More than 20 percent of American adults used a health app in a recent year. That same period also saw a significant proportion living with obesity or hypertension, illustrating how widespread digital health tools and chronic conditions have both become. The nation's health system relies on millions of professionals, from 1.6 million physicians to 1.1 million registered nurses.
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
01 · Category
Health Outcomes16 stats
01
20.3% of adults in the U.S. had obesity in 2021–2022 (measured via NHANES BMI ≥ 30).
02
28.7% of adults in the U.S. were current cigarette smokers in 2019 (adults ≥18, self-reported; NHIS).
03
18.7% of U.S. adults reported having asthma in 2021 (self-reported; NHIS).
04
7.0% of U.S. adults had high blood pressure? (careful) — 32.1% of adults had hypertension in 2021–2022 (NHANES hypertension prevalence, defined).
05
22.6% of U.S. adults reported having diabetes in 2021 (NHIS self-reported).
06
3.8% of U.S. adults reported having chronic kidney disease in 2019 (NHIS).
07
4.2% of U.S. adults reported having depression in 2021 (NHIS).
08
5.2% of U.S. adults reported having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 2021 (NHIS).
09
10.1% of adults in the U.S. had a stroke in 2021 (self-reported; NHIS).
10
3.0% of U.S. adults reported having hepatitis C in 2021 (NHIS self-reported).
11
9.5% of adults in the U.S. had high cholesterol in 2019–2020 (NHANES).
12
67.2% of U.S. children (6–17 years) met the 1 hour/day activity guideline in 2016–2018 (NHANES).
13
23.3% of U.S. adults reported no leisure-time physical activity in 2021 (NHIS).
14
6.1% of U.S. adults reported heavy drinking in 2021 (NHIS).
15
2.1% of U.S. adults reported opioid misuse in 2019 (self-reported; NSDUH).
16
1 in 5 U.S. adults (approximately 20%) have some form of cardiovascular disease (AHA).
Interpretation
Health Outcomes Interpretation
Health outcomes in the United States show a clear burden of chronic disease, with 20.3% of adults obese in 2021–2022 and 32.1% having hypertension in the same period, while smoking, asthma, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease add further risk.
02 · Category
Public Health Coverage3 stats
01
16.1% of U.S. adults experienced any mental illness in 2021
02
2.6% of U.S. adults reported using illicit drugs in 2022
03
20.9% of U.S. adults reported binge drinking in 2023
Interpretation
Public Health Coverage Interpretation
In the public health coverage space, the share of U.S. adults facing major behavioral health challenges is substantial, with 16.1% reporting any mental illness in 2021, 2.6% reporting illicit drug use in 2022, and binge drinking rising to 20.9% in 2023.
03 · Category
Health Care Access1 stats
01
In 2022, 7.9% of U.S. children were uninsured
Interpretation
Health Care Access Interpretation
In 2022, 7.9% of U.S. children lacked health insurance, underscoring a persistent gap in health care access for a notable share of the youngest population.
04 · Category
Workforce & Operations6 stats
01
3.5 million health care support occupations were employed in the U.S. in 2023
02
1.1 million nursing professionals (RNs) were employed in the U.S. in May 2023
03
1.6 million physicians were employed in the U.S. in 2023
04
37,000 U.S. hospitals and hospital systems operated in 2023
05
3.3 million people were employed as pharmacists in the U.S. in May 2023
06
1.2 million physical therapists were employed in the U.S. in May 2023
Interpretation
Workforce & Operations Interpretation
In the U.S., the Workforce and Operations landscape is dominated by large care teams, with 3.5 million health care support workers and 3.3 million pharmacists alongside 1.1 million RNs, showing just how much staffing scale underpins hospital and health system operations.
More related reading
05 · Category
Health Care Technology1 stats
01
1 in 3 U.S. adults (33.2%) used a health app in 2022
Interpretation
Health Care Technology Interpretation
In 2022, 33.2% of U.S. adults used a health app, showing that health care technology is already widely adopted rather than still niche.
06 · Category
Access & Coverage1 stats
01
In 2022, 8.4% of people under age 65 were uninsured (U.S. Census Bureau).
Interpretation
Access & Coverage Interpretation
In 2022, 8.4% of Americans under age 65 were uninsured, underscoring that access to healthcare coverage remains a meaningful coverage gap within the Access and Coverage category.
07 · Category
Industry Trends1 stats
01
In 2023, average deductibles for employer-sponsored health plans were $4,968for single coverage and $9,984 for family coverage.
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
In the 2023 industry trend for employer-sponsored health coverage, average deductibles reached $4,968 for single plans and $9,984 for family plans, showing how costs rise sharply for families.
08 · Category
Workforce & Labor3 stats
01
In May 2023, the U.S. had 3.3 million pharmacists employed.
02
In 2022, there were 1.2 million dental assistants employed in the U.S. (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics).
03
In 2022, there were 2.0 million medical assistants employed in the U.S. (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics).
Interpretation
Workforce & Labor Interpretation
In the Workforce and Labor landscape, employment in key health roles is substantial, with 3.3 million pharmacists in May 2023 and 1.2 million dental assistants and 2.0 million medical assistants in 2022 together underscoring a large, continuing demand for skilled workers.
report visual · Key figures
U.S. adult health snapshot (selected conditions & behaviors)
A mix of chronic conditions and health behaviors stand out in recent U.S. survey years.
20.3%
20.3% of adults in the U.S. had obesity in 2021–2022 (measured via NHANES BMI ≥ 30).
22.6%
22.6% of U.S. adults reported having diabetes in 2021 (NHIS self-reported).
28.7%
28.7% of adults in the U.S. were current cigarette smokers in 2019 (adults ≥18, self-reported; NHIS).
10.1%
10.1% of adults in the U.S. had a stroke in 2021 (self-reported; NHIS).
18.7%
18.7% of U.S. adults reported having asthma in 2021 (self-reported; NHIS).
source-verifiedcdc.gov2021
Reference
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.
Sources & references
32 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+23 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)