Section 11: Health

This section presents statistics on health in the United States, especially the health of people with disabilities. The data address the prevalence of disabilities, health behaviors such as smoking, obesity, and binge drinking by disability status. These statistics were generated by the authors using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS). Go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Disability and Health Data System for additional information on the health of the population with disabilities (https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/dhds/index.html). Statistics for people with disabilities (disability status) are based on having responded ‘yes’ to a series of questions within the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (go to glossary for greater detail).

Tables

Table 11.1: In 2022, there were 264,720,000 individuals ages 18 and over living in the community, of which 73,413,000 had a disability, representing 30%. Puerto Rico/PR had the highest percentage of individuals with disabilities at 44.6%, while the District of Columbia/DC had the lowest percentage of individuals with disabilities was at 20.4%. Table 11.1 Health - Persons Ages 18 and Over, by Disability Status: 2022

Tables 11.2: In 2022, the percent of individuals ages 18 years and over with disabilities who smoke was 18.4%; while the percent of individuals ages 18 years and over without disabilities who smoke was 9.9%. The state with the greatest disparity in the percent who smoke between people with and without disabilities was the District of Columbia/DC, with a relative ratio of 3.049. Table 11.2 Health - Smoking Among Persons Ages 18 and Over, by Disability Status: 2022

Tables 11.3: In 2022, the percent of individuals ages 18 years and over with disabilities who were obese was 40.7%; while the percent of individuals ages 18 years and over without disabilities who were obese was 30.2%. The state with the greatest disparity in the percent who were obese between people with and without disabilities was the District of Columbia/DC, with a relative ratio of 1.636. Table 11.3 Health - Obesity Among Persons Ages 18 and Over, by Disability Status: 2022

Tables 11.4: In 2022, the percent of individuals ages 18 years and over with disabilities who binge drank was 13.8%; while the percent of individuals ages 18 years and over without disabilities who binge drank was 17.7%. The state with the greatest disparity in the percent who binge drank between people with and without disabilities was the District of Columbia/DC, with a relative ratio of 0.59. Table 11.4 Health - Binge Drinking Among Persons Ages 18 and Over, by Disability Status: 2022

