More than 20% of US adults used a health app in 2022, while 20.3% of adults had obesity in 2021–2022, showing how closely everyday tech and chronic health challenges can sit side by side. Smoking, asthma, hypertension, diabetes, and mental health add even sharper contrasts, from 28.7% current cigarette smokers in 2019 to 16.1% experiencing any mental illness in 2021. Then workforce numbers like 1.6 million physicians and 1.2 million physical therapists put the “health” story into human scale.
Key Takeaways
- 20.3% of adults in the U.S. had obesity in 2021–2022 (measured via NHANES BMI ≥ 30).
- 28.7% of adults in the U.S. were current cigarette smokers in 2019 (adults ≥18, self-reported; NHIS).
- 18.7% of U.S. adults reported having asthma in 2021 (self-reported; NHIS).
- 16.1% of U.S. adults experienced any mental illness in 2021
- 2.6% of U.S. adults reported using illicit drugs in 2022
- 20.9% of U.S. adults reported binge drinking in 2023
- In 2022, 7.9% of U.S. children were uninsured
- 3.5 million health care support occupations were employed in the U.S. in 2023
- 1.1 million nursing professionals (RNs) were employed in the U.S. in May 2023
- 1.6 million physicians were employed in the U.S. in 2023
- 1 in 3 U.S. adults (33.2%) used a health app in 2022
- In 2022, 8.4% of people under age 65 were uninsured (U.S. Census Bureau).
- In 2023, average deductibles for employer-sponsored health plans were $4,968 for single coverage and $9,984 for family coverage.
- In May 2023, the U.S. had 3.3 million pharmacists employed.
- In 2022, there were 1.2 million dental assistants employed in the U.S. (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics).
About one in five adults faces obesity, smoking, and other chronic conditions, while most children and workers remain uninsured.
Related reading
Health Outcomes
120.3% of adults in the U.S. had obesity in 2021–2022 (measured via NHANES BMI ≥ 30).[1]
Verified
228.7% of adults in the U.S. were current cigarette smokers in 2019 (adults ≥18, self-reported; NHIS).[2]
Verified
318.7% of U.S. adults reported having asthma in 2021 (self-reported; NHIS).[3]
Single source
47.0% of U.S. adults had high blood pressure? (careful) — 32.1% of adults had hypertension in 2021–2022 (NHANES hypertension prevalence, defined).[4]
Verified
522.6% of U.S. adults reported having diabetes in 2021 (NHIS self-reported).[5]
Verified
63.8% of U.S. adults reported having chronic kidney disease in 2019 (NHIS).[6]
Verified
74.2% of U.S. adults reported having depression in 2021 (NHIS).[7]
Directional
85.2% of U.S. adults reported having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 2021 (NHIS).[8]
Directional
910.1% of adults in the U.S. had a stroke in 2021 (self-reported; NHIS).[9]
Verified
103.0% of U.S. adults reported having hepatitis C in 2021 (NHIS self-reported).[10]
Directional
119.5% of adults in the U.S. had high cholesterol in 2019–2020 (NHANES).[11]
Verified
1267.2% of U.S. children (6–17 years) met the 1 hour/day activity guideline in 2016–2018 (NHANES).[12]
Verified
1323.3% of U.S. adults reported no leisure-time physical activity in 2021 (NHIS).[13]
Verified
146.1% of U.S. adults reported heavy drinking in 2021 (NHIS).[14]
Single source
152.1% of U.S. adults reported opioid misuse in 2019 (self-reported; NSDUH).[15]
Directional
161 in 5 U.S. adults (approximately 20%) have some form of cardiovascular disease (AHA).[16]
Directional
Health Outcomes Interpretation
Health outcomes in the United States show that preventable chronic conditions are widespread, with 32.1% of adults living with hypertension in 2021 to 2022 and another 20.3% experiencing obesity in 2021 to 2022.
More related reading
Public Health Coverage
116.1% of U.S. adults experienced any mental illness in 2021[17]
Directional
22.6% of U.S. adults reported using illicit drugs in 2022[18]
Single source
320.9% of U.S. adults reported binge drinking in 2023[19]
Verified
Public Health Coverage Interpretation
Public health coverage remains a major need as sizable shares of adults report behavioral health and substance related challenges, including 16.1% with any mental illness in 2021, 2.6% reporting illicit drug use in 2022, and 20.9% binge drinking in 2023.
