diabetes share is 2nd 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 Kentucky cannot afford to see a doctor?
In 2024, 28.0% of adults in Kentucky said they had done no physical activity or exercise outside work in the past month, and 12.2% 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 Kentucky?
13.6% of adults in Kentucky reported binge drinking in 2024, and 28.3% 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 Kentucky compares with other states
Life expectancy at birth (2022)
Kentucky ranks 49 of 51, highest first. NCHS state life tables
| Rank | Region | Life expectancy at birth |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 50 | Mississippi | 72.6 years |
| 51 | West Virginia | 72.2 years |
Life expectancy at age 65 (2022)
Kentucky ranks 48 of 51, highest first. Further years of life expected at 65
| Rank | Region | Life expectancy at age 65 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 50 | Mississippi | 16.7 years |
| 51 | West Virginia | 16.6 years |
Infant deaths per 1,000 live births (2024)
Kentucky ranks 24 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States
| Rank | Region | Infant deaths per 1,000 live births |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Virginia | 5.95 |
| 22 | North Dakota | 5.92 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | 5.91 |
| 24 | Kentucky | 5.88 |
| 25 | Kansas | 5.86 |
| 26 | Florida | 5.74 |
| 27 | Illinois | 5.73 |
Drug overdose deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted) (2024)
Kentucky ranks 11 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States
| Rank | Region | Drug overdose deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Maine | 35.2 |
| 9 | Vermont | 33.6 |
| 10 | Louisiana | 33.5 |
| 11 | Kentucky | 33.5 |
| 12 | Oregon | 33.5 |
| 13 | Delaware | 33.4 |
| 14 | Arizona | 32.6 |
Drug overdose deaths, 12 months to May 2026 (provisional) (2025-2026)
Kentucky ranks 25 of 51, highest first. Predicted provisional counts
| Rank | Region | Drug overdose deaths, 12 months to May 2026 (provisional) |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | South Carolina | 1,198 |
| 23 | Louisiana | 1,160 |
| 24 | New Mexico | 1,128 |
| 25 | Kentucky | 1,034 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | 997 |
| 27 | Minnesota | 981 |
| 28 | Oregon | 848 |
Heart disease deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted) (2024)
Kentucky ranks 8 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States
| Rank | Region | Heart disease deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Arkansas | 217.1 |
| 6 | Tennessee | 210.0 |
| 7 | West Virginia | 205.3 |
| 8 | Kentucky | 196.9 |
| 9 | Michigan | 194.7 |
| 10 | Missouri | 187.5 |
| 11 | Ohio | 183.7 |
Cancer deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted) (2024)
Kentucky ranks 1 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States
| Rank | Region | Cancer deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kentucky | 175.6 |
| 2 | West Virginia | 175.1 |
| 3 | Oklahoma | 172.4 |
| 4 | Mississippi | 167.8 |
| 5 | Tennessee | 165.1 |
| 6 | Arkansas | 161.7 |
| 7 | Missouri | 159.7 |
Suicides per 100,000 (age-adjusted) (2024)
Kentucky ranks 16 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States
| Rank | Region | Suicides per 100,000 (age-adjusted) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | North Dakota | 19.2 |
| 14 | Arkansas | 19.0 |
| 15 | Arizona | 18.9 |
| 16 | Kentucky | 17.9 |
| 17 | Kansas | 17.9 |
| 18 | Missouri | 17.8 |
| 19 | Iowa | 17.1 |
Firearm deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted) (2024)
Kentucky ranks 14 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States
| Rank | Region | Firearm deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted) |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Missouri | 19.6 |
| 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 |
People without health insurance (2024)
Kentucky ranks 30 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey, civilian noninstitutionalized population
| Rank | Region | People without health insurance |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | Illinois | 6.9% |
| 28 | Virginia | 6.9% |
| 29 | Delaware | 6.9% |
| 30 | Kentucky | 6.8% |
| 31 | Ohio | 6.7% |
| 32 | Washington | 6.5% |
| 33 | Maryland | 6.3% |
Children under 19 without health insurance (2024)
Kentucky ranks 29 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey
| Rank | Region | Children under 19 without health insurance |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Pennsylvania | 5.4% |
| 27 | Nebraska | 5.3% |
| 28 | Virginia | 5.2% |
| 29 | Kentucky | 5.0% |
| 30 | New Jersey | 4.7% |
| 31 | Maryland | 4.6% |
| 32 | Maine | 4.5% |
Medicaid and CHIP enrollment, June 2026 (2026-06)
Kentucky ranks 20 of 51, highest first. CMS performance indicator data (preliminary)
| Rank | Region | Medicaid and CHIP enrollment, June 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Tennessee | 1,384,007 |
| 18 | Indiana | 1,358,600 |
| 19 | Oregon | 1,264,858 |
| 20 | Kentucky | 1,264,449 |
| 21 | Louisiana | 1,264,327 |
| 22 | Missouri | 1,243,023 |
| 23 | Colorado | 1,188,599 |
Change in Medicaid and CHIP enrollment since March 2023 (2023-03 to 2026-06)
Kentucky ranks 22 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Alabama | -22.2% |
| 20 | North Dakota | -22.5% |
| 21 | Alaska | -22.7% |
| 22 | Kentucky | -22.9% |
| 23 | Kansas | -22.9% |
| 24 | New Jersey | -23.0% |
| 25 | Tennessee | -23.2% |
Adults with obesity (BMI 30 or more) (2024)
Kentucky ranks 10 of 50, highest first. BRFSS 2024, crude prevalence; Tennessee did not report for 2024
| Rank | Region | Adults with obesity (BMI 30 or more) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Nebraska | 37.6% |
| 8 | Kansas | 37.6% |
| 9 | Wisconsin | 37.4% |
| 10 | Kentucky | 37.2% |
| 11 | South Dakota | 37.0% |
| 12 | Ohio | 36.9% |
| 13 | North Dakota | 36.8% |
Adults who currently smoke cigarettes (2024)
Kentucky ranks 2 of 50, highest first. BRFSS 2024, crude prevalence
| Rank | Region | Adults who currently smoke cigarettes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | 20.8% |
| 2 | Kentucky | 17.2% |
| 3 | Arkansas | 16.5% |
| 4 | Louisiana | 15.0% |
| 5 | Alaska | 14.7% |
| 6 | Missouri | 14.7% |
| 7 | Maine | 14.4% |
Adults ever told they have diabetes (2024)
Kentucky ranks 2 of 50, highest first. BRFSS 2024, crude prevalence
| Rank | Region | Adults ever told they have diabetes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | 18.4% |
| 2 | Kentucky | 16.2% |
| 3 | Louisiana | 15.4% |
| 4 | Arkansas | 15.3% |
| 5 | Mississippi | 15.2% |
| 6 | Alabama | 15.1% |
| 7 | Indiana | 14.2% |
More on Kentucky: 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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