Data / Health / The United States

Health in the United States

The latest figures for 8 indicators in the United States, how the states compare, and the source of each figure.

Figures last updated on 2026-10-12.

Adult obesity rate

Adult obesity rate in the United States was 33.5% in 2025, up 0.4 percentage points from 2024.

Of 48 states in 2025, Alabama had the highest adult obesity rate (39.7%) and District of Columbia the lowest (24.2%).

United States, 202533.5%Up 0.4 percentage points from 2024History
Highest, 202539.7%Alabama
Lowest, 202524.2%District of Columbia
Alabama: 39.7 %Alabama39.7North Dakota: 39.1 %North Dakota39.1Kentucky: 38.8 %Kentucky38.8Oklahoma: 38.1 %Oklahoma38.1Tennessee: 37.9 %Tennessee37.9Indiana: 37.5 %Indiana37.5West Virginia: 37.4 %West Virginia37.4Kansas: 37.3 %Kansas37.3Iowa: 36.9 %Iowa36.9Arkansas: 36.7 %Arkansas36.7Alabama: 39.7 %Alabama39.7North Dakota: 39.1 %North Dakota39.1Kentucky: 38.8 %Kentucky38.8Oklahoma: 38.1 %Oklahoma38.1Tennessee: 37.9 %Tennessee37.9Indiana: 37.5 %Indiana37.5West Virginia: 37.4 %West Virginia37.4Kansas: 37.3 %Kansas37.3Iowa: 36.9 %Iowa36.9Arkansas: 36.7 %Arkansas36.7
Top 10 states, 2025. %. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Highest and lowest states

Full ranking of states. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (hn4x-zwk7), percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have obesity, total.

Adult cigarette smoking rate

Of 48 states in 2025, West Virginia had the highest adult smoking rate (17.8%) and Utah the lowest (5.7%).

Highest, 202517.8%West Virginia
Lowest, 20255.7%Utah
West Virginia: 17.8 %West Virginia17.8Louisiana: 15.7 %Louisiana15.7Kentucky: 15.2 %Kentucky15.2Tennessee: 15 %Tennessee15Ohio: 14.4 %Ohio14.4Missouri: 14.2 %Missouri14.2Arkansas: 14.2 %Arkansas14.2South Dakota: 13.7 %South Dakota13.7Alaska: 13.5 %Alaska13.5Oklahoma: 13.2 %Oklahoma13.2West Virginia: 17.8 %West Virginia17.8Louisiana: 15.7 %Louisiana15.7Kentucky: 15.2 %Kentucky15.2Tennessee: 15 %Tennessee15Ohio: 14.4 %Ohio14.4Missouri: 14.2 %Missouri14.2Arkansas: 14.2 %Arkansas14.2South Dakota: 13.7 %South Dakota13.7Alaska: 13.5 %Alaska13.5Oklahoma: 13.2 %Oklahoma13.2
Top 10 states, 2025. %. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Highest and lowest states

Full ranking of states. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Prevalence Data, 2011 to present (dttw-5yxu), adults who are current smokers, crude prevalence, overall.

Drug overdose deaths, 12 months ending

Drug overdose deaths (12 months) in the United States were 65,726 (provisional) in April 2026, down 13.5% from April 2025.

Of 51 states in April 2026, California had the most drug overdose deaths (8,373) and South Dakota and Wyoming the fewest (85).

United States, April 202665,726Down 13.5% from April 2025History
Highest, April 20268,373California
Lowest, April 202685South Dakota and Wyoming
California: 8,373 countCalifornia8,373Texas: 4,412 countTexas4,412Florida: 3,976 countFlorida3,976New York: 3,566 countNew York3,566Arizona: 2,835 countArizona2,835Pennsylvania: 2,657 countPennsylvania2,657Washington: 2,538 countWashington2,538Ohio: 2,315 countOhio2,315North Carolina: 2,045 countNorth Carolina2,045Tennessee: 2,000 countTennessee2,000California: 8,373 countCalifornia8,373Texas: 4,412 countTexas4,412Florida: 3,976 countFlorida3,976New York: 3,566 countNew York3,566Arizona: 2,835 countArizona2,835Pennsylvania: 2,657 countPennsylvania2,657Washington: 2,538 countWashington2,538Ohio: 2,315 countOhio2,315North Carolina: 2,045 countNorth Carolina2,045Tennessee: 2,000 countTennessee2,000
Top 10 states, April 2026. count. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Highest and lowest states

