Health in Nebraska, United States: official figures

Life expectancy at birth in Nebraska was 78.3 years in 2022, 14th longest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 77.5 years), according to NCHS state life tables.

Life expectancy at birth

78.3 years

2022

Infant deaths per 1,000 live births

6.54

2024

Drug overdose deaths per 100,000

8.1

2024

Suicides per 100,000

14.9

2024

People without health insurance

7.1%

2024

Medicaid and CHIP enrollment

330,435

June 2026

Adults with obesity

37.6%

2024

How long do men and women live in Nebraska?

Women in Nebraska could expect to live 80.7 years and men 76.0 years at 2022 death rates, a gap of 4.7 years (U.S.: 80.2 for women, 74.8 for men).

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

Is life expectancy in Nebraska going up?

Life expectancy in Nebraska was 77.8 years in 2021, so the 2022 figure is up 0.5 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 Nebraska?

A 65-year-old in Nebraska could expect to live another 18.9 years in 2022 (20.2 for women, 17.6 for men); 21st 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 Nebraska?

162 babies died before their first birthday in Nebraska in 2024, an infant mortality rate of 6.54 per 1,000 live births; 12th highest among the 50 states and DC. In 2019 the rate was 4.93 (122 deaths).

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

How many people die of drug overdoses in Nebraska?

155 people died of drug overdoses in Nebraska in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 8.1 per 100,000 people; the lowest among the 50 states and DC. The rate was 9.0 in 2023 (172 deaths) and 8.7 in 2019.

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

Are overdose deaths falling in Nebraska?

CDC provisional data count about 167 drug overdose deaths in Nebraska in the 12 months to May 2026, up 11.3% on the 12 months to May 2025 (150); 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 Nebraska involve fentanyl?

Synthetic opioids other than methadone, mainly fentanyl, were involved in 32 of the 166 reported overdose deaths in Nebraska in the 12 months to May 2026 (19%), and psychostimulants such as methamphetamine in 53 (32%). 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 Nebraska?

Heart disease killed 3,767 people in Nebraska in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 152.7 per 100,000; 21st lowest among the 50 states and DC (2019: 144.9).

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

What is the cancer death rate in Nebraska?

Cancer caused 3,628 deaths in Nebraska in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 143.9 per 100,000; joint 24th highest among the 50 states and DC (2019: 147.4).

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

What is the suicide rate in Nebraska?

297 people in Nebraska died by suicide in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 14.9 per 100,000; 24th lowest among the 50 states and DC. In 2019 the rate was 16.1 (309 deaths).

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

How many gun deaths are there in Nebraska?

Firearms were involved in 218 deaths in Nebraska in 2024, including suicides, homicides and accidents: an age-adjusted rate of 10.9 per 100,000, 11th lowest among the 50 states and DC (2019: 10.4).

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

How many people in Nebraska have no health insurance?

7.1% of people in Nebraska, about 140,000, had no health insurance in 2024; 26th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 8.2%). That is up 1.0 percentage points on 2023 (6.1%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many children in Nebraska are uninsured?

5.3% of children under 19 in Nebraska were uninsured in 2024, against 9.8% of adults aged 19 to 64 (U.S.: 6.0% and 11.3%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Nebraska are on Medicaid?

10.5% of residents of Nebraska were covered only by Medicaid or another means-tested public plan in 2024, and 49.4% 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 Nebraska?

330,435 people were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP in Nebraska in June 2026 (preliminary state data reported to CMS), down 3.2% on June 2025 (341,200); 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 Nebraska changed since the pandemic?

In March 2023, the last month before states resumed removing people who no longer qualified after the pandemic, Nebraska had 397,291 Medicaid and CHIP enrollees, so enrollment has fallen 16.8% since then (50 states and DC: down 22.5%).

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · saved copy

How many children are on Medicaid in Nebraska?

Children made up 169,630 of the Medicaid and CHIP enrollees in Nebraska in June 2026 (51%), and adults enrolled in Medicaid numbered 160,805. Nebraska 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 Nebraska?

37.6% of adults in Nebraska had obesity (a body mass index of 30 or more) in the 2024 CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey; 7th highest among the 49 states and DC with data. In 2015 the figure was 31.4%; 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 Nebraska?

12.2% of adults in Nebraska smoked cigarettes in 2024 (21st highest among the 49 states and DC with data; state median 11.6%), down from 17.1% in 2015. 8.3% used e-cigarettes.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

How many people have diabetes in Nebraska?

10.5% of adults in Nebraska had been told by a doctor they have diabetes, and 16.6% described their health as fair or poor, in 2024; the diabetes share is 13th 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 Nebraska cannot afford to see a doctor?

In 2024, 21.6% of adults in Nebraska said they had done no physical activity or exercise outside work in the past month, and 11.4% 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 Nebraska?