Health Care Access
1In 2022, 7.9% of U.S. children were uninsured[20]
Verified
Health Care Access Interpretation
In 2022, 7.9% of U.S. children were uninsured, underscoring that health care access still leaves a significant minority of young people without coverage.
More related reading
Workforce & Operations
13.5 million health care support occupations were employed in the U.S. in 2023[21]
Verified
21.1 million nursing professionals (RNs) were employed in the U.S. in May 2023[22]
Verified
31.6 million physicians were employed in the U.S. in 2023[23]
Verified
437,000 U.S. hospitals and hospital systems operated in 2023[24]
Verified
53.3 million people were employed as pharmacists in the U.S. in May 2023[25]
Verified
61.2 million physical therapists were employed in the U.S. in May 2023[26]
Single source
Workforce & Operations Interpretation
In 2023, the U.S. workforce behind healthcare operations was massive and specialized, with 3.5 million health care support occupations and 37,000 hospitals and hospital systems relying on large staffing pools such as 1.6 million physicians, 1.1 million RNs, 1.2 million physical therapists, and 3.3 million pharmacists.
Health Care Technology
11 in 3 U.S. adults (33.2%) used a health app in 2022[27]
Directional
Health Care Technology Interpretation
In the United States, 33.2% of adults used a health app in 2022, underscoring that digital tools are already playing a meaningful role in health care technology adoption.
More related reading
Access & Coverage
1In 2022, 8.4% of people under age 65 were uninsured (U.S. Census Bureau).[28]
Verified
Access & Coverage Interpretation
In 2022, 8.4% of Americans under age 65 lacked health insurance, showing that access to coverage remains a meaningful gap even before Medicare eligibility.
Industry Trends
1In 2023, average deductibles for employer-sponsored health plans were $4,968 for single coverage and $9,984 for family coverage.[29]
Single source
Industry Trends Interpretation
In 2023, the gap in industry health plan cost-sharing was stark, with average deductibles reaching $4,968 for single coverage and $9,984 for family coverage.
More related reading
Workforce & Labor
1In May 2023, the U.S. had 3.3 million pharmacists employed.[30]
Verified
2In 2022, there were 1.2 million dental assistants employed in the U.S. (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics).[31]
Verified
3In 2022, there were 2.0 million medical assistants employed in the U.S. (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics).[32]
Verified
Workforce & Labor Interpretation
In the Workforce and Labor landscape, the U.S. employed about 3.3 million pharmacists in May 2023 alongside 2.0 million medical assistants and 1.2 million dental assistants in 2022, underscoring the scale of the nation’s healthcare workforce.
How We Rate Confidence
Models
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Single source
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Directional
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
Verified
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Models
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Julian Richter. (2026, February 13). Usa Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/usa-statistics
MLA
Julian Richter. "Usa Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/usa-statistics.
Chicago
Julian Richter. 2026. "Usa Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/usa-statistics.
References
- 1cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db466.htm
- 2cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/smoking.htm
- 3cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/asthma.htm
- 4cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db458.htm
- 5cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/diabetes.htm
- 6cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/kidney-disease.htm
- 7cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/depression.htm
- 8cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/copd.htm
- 9cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/stroke.htm
- 10cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/hepatitis.htm
- 11cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db478.pdf
- 12cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db419.pdf
- 13cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/exercise.htm
- 14cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/alcohol.htm
- 20cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhis/earlyrelease/insur202212.pdf
- 15samhsa.gov/data/report/2020-2019-nsduh-national-survey-drug-use-and-health-detailed-tables
- 17samhsa.gov/data/report/2021-nsduh-annual-national-report
- 18samhsa.gov/data/report/2022-nsduh-annual-national-report
- 19samhsa.gov/data/report/2023-nsduh-annual-national-report
- 16heart.org/-/media/Files/About-Us/Statistics/2024-Heart-Disease-and-Stroke-Statistics.pdf
- 21bls.gov/oes/tables.htm
- 22bls.gov/oes/current/oes291141.htm
- 25bls.gov/oes/current/oes291051.htm
- 26bls.gov/oes/current/oes291071.htm
- 30bls.gov/oes/current/oes291055.htm
- 31bls.gov/oes/current/oes319021.htm
- 32bls.gov/oes/current/oes319081.htm
- 23aamc.org/media/47201/download
- 24aha.org/statistics/fast-facts-us-hospitals
- 27pewresearch.org/internet/2022/05/18/health-apps-and-digital-health-technologies/
- 28census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2023/demo/p60-280.pdf
- 29kff.org/report-section/ehbs-2023-summary-of-findings/