Full ranking of states. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, VSRR Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts (xkb8-kh2a), reported number of drug overdose deaths, 12 month-ending.

Traffic fatality rate

Traffic fatality rate in the United States was 11.5 per 100,000 people (estimated) in 2024, down 0.6 per 100,000 people from 2023.

Of 51 states in 2024, Mississippi had the highest traffic fatality rate (25.5 per 100,000 people) and Rhode Island the lowest (4.7 per 100,000 people).

United States, 202411.5 per 100,000 peopleDown 0.6 per 100,000 people from 2023History
Highest, 202425.5 per 100,000 peopleMississippi
Lowest, 20244.7 per 100,000 peopleRhode Island
Mississippi: 25.5 per 100,000 peopleMississippi25.5Arkansas: 19.5 per 100,000 peopleArkansas19.5New Mexico: 19.2 per 100,000 peopleNew Mexico19.2South Carolina: 18.9 per 100,000 peopleSouth Carolina18.9Alabama: 18.6 per 100,000 peopleAlabama18.6Wyoming: 18.2 per 100,000 peopleWyoming18.2Montana: 18.1 per 100,000 peopleMontana18.1Tennessee: 16.5 per 100,000 peopleTennessee16.5Louisiana: 16.3 per 100,000 peopleLouisiana16.3Arizona: 16.3 per 100,000 peopleArizona16.3Mississippi: 25.5 per 100,000 peopleMississippi25.5Arkansas: 19.5 per 100,000 peopleArkansas19.5New Mexico: 19.2 per 100,000 peopleNew Mexico19.2South Carolina: 18.9 per 100,000 peopleSouth Carolina18.9Alabama: 18.6 per 100,000 peopleAlabama18.6Wyoming: 18.2 per 100,000 peopleWyoming18.2Montana: 18.1 per 100,000 peopleMontana18.1Tennessee: 16.5 per 100,000 peopleTennessee16.5Louisiana: 16.3 per 100,000 peopleLouisiana16.3Arizona: 16.3 per 100,000 peopleArizona16.3
Top 10 states, 2024. per 100,000 people. Source: Invokely.

Highest and lowest states

Full ranking of states. Sources: Invokely, NHTSA FARS traffic fatalities divided by BEA mid-year population (SAINC1 and CAINC1), per 100,000 residents.

Firearm death rate

Of 51 states in 2024, Mississippi had the highest firearm death rate (28 per 100,000 people) and Hawaii the lowest (3.7 per 100,000 people).

Highest, 202428 per 100,000 peopleMississippi
Lowest, 20243.7 per 100,000 peopleHawaii

Highest and lowest states

Full ranking of states. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NCHS Stats of the States: firearm mortality by state, age-adjusted death rate.

Firearm deaths

Of 51 states in 2024, Texas had the most firearm deaths (4,389) and Rhode Island the fewest (55).

Highest, 20244,389Texas
Lowest, 202455Rhode Island

Highest and lowest states

Full ranking of states. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NCHS Stats of the States: firearm mortality by state, number of deaths.

Binge drinking in adults

Of 48 states in 2025, District of Columbia had the highest binge drinking in adults (24.1%) and Utah the lowest (11.1%).

Highest, 202524.1%District of Columbia
Lowest, 202511.1%Utah

Highest and lowest states

Full ranking of states. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Prevalence Data, 2011 to present (dttw-5yxu), binge drinking in adults, crude prevalence, overall.

