Health in Montana, United States: official figures

Life expectancy at birth in Montana was 77.3 years in 2022, 26th longest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 77.5 years), according to NCHS state life tables.

Life expectancy at birth

77.3 years

2022

Infant deaths per 1,000 live births

6.18

2024

Drug overdose deaths per 100,000

15.3

2024

Suicides per 100,000

26.8

2024

People without health insurance

8.8%

2024

Medicaid and CHIP enrollment

205,414

June 2026

Adults with obesity

31.0%

2024

How long do men and women live in Montana?

Women in Montana could expect to live 80.0 years and men 74.9 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 copy

Is life expectancy in Montana going up?

Life expectancy in Montana was 75.8 years in 2021, so the 2022 figure is up 1.5 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 Montana?

A 65-year-old in Montana could expect to live another 19.1 years in 2022 (20.3 for women, 17.9 for men); 16th 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 Montana?

70 babies died before their first birthday in Montana in 2024, an infant mortality rate of 6.18 per 1,000 live births; 19th highest among the 50 states and DC. In 2019 the rate was 4.78 (53 deaths).

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

How many people die of drug overdoses in Montana?

170 people died of drug overdoses in Montana in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 15.3 per 100,000 people; 6th lowest among the 50 states and DC. The rate was 17.1 in 2023 (188 deaths) and 14.1 in 2019.

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

Are overdose deaths falling in Montana?

CDC provisional data count about 165 drug overdose deaths in Montana in the 12 months to May 2026, down 6.8% on the 12 months to May 2025 (177); 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 Montana involve fentanyl?

Synthetic opioids other than methadone, mainly fentanyl, were involved in 62 of the 165 reported overdose deaths in Montana in the 12 months to May 2026 (38%), and psychostimulants such as methamphetamine in 77 (47%). 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 Montana?

Heart disease killed 2,617 people in Montana in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 164.8 per 100,000; 17th highest among the 50 states and DC (2019: 157.1).

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

What is the cancer death rate in Montana?

Cancer caused 2,266 deaths in Montana in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 139.3 per 100,000; 22nd lowest among the 50 states and DC (2019: 140.9).

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

What is the suicide rate in Montana?

320 people in Montana died by suicide in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 26.8 per 100,000; 3rd highest among the 50 states and DC. In 2019 the rate was 26.2 (289 deaths).

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

How many gun deaths are there in Montana?

Firearms were involved in 247 deaths in Montana in 2024, including suicides, homicides and accidents: an age-adjusted rate of 20.2 per 100,000, 8th highest among the 50 states and DC (2019: 19.0).

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

How many people in Montana have no health insurance?

8.8% of people in Montana, about 98,000, had no health insurance in 2024; 15th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 8.2%). That is up 0.4 percentage points on 2023 (8.4%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many children in Montana are uninsured?

7.7% of children under 19 in Montana were uninsured in 2024, against 12.2% of adults aged 19 to 64 (U.S.: 6.0% and 11.3%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Montana are on Medicaid?

13.2% of residents of Montana were covered only by Medicaid or another means-tested public plan in 2024, and 40.8% 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 Montana?

205,414 people were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP in Montana in June 2026 (preliminary state data reported to CMS), down 6.2% on June 2025 (218,953); across the 50 states and DC the total was 73.17 million. The state's count includes individuals enrolled at any time in month (not a point-in-time count); it includes limited-benefit enrollees; it includes retroactive enrollments.

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · saved copy

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

In March 2023, the last month before states resumed removing people who no longer qualified after the pandemic, Montana had 329,804 Medicaid and CHIP enrollees, so enrollment has fallen 37.7% since then (50 states and DC: down 22.5%).

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · saved copy

How many children are on Medicaid in Montana?

Children made up 89,233 of the Medicaid and CHIP enrollees in Montana in June 2026 (43%), and adults enrolled in Medicaid numbered 116,181. Montana 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 Montana?

31.0% of adults in Montana had obesity (a body mass index of 30 or more) in the 2024 CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey; 10th lowest among the 49 states and DC with data. In 2015 the figure was 23.6%; 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 Montana?

12.2% of adults in Montana smoked cigarettes in 2024 (20th highest among the 49 states and DC with data; state median 11.6%), down from 18.9% in 2015. 9.5% used e-cigarettes.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

How many people have diabetes in Montana?

8.7% of adults in Montana had been told by a doctor they have diabetes, and 18.0% described their health as fair or poor, in 2024; the diabetes share is 4th 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 Montana cannot afford to see a doctor?

In 2024, 19.1% of adults in Montana said they had done no physical activity or exercise outside work in the past month, and 12.0% 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 Montana?

