Health in Oklahoma, United States: official figures

Life expectancy at birth in Oklahoma was 73.8 years in 2022, 7th shortest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 77.5 years), according to NCHS state life tables.

Life expectancy at birth

73.8 years

2022

Infant deaths per 1,000 live births

7.42

2024

Drug overdose deaths per 100,000

25.5

2024

Suicides per 100,000

20.9

2024

People without health insurance

11.5%

2024

Medicaid and CHIP enrollment

992,735

June 2026

Adults with obesity

36.8%

2024

How long do men and women live in Oklahoma?

Women in Oklahoma could expect to live 76.5 years and men 71.3 years at 2022 death rates, a gap of 5.2 years (U.S.: 80.2 for women, 74.8 for men).

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

Is life expectancy in Oklahoma going up?

Life expectancy in Oklahoma was 72.7 years in 2021, so the 2022 figure is up 1.1 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 Oklahoma?

A 65-year-old in Oklahoma could expect to live another 16.8 years in 2022 (18.0 for women, 15.6 for men); 4th 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 Oklahoma?

356 babies died before their first birthday in Oklahoma in 2024, an infant mortality rate of 7.42 per 1,000 live births; 6th highest among the 50 states and DC. In 2019 the rate was 7.00 (344 deaths).

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

How many people die of drug overdoses in Oklahoma?

1,019 people died of drug overdoses in Oklahoma in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 25.5 per 100,000 people; 24th highest among the 50 states and DC. The rate was 32.4 in 2023 (1,278 deaths) and 16.7 in 2019.

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

Are overdose deaths falling in Oklahoma?

CDC provisional data count about 781 drug overdose deaths in Oklahoma in the 12 months to May 2026, down 21.0% on the 12 months to May 2025 (988); 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 Oklahoma involve fentanyl?

Synthetic opioids other than methadone, mainly fentanyl, were involved in 329 of the 767 reported overdose deaths in Oklahoma in the 12 months to May 2026 (43%), and psychostimulants such as methamphetamine in 415 (54%). 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 Oklahoma?

Heart disease killed 12,432 people in Oklahoma in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 254.3 per 100,000; the highest among the 50 states and DC (2019: 231.4).

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

What is the cancer death rate in Oklahoma?

Cancer caused 8,677 deaths in Oklahoma in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 172.4 per 100,000; 3rd highest among the 50 states and DC (2019: 173.0).

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

What is the suicide rate in Oklahoma?

868 people in Oklahoma died by suicide in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 20.9 per 100,000; 7th highest among the 50 states and DC. In 2019 the rate was 20.5 (816 deaths).

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

How many gun deaths are there in Oklahoma?

Firearms were involved in 794 deaths in Oklahoma in 2024, including suicides, homicides and accidents: an age-adjusted rate of 19.1 per 100,000, 13th highest among the 50 states and DC (2019: 18.6).

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

How many people in Oklahoma have no health insurance?

11.5% of people in Oklahoma, about 462,000, had no health insurance in 2024; 3rd highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 8.2%). That is up 0.1 percentage points on 2023 (11.4%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many children in Oklahoma are uninsured?

8.5% of children under 19 in Oklahoma were uninsured in 2024, against 15.9% of adults aged 19 to 64 (U.S.: 6.0% and 11.3%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Oklahoma are on Medicaid?

16.2% of residents of Oklahoma were covered only by Medicaid or another means-tested public plan in 2024, and 40.3% 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 Oklahoma?

992,735 people were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP in Oklahoma in June 2026 (preliminary state data reported to CMS), down 1.6% on June 2025 (1,008,700); 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 Oklahoma changed since the pandemic?

In March 2023, the last month before states resumed removing people who no longer qualified after the pandemic, Oklahoma had 1,326,908 Medicaid and CHIP enrollees, so enrollment has fallen 25.2% since then (50 states and DC: down 22.5%).

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · saved copy

How many children are on Medicaid in Oklahoma?

Children made up 502,520 of the Medicaid and CHIP enrollees in Oklahoma in June 2026 (51%), and adults enrolled in Medicaid numbered 490,215. Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma?

36.8% of adults in Oklahoma had obesity (a body mass index of 30 or more) in the 2024 CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey; 14th highest among the 49 states and DC with data. In 2015 the figure was 33.9%; 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 Oklahoma?

14.1% of adults in Oklahoma smoked cigarettes in 2024 (9th highest among the 49 states and DC with data; state median 11.6%), down from 22.2% in 2015. 10.8% used e-cigarettes.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

How many people have diabetes in Oklahoma?

13.2% of adults in Oklahoma had been told by a doctor they have diabetes, and 20.9% described their health as fair or poor, in 2024; the diabetes share is 14th 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 Oklahoma cannot afford to see a doctor?