Table 11.1 Health - Persons Ages 18 and Over, by Disability Status: 2022

Table 11.1 Health - Persons Ages 18 and Over, by Disability Status: 2022
State Total Disability No Disability
# ME# # ME# % ME% # ME# % ME%
U.S. 264,720,000 1,484,000 73,413,000 832,000 30.0 0.3 171,060,000 1,243,000 70.0 0.3
Alabama 3,964,000 162,000 1,361,000 99,000 35.5 2.0 2,472,000 127,000 64.5 2.0
Alaska 558,000 20,000 156,000 11,000 29.7 1.7 370,000 16,000 70.3 1.7
Arizona 5,770,000 187,000 1,738,000 101,000 32.4 1.6 3,625,000 150,000 67.6 1.6
Arkansas 2,346,000 84,000 848,000 50,000 39.8 1.9 1,281,000 62,000 60.2 1.9
California 30,791,000 844,000 7,665,000 412,000 27.5 1.3 20,177,000 687,000 72.5 1.3
Colorado 4,664,000 121,000 1,064,000 59,000 24.6 1.2 3,269,000 99,000 75.4 1.2
Connecticut 2,893,000 87,000 705,000 46,000 27.0 1.5 1,903,000 70,000 73.0 1.5
Delaware 808,000 35,000 205,000 18,000 27.1 1.9 554,000 29,000 72.9 1.9
District of Columbia 550,000 26,000 104,000 11,000 20.4 2.0 406,000 22,000 79.6 2.0
Florida 17,860,000 629,000 5,004,000 325,000 31.2 1.7 11,046,000 495,000 68.8 1.7
Georgia 8,434,000 261,000 2,257,000 129,000 29.7 1.5 5,350,000 213,000 70.3 1.5
Guam 112,000 10,000 32,000 6,000 31.3 4.0 71,000 7,000 68.7 4.0
Hawaii 1,144,000 36,000 262,000 17,000 24.1 1.4 826,000 31,000 75.9 1.4
Idaho 1,478,000 44,000 452,000 25,000 31.4 1.4 987,000 36,000 68.6 1.4
Illinois 9,896,000 391,000 2,331,000 188,000 25.0 1.8 6,990,000 330,000 75.0 1.8
Indiana 5,276,000 128,000 1,437,000 66,000 30.8 1.2 3,234,000 100,000 69.2 1.2
Iowa 2,482,000 67,000 651,000 34,000 27.5 1.3 1,712,000 56,000 72.5 1.3
Kansas 2,252,000 58,000 638,000 31,000 30.0 1.2 1,489,000 47,000 70.0 1.2
Kentucky 3,525,000 153,000 1,250,000 89,000 36.3 2.1 2,190,000 123,000 63.7 2.1
Louisiana 3,562,000 124,000 1,256,000 74,000 37.6 1.8 2,082,000 95,000 62.4 1.8
Maine 1,128,000 31,000 362,000 18,000 32.8 1.3 742,000 25,000 67.2 1.3
Maryland 4,856,000 119,000 1,108,000 56,000 25.1 1.1 3,314,000 99,000 74.9 1.1
Massachusetts 5,677,000 147,000 1,488,000 76,000 27.5 1.2 3,919,000 121,000 72.5 1.2
Michigan 7,946,000 203,000 2,190,000 108,000 30.1 1.3 5,077,000 161,000 69.9 1.3
Minnesota 4,451,000 90,000 1,095,000 47,000 26.2 0.9 3,088,000 75,000 73.8 0.9
Mississippi 2,271,000 90,000 825,000 54,000 37.9 2.0 1,350,000 68,000 62.1 2.0
Missouri 4,822,000 150,000 1,544,000 83,000 33.2 1.5 3,113,000 121,000 66.8 1.5
Montana 884,000 26,000 260,000 14,000 30.6 1.4 589,000 21,000 69.4 1.4
Nebraska 1,499,000 48,000 371,000 23,000 25.8 1.4 1,069,000 41,000 74.2 1.4
Nevada 2,498,000 129,000 785,000 68,000 33.8 2.4 1,540,000 104,000 66.2 2.4
New Hampshire 1,145,000 41,000 298,000 20,000 28.5 1.6 750,000 33,000 71.5 1.6
New Jersey 7,322,000 220,000 1,592,000 111,000 24.6 1.5 4,879,000 176,000 75.4 1.5
New Mexico 1,655,000 69,000 499,000 35,000 31.2 1.9 1,100,000 58,000 68.8 1.9
New York 15,803,000 334,000 3,985,000 174,000 28.3 1.1 10,082,000 261,000 71.7 1.1
North Carolina 8,393,000 333,000 2,706,000 206,000 33.6 2.0 5,343,000 248,000 66.4 2.0
North Dakota 600,000 23,000 155,000 11,000 26.9 1.7 421,000 19,000 73.1 1.7
Ohio 9,239,000 210,000 2,792,000 118,000 32.5 1.1 5,806,000 165,000 67.5 1.1
Oklahoma 3,066,000 95,000 1,133,000 56,000 39.5 1.6 1,737,000 73,000 60.5 1.6
Oregon 3,441,000 110,000 982,000 59,000 29.5 1.5 2,347,000 91,000 70.5 1.5
Pennsylvania 10,357,000 443,000 2,952,000 249,000 29.7 2.1 6,981,000 359,000 70.3 2.1
Puerto Rico 2,937,000 112,000 1,298,000 73,000 44.6 1.9 1,615,000 85,000 55.4 1.9
Rhode Island 893,000 33,000 241,000 17,000 29.6 1.7 574,000 26,000 70.4 1.7
South Carolina 4,149,000 115,000 1,184,000 61,000 31.5 1.4 2,572,000 89,000 68.5 1.4
South Dakota 686,000 47,000 173,000 19,000 25.8 2.6 499,000 43,000 74.2 2.6
Tennessee 5,521,000 201,000 1,793,000 114,000 35.0 1.8 3,327,000 155,000 65.0 1.8
Texas 22,561,000 695,000 6,004,000 334,000 29.6 1.4 14,311,000 554,000 70.4 1.4
Utah 2,463,000 64,000 612,000 33,000 26.8 1.3 1,669,000 52,000 73.2 1.3
Vermont 532,000 16,000 130,000 9,000 26.7 1.5 356,000 13,000 73.3 1.5
Virginia 6,837,000 191,000 1,902,000 101,000 29.7 1.3 4,504,000 156,000 70.3 1.3
Washington 6,181,000 99,000 1,588,000 51,000 27.7 0.8 4,136,000 81,000 72.3 0.8
West Virginia 1,425,000 50,000 546,000 30,000 39.8 1.7 827,000 39,000 60.2 1.7
Wisconsin 4,666,000 119,000 1,276,000 61,000 29.2 1.2 3,090,000 97,000 70.8 1.2
Wyoming 450,000 18,000 128,000 9,000 29.8 1.8 301,000 15,000 70.2 1.8
Notes: Authors’ calculations using the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Annual Survey Data, Public Use Microdata Sample, (2022), which is subject to sampling variability. Slight differences in percentages may appear due to rounding when compared to populations. The margin of error (ME) is based on a 95% confidence level and is a measure of an estimate’s variability. The larger the margin of error is in relation to the size of the estimate, the less reliable the estimate.
Citation: Thomas, N., Paul, S., Bach, S., & Houtenville, A. (2024). Annual Disability Statistics Compendium: 2024 (Table 11.1). Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire, Institute on Disability.