Physical inactivity in adults

Of 48 states in 2025, West Virginia had the highest physical inactivity in adults (29.3%) and District of Columbia the lowest (13%).

Highest, 202529.3%West Virginia
Lowest, 202513%District of Columbia

Highest and lowest states

Full ranking of states. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Prevalence Data, 2011 to present (dttw-5yxu), physical inactivity in adults, crude prevalence, overall.

Sources and citations

Each figure comes from the table cited here. Cite the publisher; these citations include any notice the publisher requires.

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (hn4x-zwk7), percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have obesity, total. https://data.cdc.gov/resource/hn4x-zwk7.json?%24order=%3Aid&%24limit=50000&%24where=questionid%3D%27Q036%27+AND+stratificationid1%3D%27OVERALL%27+AND+datavaluetypeid%3D%27VALUE%27. Retrieved 2026-10-09. These data are available free from CDC. Use does not imply endorsement by CDC, ATSDR, HHS or the United States Government.
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Prevalence Data, 2011 to present (dttw-5yxu), adults who are current smokers, crude prevalence, overall. https://data.cdc.gov/resource/dttw-5yxu.json?%24order=%3Aid&%24limit=50000&%24where=questionid%3D%27_RFSMOK3%27+AND+responseid%3D%27RESP046%27+AND+breakoutid%3D%27BO1%27+AND+data_value_type%3D%27Crude+Prevalence%27. Retrieved 2026-10-09. These data are available free from CDC. Use does not imply endorsement by CDC, ATSDR, HHS or the United States Government.
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). VSRR Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts (xkb8-kh2a), reported number of drug overdose deaths, 12 month-ending. https://data.cdc.gov/resource/xkb8-kh2a.json?%24order=%3Aid&%24limit=50000&%24where=indicator%3D%27Number+of+Drug+Overdose+Deaths%27+AND+period%3D%2712+month-ending%27. Retrieved 2026-10-09. These data are available free from CDC. Use does not imply endorsement by CDC, ATSDR, HHS or the United States Government.
  4. Invokely calculation from NHTSA FARS traffic fatalities divided by BEA mid-year population (SAINC1 and CAINC1), per 100,000 residents. https://invokely.ai/docs/methodology#traffic_fatality_rate_per_100k. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). NCHS Stats of the States: firearm mortality by state, age-adjusted death rate. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/state-stats/deaths/firearms.html. Retrieved 2026-10-12. These data are available free from CDC. Use does not imply endorsement by CDC, ATSDR, HHS or the United States Government.
  6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). NCHS Stats of the States: firearm mortality by state, number of deaths. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/state-stats/deaths/firearms.html. Retrieved 2026-10-12. These data are available free from CDC. Use does not imply endorsement by CDC, ATSDR, HHS or the United States Government.
  7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Prevalence Data, 2011 to present (dttw-5yxu), binge drinking in adults, crude prevalence, overall. https://data.cdc.gov/resource/dttw-5yxu.json?%24order=%3Aid&%24limit=50000&%24where=questionid+in+%28%27_RFBING5%27%2C%27_RFBING6%27%29+AND+responseid+in+%28%27RESP046%27%29+AND+breakoutid%3D%27BO1%27+AND+data_value_type%3D%27Crude+Prevalence%27. Retrieved 2026-10-12. These data are available free from CDC. Use does not imply endorsement by CDC, ATSDR, HHS or the United States Government.
  8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Prevalence Data, 2011 to present (dttw-5yxu), physical inactivity in adults, crude prevalence, overall. https://data.cdc.gov/resource/dttw-5yxu.json?%24order=%3Aid&%24limit=50000&%24where=questionid+in+%28%27_TOTINDA%27%29+AND+responseid+in+%28%27RESP054%27%29+AND+breakoutid%3D%27BO1%27+AND+data_value_type%3D%27Crude+Prevalence%27. Retrieved 2026-10-12. These data are available free from CDC. Use does not imply endorsement by CDC, ATSDR, HHS or the United States Government.

Health in other areas

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