In 2024, 27.7% of adults in Oklahoma said they had done no physical activity or exercise outside work in the past month, and 14.9% 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 Oklahoma?

12.8% of adults in Oklahoma reported binge drinking in 2024, and 26.1% 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 Oklahoma compares with other states

Life expectancy at birth (2022)

Oklahoma ranks 48 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

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

Life expectancy at age 65 (2022)

Oklahoma ranks 49 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

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

Infant deaths per 1,000 live births (2024)

Oklahoma ranks 6 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Infant deaths per 1,000 live births
3	Delaware	7.77
4	Louisiana	7.58
5	South Carolina	7.49
6	Oklahoma	7.42
7	South Dakota	7.34
8	Alabama	7.06
9	Alaska	6.82

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

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

Oklahoma ranks 24 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Drug overdose deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
21	Indiana	25.7
22	Colorado	25.7
23	Pennsylvania	25.6
24	Oklahoma	25.5
25	Alabama	25.0
26	Missouri	23.7
27	Massachusetts	21.8

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

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

Oklahoma ranks 31 of 51, highest first. Predicted provisional counts

Rank	Region	Drug overdose deaths, 12 months to May 2026 (provisional)
28	Oregon	848
29	Connecticut	787
30	Alabama	783
31	Oklahoma	781
32	West Virginia	663
33	Utah	646
34	Kansas	462

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

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

Oklahoma ranks 1 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Heart disease deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
1	Oklahoma	254.3
2	Mississippi	236.5
3	Alabama	223.9
4	Louisiana	220.0
5	Arkansas	217.1
6	Tennessee	210.0
7	West Virginia	205.3

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

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

Oklahoma ranks 3 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

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

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

Oklahoma ranks 7 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Suicides per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
4	New Mexico	24.6
5	South Dakota	21.9
6	Idaho	21.2
7	Oklahoma	20.9
8	Colorado	20.8
9	Oregon	20.0
10	Nevada	19.6

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

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

Oklahoma ranks 13 of 51, highest first. NCHS Stats of the States

Rank	Region	Firearm deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
10	District of Columbia	19.7
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

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

People without health insurance (2024)

Oklahoma ranks 3 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey, civilian noninstitutionalized population

Rank	Region	People without health insurance
1	Texas	16.7%
2	Georgia	12.0%
3	Oklahoma	11.5%
4	Nevada	11.4%
5	Alaska	11.0%
6	Florida	10.9%
7	Arizona	10.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Children under 19 without health insurance (2024)

Oklahoma ranks 6 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey

Rank	Region	Children under 19 without health insurance
3	Wyoming	9.0%
4	Alaska	8.8%
5	Florida	8.5%
6	Oklahoma	8.5%
7	Idaho	8.1%
8	Nevada	8.0%
9	South Dakota	8.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Oklahoma ranks 26 of 51, highest first. CMS performance indicator data (preliminary)

Rank	Region	Medicaid and CHIP enrollment, June 2026
23	Colorado	1,188,599
24	Minnesota	1,128,624
25	Wisconsin	1,107,383
26	Oklahoma	992,735
27	South Carolina	958,052
28	Alabama	930,919
29	Connecticut	895,290

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · saved copy

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

Oklahoma ranks 34 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
31	New Mexico	-24.4%
32	Massachusetts	-24.6%
33	Vermont	-25.0%
34	Oklahoma	-25.2%
35	Mississippi	-25.8%
36	West Virginia	-26.6%
37	Georgia	-27.6%

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · saved copy

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

Oklahoma ranks 14 of 50, highest first. BRFSS 2024, crude prevalence; Tennessee did not report for 2024

Rank	Region	Adults with obesity (BMI 30 or more)
11	South Dakota	37.0%
12	Ohio	36.9%
13	North Dakota	36.8%
14	Oklahoma	36.8%
15	Iowa	36.6%
16	Delaware	36.6%
17	Michigan	36.1%

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

Adults who currently smoke cigarettes (2024)

Oklahoma ranks 9 of 50, highest first. BRFSS 2024, crude prevalence

Rank	Region	Adults who currently smoke cigarettes
6	Missouri	14.7%
7	Maine	14.4%
8	Ohio	14.1%
9	Oklahoma	14.1%
10	Alabama	14.0%
11	Indiana	13.9%
12	Mississippi	13.8%

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

Adults ever told they have diabetes (2024)

Oklahoma ranks 14 of 50, highest first. BRFSS 2024, crude prevalence

Rank	Region	Adults ever told they have diabetes
11	Texas	13.5%
12	Pennsylvania	13.3%
13	Delaware	13.2%
14	Oklahoma	13.2%
15	North Carolina	13.2%
16	Ohio	13.1%
17	Virginia	12.9%

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copy

More on Oklahoma: 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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