Table 11.2 Health - Smoking Among Persons Ages 18 and Over, by Disability Status: 2022

Table 11.2 Health - Smoking Among Persons Ages 18 and Over, by Disability Status: 2022
State Disability No Disability Disability - Smoking No Disability - Smoking Relative Ratio
# # # ME# % ME% # ME# % ME%
U.S. 73,413,000 171,060,000 13,534,000 353,000 18.4 0.5 16,941,000 416,000 9.9 0.2 1.861
Alabama 1,361,000 2,472,000 287,000 47,000 21.1 3.0 297,000 47,000 12.0 1.8 1.751
Alaska 156,000 370,000 32,000 5,000 20.7 2.7 49,000 6,000 13.3 1.5 1.555
Arizona 1,738,000 3,625,000 295,000 45,000 17.0 2.3 360,000 49,000 9.9 1.3 1.711
Arkansas 848,000 1,281,000 209,000 26,000 24.7 2.6 176,000 24,000 13.7 1.8 1.797
California 7,665,000 20,177,000 1,088,000 153,000 14.2 1.9 1,502,000 205,000 7.4 1.0 1.907
Colorado 1,064,000 3,269,000 169,000 22,000 15.9 2.0 286,000 30,000 8.8 0.9 1.817
Connecticut 705,000 1,903,000 109,000 18,000 15.5 2.4 143,000 19,000 7.5 1.0 2.061
Delaware 205,000 554,000 39,000 8,000 19.1 3.5 56,000 9,000 10.1 1.6 1.897
District of Columbia 104,000 406,000 23,000 6,000 22.1 5.1 29,000 7,000 7.3 1.5 3.049
Florida 5,004,000 11,046,000 786,000 116,000 15.7 2.2 974,000 136,000 8.8 1.2 1.782
Georgia 2,257,000 5,350,000 425,000 60,000 18.8 2.4 499,000 63,000 9.3 1.2 2.018
Guam 32,000 71,000 7,000 3,000 21.6 7.9 13,000 4,000 18.0 4.3 1.200
Hawaii 262,000 826,000 40,000 7,000 15.3 2.4 67,000 9,000 8.1 1.0 1.891
Idaho 452,000 987,000 78,000 11,000 17.3 2.1 89,000 12,000 9.1 1.1 1.908
Illinois 2,331,000 6,990,000 407,000 76,000 17.4 3.1 721,000 106,000 10.3 1.5 1.692
Indiana 1,437,000 3,234,000 332,000 32,000 23.1 1.9 405,000 36,000 12.5 1.1 1.842
Iowa 651,000 1,712,000 143,000 17,000 22.0 2.2 197,000 19,000 11.5 1.1 1.913
Kansas 638,000 1,489,000 138,000 15,000 21.6 2.0 165,000 16,000 11.1 1.0 1.945
Kentucky 1,250,000 2,190,000 297,000 44,000 23.7 3.1 289,000 43,000 13.2 1.9 1.798
Louisiana 1,256,000 2,082,000 285,000 36,000 22.7 2.5 255,000 33,000 12.2 1.5 1.857
Maine 362,000 742,000 76,000 9,000 21.1 2.2 86,000 10,000 11.6 1.3 1.823
Maryland 1,108,000 3,314,000 166,000 21,000 15.0 1.8 247,000 27,000 7.4 0.8 2.013
Massachusetts 1,488,000 3,919,000 235,000 33,000 15.8 2.0 311,000 38,000 7.9 1.0 1.987
Michigan 2,190,000 5,077,000 476,000 53,000 21.7 2.2 593,000 56,000 11.7 1.0 1.859
Minnesota 1,095,000 3,088,000 205,000 23,000 18.7 1.8 319,000 26,000 10.3 0.8 1.808
Mississippi 825,000 1,350,000 186,000 26,000 22.5 2.8 182,000 27,000 13.5 1.9 1.670
Missouri 1,544,000 3,113,000 354,000 41,000 23.0 2.2 415,000 45,000 13.3 1.4 1.722
Montana 260,000 589,000 56,000 7,000 21.5 2.4 71,000 9,000 12.0 1.3 1.796
Nebraska 371,000 1,069,000 68,000 11,000 18.4 2.5 116,000 14,000 10.8 1.2 1.701
Nevada 785,000 1,540,000 148,000 31,000 18.9 3.5 185,000 34,000 12.0 2.1 1.572