19.7% of adults in Nebraska reported binge drinking in 2024, and 18.8% 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 Nebraska compares with other states

Life expectancy at birth (2022)

Nebraska ranks 14 of 51, highest first. NCHS state life tables

Rank	Region	Life expectancy at birth
11	Colorado	78.5 years
12	Washington	78.4 years
13	Idaho	78.4 years
14	Nebraska	78.3 years
15	Vermont	78.3 years
16	Wisconsin	78.1 years
17	Florida	77.9 years

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

Life expectancy at age 65 (2022)

Nebraska ranks 21 of 51, highest first. Further years of life expected at 65

Rank	Region	Life expectancy at age 65
18	Maryland	19.0 years
19	Utah	19.0 years
20	Idaho	19.0 years
21	Nebraska	18.9 years
22	Arizona	18.8 years
23	Oregon	18.8 years
24	Delaware	18.8 years

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

Infant deaths per 1,000 live births (2024)

Nebraska ranks 12 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Infant deaths per 1,000 live births
9	Alaska	6.82
10	Ohio	6.65
11	West Virginia	6.64
12	Nebraska	6.54
13	Missouri	6.44
14	Tennessee	6.41
15	Georgia	6.40

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

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

Nebraska ranks 51 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Drug overdose deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
45	Texas	15.8
46	Montana	15.3
47	North Dakota	14.8
48	Arkansas	13.9
49	Iowa	13.7
50	South Dakota	11.9
51	Nebraska	8.1

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

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

Nebraska ranks 46 of 51, highest first. Predicted provisional counts

Rank	Region	Drug overdose deaths, 12 months to May 2026 (provisional)
43	Delaware	255
44	New Hampshire	245
45	Rhode Island	186
46	Nebraska	167
47	Montana	165
48	Vermont	155
49	North Dakota	110

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

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

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

Rank	Region	Heart disease deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
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
34	Idaho	146.6

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

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

Nebraska ranks 25 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Cancer deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
22	Georgia	144.7
23	Vermont	144.1
24	Wisconsin	143.9
25	Nebraska	143.9
26	Oregon	142.3
27	Illinois	140.9
28	Virginia	139.7

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

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

Nebraska ranks 28 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Suicides per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
25	Alabama	15.9
26	Ohio	15.2
27	Mississippi	15.1
28	Nebraska	14.9
29	Wisconsin	14.8
30	Vermont	14.7
31	Washington	14.5

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

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

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

Rank	Region	Firearm deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
38	Delaware	11.8
39	Maryland	11.6
40	Washington	11.0
41	Nebraska	10.9
42	Vermont	10.6
43	New Hampshire	10.2
44	Minnesota	9.8

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

People without health insurance (2024)

Nebraska ranks 26 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey, civilian noninstitutionalized population

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

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Children under 19 without health insurance (2024)

Nebraska ranks 27 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey

Rank	Region	Children under 19 without health insurance
24	Ohio	5.6%
25	North Carolina	5.5%
26	Pennsylvania	5.4%
27	Nebraska	5.3%
28	Virginia	5.2%
29	Kentucky	5.0%
30	New Jersey	4.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Nebraska ranks 38 of 51, highest first. CMS performance indicator data (preliminary)

Rank	Region	Medicaid and CHIP enrollment, June 2026
35	West Virginia	485,007
36	Kansas	393,912
37	Hawaii	391,710
38	Nebraska	330,435
39	Maine	327,698
40	Utah	321,779
41	Idaho	307,060

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · saved copy

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

Nebraska ranks 8 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
5	Maine	-12.5%
6	New York	-15.1%
7	Hawaii	-15.8%
8	Nebraska	-16.8%
9	Missouri	-17.4%
10	California	-18.4%
11	Washington	-18.8%

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · saved copy

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

Nebraska ranks 7 of 50, highest first. BRFSS 2024, crude prevalence; Tennessee did not report for 2024

Rank	Region	Adults with obesity (BMI 30 or more)
4	Alabama	38.9%
5	Arkansas	38.9%
6	Indiana	38.4%
7	Nebraska	37.6%
8	Kansas	37.6%
9	Wisconsin	37.4%
10	Kentucky	37.2%

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

Adults who currently smoke cigarettes (2024)

Nebraska ranks 21 of 50, highest first. BRFSS 2024, crude prevalence

Rank	Region	Adults who currently smoke cigarettes
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%
24	Nevada	11.9%

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

Adults ever told they have diabetes (2024)

Nebraska ranks 38 of 50, highest first. BRFSS 2024, crude prevalence

Rank	Region	Adults ever told they have diabetes
35	Missouri	11.2%
36	New Jersey	10.8%
37	North Dakota	10.6%
38	Nebraska	10.5%
39	New Hampshire	10.1%
40	Wyoming	10.1%
41	Minnesota	10.1%

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

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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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