DeKalb County Health Data

DeKalb County, Alabama

CDC County Health Rankings

Health Score

14/100

Below Avg

Life Expectancy

72.4 yr

Uninsured Rate

15.2%

Health Statistics

Life Expectancy

72.4 yr

State avg 72.1 yr

National avg 77.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

15.2%

State avg 11.1%

National avg 9%

Primary Care Providers

40

per 100K population

National avg 82

Mental Health Providers

55

per 100K population

National avg 350

Poor / Fair Health

28.1%

State avg 23.9%

National avg 19.6%

Healthcare Access

Primary Care Physicians

18.1

per 100K residentsCDC: 40.4 per 100K

Dentists

4.2

per 100K residents

Nurse Practitioners & PAs

13.9

per 100K residents

Provider counts from CMS NPPES (National Provider Identifier Registry). Data current as of 2026.

Chronic Disease & Behavioral Health

These prevalence estimates come from the CDC PLACES program (Population-Level Analysis and Community Estimates), which combines BRFSS survey data with statistical modeling to produce county-level rates. Estimates are age-adjusted to enable fair comparisons across counties with different age distributions. Use them to spot where DeKalb County differs most from state and national norms.

Most prevalent chronic conditions

MeasureDeKalbState avgNational avgVs state
Obesity38.6%41.9%37.6%3.3 pts better than state
Diabetes13.3%13.9%11.2%0.6 pts better than state
High Blood Pressure40.0%41.7%33.5%1.7 pts better than state
Depression27.2%24.7%24.1%2.5 pts worse than state

Health-risk behaviors

MeasureDeKalbState avgNational avgVs state
Current Cigarette Smoking19.9%18.0%16.3%1.9 pts worse than state
Binge Drinking15.5%14.8%17.8%0.7 pts worse than state
Physical Inactivity32.6%30.8%27.0%1.8 pts worse than state

Preventive-care uptake

MeasureDeKalbState avgNational avgVs state
Annual Routine Checkup76.0%78.7%74.9%2.7 pts worse than state
Dental Visit (past year)47.5%52.5%57.3%5.0 pts worse than state
Mammography (women 50–74)71.4%75.2%73.3%3.8 pts worse than state

Daily-life impact

MeasureDeKalbState avgNational avgVs state
Frequent Mental Distress20.1%19.4%18.6%0.7 pts worse than state
Short Sleep Duration41.1%41.8%37.3%0.7 pts better than state

These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare DeKalb County nationally on dental visit (past year).

Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.

Data Story

DeKalb County Uninsured Rate Reaches Fifteen Percent

Health data brief for DeKalb County, Alabama.

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorPublished Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor
Lead metric:Uninsured rate

In DeKalb County, 15.2% of the population lacks health insurance coverage. This rate is higher than the Alabama state average of 11.1% and exceeds the national average of 10%. Data from the CDC County Health Rankings also indicates that 28.1% of residents report being in poor or fair health, which is a higher percentage than the 17% reported across the United States. The county has a life expectancy of 72.4 years, which is nearly identical to the state average of 72.1 years but lower than the national figure of 77 years. Provider availability includes 40 primary care physicians per 100,000 residents and 55 mental health providers per 100,000 residents. These figures are lower than the national medians of 70 and 250 respectively. See the CDC County Health Rankings methodology.

Get Care in DeKalb County, Alabama

Direct contact information for hospitals and community health resources serving this county. Hospital quality ratings come from CMS Care Compare — the federal program that measures hospital performance on safety, patient experience, and outcomes.

Dekalb Regional Medical Center

ER
2/5
(256) 845-3150
200 Med Center Drive, Fort Payne, AL 35968
Acute Care HospitalsProprietary

Sources: Hospital data: CMS Care Compare. Quality ratings: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Community health center directory: HRSA. Last reviewed 2026-05-14.

Information is for general guidance only and is not medical advice. Always call ahead to confirm services, hours, and insurance accepted. In a medical emergency, dial 911.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the health ranking of DeKalb County, AL?
DeKalb County has a health score of 14/100, rated "Below Average." It ranks #66 out of 67 counties in Alabama (1 = healthiest). The score is based on CDC County Health Rankings data, combining life expectancy, uninsured rates, provider access, and behavioral health indicators.
What is the life expectancy in DeKalb County?
Life expectancy in DeKalb County is 72.4 years. The Alabama state average is 72.1 years, making DeKalb County above the state average.
How does DeKalb County health compare to the Alabama average?
DeKalb County's health score of 14/100 is below the Alabama average of 28/100. Life expectancy is 72.4 years vs. the state average of 72.1 years. The uninsured rate is 15.2% vs. 11.1% statewide.
What health factors affect DeKalb County?
Key health factors for DeKalb County include: life expectancy (72.4 years), uninsured rate (15.2%), and primary care physician access (40:1 (population to primary care physicians)). Mental health provider access is 55:1 population-to-provider ratio. These metrics are sourced from the CDC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program.
Is DeKalb County a healthy place to live?
With a health score of 14/100 ("Below Average"), DeKalb County faces health challenges compared to other counties in Alabama. Residents have a life expectancy of 72.4 years. 15.2% of adults lack health insurance. Factors like healthcare access, environmental quality, and socioeconomic conditions all contribute to these outcomes.
What are the biggest health challenges in DeKalb County?
DeKalb County's health score of 14/100 is below the Alabama average of 28/100. The uninsured rate of 15.2% means a significant portion of residents may face barriers to healthcare. Improving health outcomes often requires investment in healthcare infrastructure, insurance coverage expansion, and community health programs.

Counties with Similar Health Profile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Sources

Health data sourced from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

Data is informational only. Not medical or health advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.