Health in Massachusetts, United States: official figures

Life expectancy at birth in Massachusetts was 79.8 years in 2022, 2nd longest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 77.5 years), according to NCHS state life tables.

Life expectancy at birth

79.8 years

2022

Infant deaths per 1,000 live births

3.49

2024

Drug overdose deaths per 100,000

21.8

2024

Suicides per 100,000

8.3

2024

People without health insurance

2.8%

2024

Medicaid and CHIP enrollment

1,525,312

June 2026

Adults with obesity

27.0%

2024

How long do men and women live in Massachusetts?

Women in Massachusetts could expect to live 82.2 years and men 77.4 years at 2022 death rates, a gap of 4.8 years (U.S.: 80.2 for women, 74.8 for men).

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

Is life expectancy in Massachusetts going up?

Life expectancy in Massachusetts was 79.6 years in 2021, so the 2022 figure is up 0.2 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 Massachusetts?

A 65-year-old in Massachusetts could expect to live another 19.7 years in 2022 (20.8 for women, 18.4 for men); 4th longest 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 Massachusetts?

238 babies died before their first birthday in Massachusetts in 2024, an infant mortality rate of 3.49 per 1,000 live births; 3rd lowest among the 50 states and DC. In 2019 the rate was 3.73 (258 deaths).

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

How many people die of drug overdoses in Massachusetts?

1,590 people died of drug overdoses in Massachusetts in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 21.8 per 100,000 people; 25th lowest among the 50 states and DC. The rate was 33.6 in 2023 (2,387 deaths) and 32.1 in 2019.

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

Are overdose deaths falling in Massachusetts?

CDC provisional data count about 1,308 drug overdose deaths in Massachusetts in the 12 months to May 2026, down 6.8% on the 12 months to May 2025 (1,404); 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 Massachusetts involve fentanyl?

Synthetic opioids other than methadone, mainly fentanyl, were involved in 823 of the 1,308 reported overdose deaths in Massachusetts in the 12 months to May 2026 (63%), and psychostimulants such as methamphetamine in 146 (11%). 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 Massachusetts?

Heart disease killed 11,631 people in Massachusetts in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 121.5 per 100,000; 3rd lowest among the 50 states and DC (2019: 127.2).

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

What is the cancer death rate in Massachusetts?

Cancer caused 12,362 deaths in Massachusetts in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 127.0 per 100,000; 9th lowest among the 50 states and DC (2019: 139.9).

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

What is the suicide rate in Massachusetts?

648 people in Massachusetts died by suicide in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 8.3 per 100,000; 4th lowest among the 50 states and DC. In 2019 the rate was 8.7 (647 deaths).

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

How many gun deaths are there in Massachusetts?

Firearms were involved in 287 deaths in Massachusetts in 2024, including suicides, homicides and accidents: an age-adjusted rate of 3.8 per 100,000, 2nd lowest among the 50 states and DC (2019: 3.4).

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

How many people in Massachusetts have no health insurance?

2.8% of people in Massachusetts, about 199,000, had no health insurance in 2024; the lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 8.2%). That is up 0.2 percentage points on 2023 (2.6%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many children in Massachusetts are uninsured?

2.1% of children under 19 in Massachusetts were uninsured in 2024, against 3.7% of adults aged 19 to 64 (U.S.: 6.0% and 11.3%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Massachusetts are on Medicaid?

15.3% of residents of Massachusetts were covered only by Medicaid or another means-tested public plan in 2024, and 51.1% 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 Massachusetts?

1,525,312 people were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP in Massachusetts in June 2026 (preliminary state data reported to CMS), down 5.4% on June 2025 (1,612,336); 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 Massachusetts changed since the pandemic?

In March 2023, the last month before states resumed removing people who no longer qualified after the pandemic, Massachusetts had 2,023,603 Medicaid and CHIP enrollees, so enrollment has fallen 24.6% since then (50 states and DC: down 22.5%).

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · saved copy

How many children are on Medicaid in Massachusetts?

Children made up 657,133 of the Medicaid and CHIP enrollees in Massachusetts in June 2026 (43%), and adults enrolled in Medicaid numbered 868,179. Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts?

27.0% of adults in Massachusetts had obesity (a body mass index of 30 or more) in the 2024 CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey; 4th lowest among the 49 states and DC with data. In 2015 the figure was 24.3%; 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 Massachusetts?

8.8% of adults in Massachusetts smoked cigarettes in 2024 (8th lowest among the 49 states and DC with data; state median 11.6%), down from 14.0% in 2015. 5.6% used e-cigarettes.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

How many people have diabetes in Massachusetts?

9.6% of adults in Massachusetts had been told by a doctor they have diabetes, and 14.8% described their health as fair or poor, in 2024; the diabetes share is 8th lowest 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 Massachusetts cannot afford to see a doctor?

In 2024, 18.8% of adults in Massachusetts said they had done no physical activity or exercise outside work in the past month, and 8.2% 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 copy

How common is depression in Massachusetts?

