Healthiest States in the U.S.

Getty Images

Where does your state rank on the 2012 list of the nation's healthiest states?

1 of 51

How healthy is your state?

Getty Images

Each year, the United Health Foundation and the American Public Health Association team up to rank the health of the states using a wide range of criteria, including concrete health measures (such as cancer deaths and diabetes rates), lifestyle factors (smoking and alcohol use), and broad quality-of-life indicators (air pollution, violent crime).

America's Health Rankings, as the report is called, is designed to highlight both the bright spots and the problem areas in the nation's public health. Here are the 2012 rankings, from worst to first. Where does your state rank?

2 of 51

49. Louisiana (tie)

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

50
Change: +1

Strengths:

Low prevalence of binge drinking
High immunization coverage

Challenges:

High prevalences of sedentary lifestyle, obesity & diabetes
High percentage of children in poverty
High infant mortality rate and high prevalence of low birthweight
High rate of preventable hospitalizations

3 of 51

49. Mississippi (tie)

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

49
Change: no change

Strengths:

Low prevalence of binge drinking
Low violent crime rate

Challenges:

High prevalences of sedentary lifestyle, obesity, & diabetes
High infant mortality rate & high prevalence of low birthweight
High prevalence of smoking
High rate of cardiovascular deaths

4 of 51

48. Arkansas

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

47
Change: –1

Strengths:

Low prevalence of binge drinking
Moderate per capita public health funding
Moderate immunization coverage

Challenges:

High prevalence of smoking
High percentage of children in poverty
High prevalence of obesity & sedentary lifestyle

5 of 51

47. West Virginia

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

43
Change: –4

Strengths:

Low prevalence of binge drinking
High per capita public health funding
Low incidence of infectious disease

Challenges:

High prevalence of smoking
High prevalences of sedentary lifestyle, obesity & diabetes
High rate of preventable hospitalizations

6 of 51

46. South Carolina

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

45
Change: –1

Strengths:

Low prevalence of binge drinking
Moderate rate of preventable hospitalizations

Challenges:

High prevalence of low birthweight
Low high school graduation rate
High percentage of children in poverty
High prevalence of diabetes

7 of 51

45. Alabama

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

48
Change: +3

Strengths:

Low prevalence of binge drinking
High per capita public health funding
High immunization coverage

Challenges:

High prevalence of smoking
High prevalences of obesity, sedentary lifestyle & diabetes
High prevalence of low birthweight & high infant mortality rate

8 of 51

44. Kentucky

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

44
Change: no change

Strengths:

Low prevalence of binge drinking
Low violent crime rate
High immunization coverage

Challenges:

High prevalence of smoking
High rate of preventable hospitalizations
High rate of cancer deaths

9 of 51

43. Oklahoma

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

46
Change: +3

Strengths:

Low prevalence of binge drinking
Low incidence of infectious disease

Challenges:

High prevalence of smoking
High prevalences of sedentary lifestyle, obesity, & diabetes
Limited availability of primary care physicians
High rate of cardiovascular deaths

10 of 51

42. Missouri

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

40
Change: –2

Strengths:

High rate of high school graduation
Lower prevalence of low birthweight than most other states

Challenges:

High prevalence of smoking
High prevalence of sedentary lifestyle & obesity
High incidence of infectious disease
Low immunization coverage

11 of 51

41. Indiana

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

37
Change: –4

Strengths:

Low prevalence of binge drinking
Low geographic disparity within the state
Low rate of uninsured population

Challenges:

High prevalence of smoking
Low per capita public health funding
High levels of air pollution

12 of 51

40. Texas

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

42
Change: +2

Strengths:

Low prevalence of smoking
Low rate of cancer deaths

Challenges:

High rate of uninsured population
High prevalences of sedentary lifestyle & obesity
High incidence of infectious disease
High percentage of children in poverty

13 of 51

39. Tennessee

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

41
Change: +2

Strengths:

Low prevalence of binge drinking
Higher per capita public health funding than most states
Moderate availability of primary care physicians

Challenges:

High prevalence of sedentary lifestyle
High infant mortality rate & high prevalence of low birthweight
High violent crime rate

14 of 51

38. Nevada

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

39
Change: +1

Strengths:

Low prevalence of obesity
Low incidence of infectious disease

Challenges:

Low high school graduation rate
High violent crime rate
High rate of uninsured population
Low per capita public health funding

15 of 51

37. Michigan

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

33
Change: –4

Strengths:

Low prevalence of sedentary lifestyle
Low rate of uninsured population
Low occupational fatalities rate

Challenges:

High prevalence of obesity
High prevalence of smoking
Low immunization coverage

16 of 51

36. Georgia

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

38
Change: +2

Strengths:

Low prevalence of binge drinking
High immunization coverage

Challenges:

Low high school graduation rate
High levels of air pollution
High prevalence of low birthweight
High infant mortality rate

17 of 51

35. Ohio

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

36
Change: +1

Strengths:

High immunization coverage
Low occupational fatalities rate
Low geographic disparity within the state

Challenges:

High prevalence of smoking
High levels of air pollution
High rate of preventable hospitalizations

18 of 51

34. Florida

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

34
Change: no change

Strengths:

Low rate of cardiovascular deaths
Low rate of cancer deaths
Low levels of air pollution

Challenges:

High rate of uninsured population
High rate of uninsured population
High geographic disparity within the state

19 of 51

33. North Carolina

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

35
Change: +2

Strengths:

Low prevalence of binge drinking
Low incidence of infectious disease
Few poor mental & physical health days per month

Challenges:

Low per capita public health funding
High prevalence of diabetes
High infant mortality rate & high prevalence of low birthweight