20.4% of adults in Montana reported binge drinking in 2024, and 24.7% 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 Montana compares with other states

Life expectancy at birth (2022)

Montana ranks 25 of 51, highest first. NCHS state life tables

Rank	Region	Life expectancy at birth
22	Illinois	77.5 years
23	Virginia	77.5 years
24	Pennsylvania	77.3 years
25	Montana	77.3 years
26	South Dakota	77.3 years
27	Texas	77.1 years
28	Michigan	76.8 years

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

Life expectancy at age 65 (2022)

Montana ranks 17 of 51, highest first. Further years of life expected at 65

Rank	Region	Life expectancy at age 65
14	Washington	19.1 years
15	Wisconsin	19.1 years
16	New Hampshire	19.1 years
17	Montana	19.1 years
18	Maryland	19.0 years
19	Utah	19.0 years
20	Idaho	19.0 years

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

Infant deaths per 1,000 live births (2024)

Montana ranks 19 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Infant deaths per 1,000 live births
16	Michigan	6.33
17	Indiana	6.33
18	North Carolina	6.24
19	Montana	6.18
20	District of Columbia	6.04
21	Virginia	5.95
22	North Dakota	5.92

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

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

Montana ranks 46 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Drug overdose deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
43	Minnesota	17.3
44	Idaho	17.3
45	Texas	15.8
46	Montana	15.3
47	North Dakota	14.8
48	Arkansas	13.9
49	Iowa	13.7

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

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

Montana ranks 47 of 51, highest first. Predicted provisional counts

Rank	Region	Drug overdose deaths, 12 months to May 2026 (provisional)
44	New Hampshire	245
45	Rhode Island	186
46	Nebraska	167
47	Montana	165
48	Vermont	155
49	North Dakota	110
50	Wyoming	88

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

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

Montana ranks 17 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Heart disease deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
14	Georgia	175.2
15	South Carolina	175.0
16	Iowa	169.9
17	Montana	164.8
18	Texas	163.1
19	Pennsylvania	162.4
20	North Dakota	161.1

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

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

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

Rank	Region	Cancer deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
27	Illinois	140.9
28	Virginia	139.7
29	Washington	139.7
30	Montana	139.3
31	Nevada	138.6
32	Texas	137.5
33	New Hampshire	137.2

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

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

Montana ranks 3 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Suicides per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
1	Alaska	29.7
2	Wyoming	27.8
3	Montana	26.8
4	New Mexico	24.6
5	South Dakota	21.9
6	Idaho	21.2
7	Oklahoma	20.9

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

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

Montana ranks 8 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Firearm deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
5	Wyoming	23.4
6	Louisiana	22.9
7	Arkansas	20.6
8	Montana	20.2
9	Tennessee	19.8
10	District of Columbia	19.7
11	Missouri	19.6

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

People without health insurance (2024)

Montana ranks 15 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey, civilian noninstitutionalized population

Rank	Region	People without health insurance
12	Arkansas	9.4%
13	Idaho	9.2%
14	South Carolina	9.0%
15	Montana	8.8%
16	North Carolina	8.6%
17	Kansas	8.5%
18	Utah	8.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Children under 19 without health insurance (2024)

Montana ranks 12 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey

Rank	Region	Children under 19 without health insurance
9	South Dakota	8.0%
10	Georgia	7.9%
11	Arkansas	7.7%
12	Montana	7.7%
13	Kansas	7.0%
14	North Dakota	6.7%
15	Missouri	6.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Montana ranks 46 of 51, highest first. CMS performance indicator data (preliminary)

Rank	Region	Medicaid and CHIP enrollment, June 2026
43	District of Columbia	237,170
44	Delaware	234,783
45	Alaska	206,739
46	Montana	205,414
47	New Hampshire	167,648
48	Vermont	145,492
49	South Dakota	138,321

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · saved copy

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

Montana ranks 51 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
45	Idaho	-33.3%
46	Indiana	-33.7%
47	New Hampshire	-33.8%
48	Texas	-33.9%
49	Utah	-33.9%
50	Louisiana	-34.0%
51	Montana	-37.7%

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · saved copy

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

Montana ranks 41 of 50, highest first. BRFSS 2024, crude prevalence; Tennessee did not report for 2024

Rank	Region	Adults with obesity (BMI 30 or more)
38	Rhode Island	31.1%
39	New Hampshire	31.1%
40	Utah	31.0%
41	Montana	31.0%
42	Florida	29.6%
43	New York	29.5%
44	California	29.1%

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

Adults who currently smoke cigarettes (2024)

Montana ranks 20 of 50, highest first. BRFSS 2024, crude prevalence

Rank	Region	Adults who currently smoke cigarettes
17	Wyoming	12.7%
18	South Carolina	12.6%
19	North Dakota	12.3%
20	Montana	12.2%
21	Nebraska	12.2%
22	New Mexico	12.0%
23	Wisconsin	11.9%

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

Adults ever told they have diabetes (2024)

Montana ranks 47 of 50, highest first. BRFSS 2024, crude prevalence

Rank	Region	Adults ever told they have diabetes
44	Alaska	9.4%
45	Idaho	9.3%
46	Vermont	8.9%
47	Montana	8.7%
48	Utah	8.7%
49	District of Columbia	8.4%
50	Colorado	8.4%

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

More on Montana: 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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