Clay County Health Data
Clay County, Arkansas
Health Score
29/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
72.8 yr
Uninsured Rate
9.6%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
72.8 yr
State avg 72.3 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
9.6%
State avg 9.9%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
7
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
99
per 100K population
National avg 350
Data Story
About Health in Clay County, Arkansas
Clay exceeds Arkansas but lags U.S. norms
Clay County's 72.8-year life expectancy beats Arkansas's 72.3-year average and exceeds the county's own poor/fair health rate of 25.4%. However, the county still falls about 3.6 years short of the U.S. average of 76.4 years, typical for rural Arkansas.
Upper-middle health outcomes statewide
At 72.8 years, Clay County ranks above the Arkansas average and lands in the upper third of the state's county health rankings. The 25.4% poor/fair health rate, while substantial, positions the county better than state peers like Chicot and Cleveland counties.
Outperforms some peers, trails others
Clay's 72.8-year life expectancy exceeds Chicot (69.8) and Cleveland (71.5) counties but falls short of Cleburne (75.3) and Craighead (74.4). The 9.6% uninsured rate is slightly above the state average, though most residents maintain coverage.
Primary care severely limited in this county
Clay County faces a significant access challenge with only 7 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—among the lowest in the region and well below even rural Arkansas norms of 40-60. Mental health support is equally scarce at 99 providers per 100,000, though residents may access care in nearby counties.
Coverage ensures access to regional care
With limited local providers, Clay County residents need insurance to access care in neighboring counties' health systems. Checking marketplace and Medicaid options ensures coverage is in place when seeking care outside the immediate county.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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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.