15.7% of adults in Massachusetts reported binge drinking in 2024, and 21.1% 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 Massachusetts compares with other states

Life expectancy at birth (2022)

Massachusetts ranks 2 of 51, highest first. NCHS state life tables

Rank	Region	Life expectancy at birth
1	Hawaii	80.0 years
2	Massachusetts	79.8 years
3	New Jersey	79.6 years
4	New York	79.5 years
5	Connecticut	79.4 years
6	California	79.3 years
7	Minnesota	79.3 years

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

Life expectancy at age 65 (2022)

Massachusetts ranks 5 of 51, highest first. Further years of life expected at 65

Rank	Region	Life expectancy at age 65
2	New York	19.8 years
3	Connecticut	19.8 years
4	California	19.7 years
5	Massachusetts	19.7 years
6	New Jersey	19.6 years
7	Minnesota	19.6 years
8	North Dakota	19.5 years

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

Infant deaths per 1,000 live births (2024)

Massachusetts ranks 49 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Infant deaths per 1,000 live births
45	Hawaii	4.36
46	Rhode Island	4.20
47	California	4.18
48	New York	3.95
49	Massachusetts	3.49
50	New Jersey	3.37
51	New Hampshire	2.97

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

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

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

Rank	Region	Drug overdose deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
24	Oklahoma	25.5
25	Alabama	25.0
26	Missouri	23.7
27	Massachusetts	21.8
28	California	21.7
29	New Hampshire	21.6
30	Florida	21.3

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

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

Massachusetts ranks 17 of 51, highest first. Predicted provisional counts

Rank	Region	Drug overdose deaths, 12 months to May 2026 (provisional)
14	Georgia	1,526
15	New Jersey	1,475
16	Nevada	1,323
17	Massachusetts	1,308
18	Maryland	1,295
19	Indiana	1,226
20	Virginia	1,212

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

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

Massachusetts ranks 49 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Heart disease deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
45	Hawaii	130.6
46	California	130.4
47	Connecticut	128.9
48	Minnesota	121.9
49	Massachusetts	121.5
50	Colorado	118.8
51	Alaska	116.3

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

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

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

Rank	Region	Cancer deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
40	North Dakota	130.8
41	Rhode Island	129.9
42	Arizona	127.3
43	Massachusetts	127.0
44	California	126.4
45	New Mexico	126.2
46	Connecticut	123.5

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

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

Massachusetts ranks 48 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Suicides per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
45	Maryland	9.7
46	California	9.6
47	Rhode Island	8.9
48	Massachusetts	8.3
49	New York	8.1
50	New Jersey	6.7
51	District of Columbia	5.7

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

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

Massachusetts ranks 50 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Firearm deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
45	California	7.0
46	Connecticut	5.8
47	Rhode Island	4.6
48	New York	4.4
49	New Jersey	4.0
50	Massachusetts	3.8
51	Hawaii	3.7

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

People without health insurance (2024)

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

Rank	Region	People without health insurance
45	New York	5.0%
46	Rhode Island	4.6%
47	New Hampshire	4.5%
48	District of Columbia	4.5%
49	Vermont	4.2%
50	Hawaii	3.5%
51	Massachusetts	2.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Children under 19 without health insurance (2024)

Massachusetts ranks 51 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey

Rank	Region	Children under 19 without health insurance
45	New York	2.7%
46	Oregon	2.7%
47	District of Columbia	2.7%
48	Connecticut	2.6%
49	Vermont	2.6%
50	New Hampshire	2.3%
51	Massachusetts	2.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Massachusetts ranks 15 of 51, highest first. CMS performance indicator data (preliminary)

Rank	Region	Medicaid and CHIP enrollment, June 2026
12	New Jersey	1,725,496
13	Virginia	1,635,168
14	Arizona	1,611,827
15	Massachusetts	1,525,312
16	Maryland	1,385,888
17	Tennessee	1,384,007
18	Indiana	1,358,600

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · saved copy

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

Massachusetts ranks 32 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
29	Delaware	-23.5%
30	Ohio	-24.1%
31	New Mexico	-24.4%
32	Massachusetts	-24.6%
33	Vermont	-25.0%
34	Oklahoma	-25.2%
35	Mississippi	-25.8%

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · saved copy

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

Massachusetts ranks 47 of 50, highest first. BRFSS 2024, crude prevalence; Tennessee did not report for 2024

Rank	Region	Adults with obesity (BMI 30 or more)
44	California	29.1%
45	Vermont	29.0%
46	New Jersey	27.7%
47	Massachusetts	27.0%
48	Hawaii	27.0%
49	District of Columbia	25.5%
50	Colorado	25.0%

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

Adults who currently smoke cigarettes (2024)

Massachusetts ranks 43 of 50, highest first. BRFSS 2024, crude prevalence

Rank	Region	Adults who currently smoke cigarettes
40	Idaho	9.6%
41	New Hampshire	9.1%
42	Connecticut	9.0%
43	Massachusetts	8.8%
44	New Jersey	8.6%
45	District of Columbia	8.5%
46	Hawaii	8.1%

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

Adults ever told they have diabetes (2024)

Massachusetts ranks 43 of 50, highest first. BRFSS 2024, crude prevalence

Rank	Region	Adults ever told they have diabetes
40	Wyoming	10.1%
41	Minnesota	10.1%
42	Washington	10.0%
43	Massachusetts	9.6%
44	Alaska	9.4%
45	Idaho	9.3%
46	Vermont	8.9%

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

More on Massachusetts: 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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