20 of 51

32. New Mexico

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

32
Change: no change

Strengths:

High per capita public health funding
Low rate of cardiovascular and cancer deaths
Low levels of air pollution

Challenges:

High rate of uninsured population
High percentage of children in poverty
Low high school graduation rate

21 of 51

31. Delaware

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

31
Change: no change

Strengths:

Low incidence of infectious disease
Low rate of uninsured population
Low occupational fatalities rate

Challenges:

High prevalence of binge drinking
Low immunization coverage
High infant mortality rate

22 of 51

30. Illinois

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

30
Change: no change

Strengths:

Ready availability of primary care physicians
Moderate prevalence of sedentary lifestyle
Low geographic disparity within the state

Challenges:

High prevalence of binge drinking
High levels of air pollution
High incidence of infectious disease

23 of 51

29. Montana

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

26
Change: –3

Strengths:

Low prevalences of obesity & diabetes
Low levels of air pollution
High rate of high school graduation

Challenges:

Low immunization coverage
High occupational fatalities rate
High prevalence of binge drinking

24 of 51

28. Alaska

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

29
Change: +1

Strengths:

Low prevalence of sedentary lifestyle
Low levels of air pollution
Low prevalence of low birthweight

Challenges:

High prevalence of binge drinking
High violent crime rate
Low high school graduation rate

25 of 51

27. South Dakota

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

19
Change: –8

Strengths:

Low levels of air pollution
Few poor mental & physical health days per month
Low incidence of infectious disease

Challenges:

High prevalence of binge drinking
Low immunization coverage
High geographic disparity within the state

26 of 51

26. Pennsylvania

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

28
Change: +2

Strengths:

Low rate of uninsured population
High rate of high school graduation
Low geographic disparity within the state

Challenges:

High levels of air pollution
Low per capita public health funding
High rate of cancer deaths

27 of 51

25. Arizona

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

27
Change: +2

Strengths:

Low prevalence of obesity
Low rate of preventable hospitalizations
Low rates of cancer deaths & cardiovascular deaths

Challenges:

High percentage of children in poverty
Limited availability of primary care physicians
Low high school graduation rate

28 of 51

24. Kansas

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

25
Change: +1

Strengths:

Low prevalence of binge drinking
Low prevalence of low birthweight
High rate of high school graduation

Challenges:

Low per capita public health funding
Limited availability of primary care physicians
High occupational fatalities rate

29 of 51

23. Wyoming

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

21
Change: –2

Strengths:

Low incidence of infectious disease
Low percentage of children in poverty
Low levels of air pollution

Challenges:

Limited availability of primary care physicians
Low immunization coverage
High prevalence of low birthweight

30 of 51

22. California

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

22
Change: no change

Strengths:

Low prevalence of smoking
Low prevalences of obesity & sedentary lifestyle
Low infant mortality rate

Challenges:

High levels of air pollution
Low high school graduation rate
High incidence of infectious disease

31 of 51

21. Virginia

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

23
Change: +2

Strengths:

Low violent crime rate
Few poor mental & physical health days per month
Low percentage of children in poverty

Challenges:

Low immunization coverage
High geographic disparity within the state
High prevalences of obesity & diabetes

32 of 51

20. Iowa

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

16
Change: –4

Strengths:

High rate of high school graduation
Low percentage of children in poverty
Few poor mental & physical health days per month

Challenges:

High prevalence of binge drinking
Limited availability of primary care physicians
High incidence of infectious disease

33 of 51

19. Maryland

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

24
Change: +5

Strengths:

Low prevalence of smoking
Low percentage of children in poverty
Ready availability of primary care physicians

Challenges:

High violent crime rate
High prevalence of low birthweight & high infant mortality rate
High levels of air pollution

34 of 51

18. New York

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

20
Change: +2

Strengths:

Ready availability of primary care physicians
Low prevalence of smoking
Low prevalence of obesity
High per capita public health funding

Challenges:

Low high school graduation rate
High prevalence of diabetes

35 of 51

17. Idaho

Getty Images

2011 Rank:

15
Change: –2

Strengths:

Low prevalence of smoking
Low rate of preventable hospitalizations
Low prevalence of sedentary lifestyle

Challenges:

Limited availability of primary care physicians
Low immunization coverage
High rate of uninsured population

Account

More

The Healthiest States in the U.S.

1 of 51

How healthy is your state?

1 of 51

2 of 51

49. Louisiana (tie)

2 of 51

3 of 51

49. Mississippi (tie)

3 of 51

4 of 51

48. Arkansas

4 of 51

5 of 51

47. West Virginia

5 of 51

6 of 51

46. South Carolina

6 of 51

7 of 51

45. Alabama

7 of 51

8 of 51

44. Kentucky

8 of 51

9 of 51

43. Oklahoma

9 of 51

10 of 51

42. Missouri

10 of 51

11 of 51

41. Indiana

11 of 51

12 of 51

40. Texas

12 of 51

13 of 51

39. Tennessee

13 of 51

14 of 51

38. Nevada

14 of 51

15 of 51

37. Michigan

15 of 51

16 of 51

36. Georgia

16 of 51

17 of 51

35. Ohio

17 of 51

18 of 51

34. Florida

18 of 51

19 of 51

33. North Carolina

19 of 51

20 of 51

32. New Mexico

20 of 51

21 of 51

31. Delaware

21 of 51

22 of 51

30. Illinois

22 of 51

23 of 51

29. Montana

23 of 51

24 of 51

28. Alaska

24 of 51

25 of 51

27. South Dakota

25 of 51

26 of 51

26. Pennsylvania