New Hampshire 298,000 750,000 50,000 8,000 16.6 2.6 62,000 11,000 8.3 1.4 2.001
New Jersey 1,592,000 4,879,000 251,000 42,000 15.8 2.5 398,000 52,000 8.2 1.0 1.935
New Mexico 499,000 1,100,000 96,000 15,000 19.3 2.7 138,000 21,000 12.6 1.8 1.534
New York 3,985,000 10,082,000 588,000 69,000 14.8 1.6 938,000 82,000 9.3 0.8 1.587
North Carolina 2,706,000 5,343,000 570,000 107,000 21.1 3.4 574,000 89,000 10.7 1.6 1.961
North Dakota 155,000 421,000 36,000 6,000 22.9 3.2 50,000 7,000 12.0 1.5 1.912
Ohio 2,792,000 5,806,000 685,000 63,000 24.5 2.0 734,000 59,000 12.6 1.0 1.941
Oklahoma 1,133,000 1,737,000 234,000 27,000 20.7 2.1 204,000 25,000 11.7 1.4 1.764
Oregon 982,000 2,347,000 190,000 28,000 19.4 2.5 210,000 26,000 8.9 1.1 2.164
Pennsylvania 2,952,000 6,981,000 681,000 125,000 23.1 3.7 783,000 131,000 11.2 1.8 2.056
Puerto Rico 1,298,000 1,615,000 151,000 27,000 11.6 2.0 121,000 23,000 7.5 1.4 1.554
Rhode Island 241,000 574,000 40,000 8,000 16.8 2.8 53,000 8,000 9.3 1.3 1.805
South Carolina 1,184,000 2,572,000 259,000 30,000 21.9 2.2 296,000 33,000 11.5 1.2 1.904
South Dakota 173,000 499,000 32,000 7,000 18.4 3.8 61,000 16,000 12.3 3.1 1.492
Tennessee 1,793,000 3,327,000 463,000 60,000 25.8 2.9 454,000 56,000 13.6 1.6 1.894
Texas 6,004,000 14,311,000 935,000 113,000 15.6 1.8 1,401,000 172,000 9.8 1.2 1.591
Utah 612,000 1,669,000 66,000 12,000 10.7 1.9 84,000 12,000 5.0 0.8 2.125
Vermont 130,000 356,000 23,000 4,000 17.9 2.6 38,000 5,000 10.8 1.2 1.660
Virginia 1,902,000 4,504,000 338,000 43,000 17.8 2.0 417,000 46,000 9.3 1.0 1.919
Washington 1,588,000 4,136,000 256,000 22,000 16.1 1.3 307,000 23,000 7.4 0.6 2.173
West Virginia 546,000 827,000 146,000 16,000 26.7 2.5 136,000 16,000 16.5 1.8 1.622
Wisconsin 1,276,000 3,090,000 257,000 28,000 20.1 2.0 346,000 33,000 11.2 1.0 1.796
Wyoming 128,000 301,000 27,000 5,000 21.3 3.0 38,000 6,000 12.5 1.7 1.702
Notes: Authors’ calculations using the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Annual Survey Data, Public Use Microdata Sample, (2022), which is subject to sampling variability. Slight differences in percentages may appear due to rounding when compared to populations. The margin of error (ME) is based on a 95% confidence level and is a measure of an estimate’s variability. The larger the margin of error is in relation to the size of the estimate, the less reliable the estimate. The relative ratio is the ratio of the percentage of people with disability who smoke over the percentage of people without disability who smoke. Therefore, a relative ratio further from 1.000 indicates a greater disparity in smoking percentage.
Citation: Thomas, N., Paul, S., Bach, S., & Houtenville, A. (2024). Annual Disability Statistics Compendium: 2024 (Table 11.2). Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire, Institute on Disability.

