Child Health

Data are for the U.S.

Health status

• Percent of children ages 0–4 years who are in fair or poor health: 1.9% (2024)
• Percent of children ages 5–11 years who are in fair or poor health: 1.9% (2024)
• Percent of children ages 5–11 years who missed 11 or more days of school in the past 12 months because of illness, injury, or disability: 5.9% (2024)

Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Children: National Health Interview Survey, 2019-2024

Obesity

• Percent of children ages 2–5 years with obesity: 14.9% (August 2021-August 2023)
• Percent of children ages 6–11 years with obesity: 22.1% (August 2021-August 2023)

Source: NCHS Data Query System: Obesity in Children, Measured by Age Group, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2000 to 8/2021-8/2023

Health insurance coverage

• Percent of children younger than age 18 years without health insurance: 5.6%

Source: Health Insurance Coverage: Early Release of Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, 2025, Table I [PDF – 448 KB]

The latest data are available from the National Health Interview Survey’s Early Release Program

Access to care

• Percent of children 0-4 years with a usual source of health care: 97.7% (2024)
• Percent of children 5-11 years with a usual source of health care: 96.3% (2024)

Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Children: National Health Interview Survey, 2019-2024

Mortality

Children ages 1–4 years

• Number of deaths: 3,843
• Deaths per 100,000 population: 25.6

Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality data (2024) via CDC WONDER

Children ages 5–14 years

• Number of deaths: 5,940
• Deaths per 100,000 population: 14.5

Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality data (2024) via CDC WONDER

Leading causes of death

Children ages 1-4 years

• Accidents (unintentional injuries)
• Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities
• Cancer

Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality data (2024) via CDC WONDER

Children ages 5-9 years

• Accidents (unintentional injuries)
• Cancer
• Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities

Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality data (2024) via CDC WONDER

Children ages 10-14 years

• Accidents (unintentional injuries)
• Intentional self-harm (suicide)
• Cancer

Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality data (2024) via CDC WONDER

Related FastStats

• Adolescent Health
• ADHD
• Asthma
• Infant Health

More data: reports and tables

• Trends in Child and Adolescent Health from Health, United States
• Difficulties in Functioning Among Children in the United States: 2021–2023 [PDF – 515 KB]
• National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2022 Emergency Department Summary Tables [PDF – 1 MB]
• National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2019 National Summary Tables [PDF – 864 KB]
• Chronic School Absenteeism for Health-Related Reasons Among Children Ages 5-17 Years: United States, 2022
• Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Coverage in Children Ages 9-17 Years: United States, 2022
• Long COVID in Children: United States, 2022
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children Ages 5-17 Years: United States, 2020-2022
• Emergency Department Visits Related to Mental Health Disorders Among Children and Adolescents: United States, 2018-2021
• Stressful Life Events and Healthcare Utilization Among U.S. Children Aged 2-17 Years
• Diagnosed Developmental Disabilities in Children Aged 3-17 Years: United States, 2019-2021
• Organized Sports Participation Among Children Ages 6–17 Years: United States, 2020
• America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being

More data: query tools

• Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health

Related Links

• Mortality Statistics
• National Health Interview Survey
• National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
• National Institute for Child Health and Human Development
• KIDS Count

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