Hempstead County Health Data

Hempstead County, Arkansas

CDC County Health Rankings

Health Score

27/100

Below Avg

Life Expectancy

73.3 yr

Uninsured Rate

10.7%

Health Statistics

Life Expectancy

73.3 yr

State avg 72.3 yr

National avg 77.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

10.7%

State avg 9.9%

National avg 9%

Primary Care Providers

25

per 100K population

National avg 82

Mental Health Providers

114

per 100K population

National avg 350

Poor / Fair Health

25.6%

State avg 25.3%

National avg 19.6%

Healthcare Access

Primary Care Physicians

5.1

per 100K residentsCDC: 25.4 per 100K

Nurse Practitioners & PAs

5.1

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 Hempstead County differs most from state and national norms.

Most prevalent chronic conditions

MeasureHempsteadState avgNational avgVs state
Obesity45.8%41.1%37.6%4.7 pts worse than state
Diabetes13.6%12.4%11.2%1.2 pts worse than state
High Blood Pressure40.5%39.6%33.5%0.9 pts worse than state
Depression23.2%25.9%24.1%2.7 pts better than state

Health-risk behaviors

MeasureHempsteadState avgNational avgVs state
Current Cigarette Smoking18.1%18.7%16.3%0.6 pts better than state
Binge Drinking14.8%15.6%17.8%0.8 pts better than state
Physical Inactivity38.0%34.3%27.0%3.7 pts worse than state

Preventive-care uptake

MeasureHempsteadState avgNational avgVs state
Annual Routine Checkup77.2%77.0%74.9%near state average
Dental Visit (past year)49.6%49.6%57.3%near state average
Mammography (women 50–74)73.1%70.1%73.3%3.0 pts better than state

Daily-life impact

MeasureHempsteadState avgNational avgVs state
Frequent Mental Distress20.5%20.7%18.6%near state average
Short Sleep Duration41.3%41.1%37.3%near state average

These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Hempstead County nationally on obesity.

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

Data Story

Poor Health Reporting Elevated in Hempstead County

Health data brief for Hempstead County, Arkansas.

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorPublished Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor
Lead metric:Poor/fair health rate

In Hempstead County, 25.6% of residents report poor or fair health, a figure significantly higher than the national average of 17%. Life expectancy in the county is 73.3 years, which is higher than the Arkansas average of 72.3 years but nearly four years lower than the national benchmark of 77 years. The uninsured rate is 10.7%, which exceeds the state average of 9.9% and the national average of 10%. Regarding healthcare access, the county has 25 primary care providers and 114 mental health providers per 100,000 residents. Both of these ratios are considerably lower than the national medians of 70 primary care providers and 250 mental health providers per 100,000 people. These data points are provided as a report on current county status and do not include causal analysis. See the CDC County Health Rankings methodology.

Get Care in Hempstead County, Arkansas

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.

Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center Llc

ER
Not rated by CMS
(870) 722-3800
2001 South Main, Hope, AR 71801
Acute Care HospitalsProprietary

Southwest Regional Medical Center Llc

ER
Not rated by CMS
(870) 722-3800
2001 South Main, Hope, AR 71801
Critical Access 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 Hempstead County, AR?
Hempstead County has a health score of 27/100, rated "Below Average." It ranks #43 out of 75 counties in Arkansas (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 Hempstead County?
Life expectancy in Hempstead County is 73.3 years. The Arkansas state average is 72.3 years, making Hempstead County above the state average.
How does Hempstead County health compare to the Arkansas average?
Hempstead County's health score of 27/100 is below the Arkansas average of 29/100. Life expectancy is 73.3 years vs. the state average of 72.3 years. The uninsured rate is 10.7% vs. 9.9% statewide.
What health factors affect Hempstead County?
Key health factors for Hempstead County include: life expectancy (73.3 years), uninsured rate (10.7%), and primary care physician access (25:1 (population to primary care physicians)). Mental health provider access is 114:1 population-to-provider ratio. These metrics are sourced from the CDC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program.
Is Hempstead County a healthy place to live?
With a health score of 27/100 ("Below Average"), Hempstead County faces health challenges compared to other counties in Arkansas. Residents have a life expectancy of 73.3 years. 10.7% 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 Hempstead County?
Hempstead County's health score of 27/100 is below the Arkansas average of 29/100. The uninsured rate of 10.7% 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.