Table 11.3 Health - Obesity Among Persons Ages 18 and Over, by Disability Status: 2022

Table 11.3 Health - Obesity Among Persons Ages 18 and Over, by Disability Status: 2022
State Disability No Disability Disability - Obesity No Disability - Obesity Relative Ratio
# # # ME# % ME% # ME# % ME%
U.S. 68,370,000 158,551,000 27,816,000 504,000 40.7 0.6 47,951,000 686,000 30.2 0.4 1.345
Alabama 1,303,000 2,376,000 560,000 58,000 43.0 3.6 840,000 70,000 35.4 2.4 1.217
Alaska 146,000 349,000 59,000 7,000 40.7 3.4 101,000 9,000 28.8 2.1 1.412
Arizona 1,626,000 3,374,000 650,000 60,000 40.0 2.9 1,008,000 80,000 29.9 1.9 1.339
Arkansas 802,000 1,198,000 335,000 31,000 41.8 2.9 423,000 36,000 35.3 2.4 1.184
California 7,031,000 18,183,000 2,376,000 212,000 33.8 2.5 4,747,000 345,000 26.1 1.6 1.294
Colorado 995,000 3,082,000 324,000 29,000 32.6 2.5 698,000 45,000 22.7 1.3 1.438
Connecticut 633,000 1,731,000 253,000 27,000 40.0 3.2 469,000 36,000 27.1 1.8 1.475
Delaware 189,000 514,000 93,000 13,000 49.0 4.3 175,000 17,000 34.0 2.6 1.440
District of Columbia 98,000 381,000 34,000 6,000 34.9 5.0 81,000 11,000 21.3 2.4 1.636
Florida 4,705,000 10,345,000 1,923,000 214,000 40.9 3.3 2,840,000 251,000 27.5 2.1 1.488
Georgia 2,106,000 4,941,000 884,000 77,000 42.0 2.8 1,710,000 122,000 34.6 2.0 1.213
Guam 32,000 69,000 10,000 3,000 32.9 7.0 23,000 4,000 33.1 4.8 0.996
Hawaii 253,000 804,000 79,000 9,000 31.2 3.0 196,000 16,000 24.4 1.7 1.280
Idaho 422,000 914,000 168,000 15,000 39.9 2.8 274,000 19,000 30.0 1.7 1.329
Illinois 2,231,000 6,710,000 1,003,000 121,000 45.0 4.0 1,983,000 168,000 29.6 2.1 1.522
Indiana 1,333,000 2,976,000 590,000 41,000 44.2 2.4 1,033,000 56,000 34.7 1.5 1.275
Iowa 617,000 1,610,000 286,000 22,000 46.4 2.6 545,000 31,000 33.8 1.6 1.371
Kansas 599,000 1,401,000 247,000 18,000 41.3 2.4 468,000 27,000 33.4 1.6 1.237
Kentucky 1,188,000 2,021,000 550,000 59,000 46.3 3.6 666,000 66,000 33.0 2.7 1.405
Louisiana 1,185,000 1,990,000 540,000 49,000 45.6 3.0 729,000 56,000 36.6 2.3 1.244
Maine 339,000 691,000 140,000 12,000 41.3 2.5 201,000 14,000 29.1 1.7 1.417
Maryland 1,022,000 3,061,000 408,000 35,000 39.9 2.6 957,000 53,000 31.3 1.4 1.275
Massachusetts 1,333,000 3,565,000 467,000 41,000 35.0 2.5 874,000 58,000 24.5 1.4 1.428
Michigan 2,039,000 4,705,000 871,000 68,000 42.7 2.5 1,462,000 85,000 31.1 1.5 1.375
Minnesota 1,027,000 2,895,000 428,000 29,000 41.7 2.2 892,000 40,000 30.8 1.2 1.352