Polk County Health Data
Polk County, Arkansas
CDC County Health RankingsHealth Score
26/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
72.2 yr
Uninsured Rate
11.2%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
72.2 yr
State avg 72.3 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
11.2%
State avg 9.9%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
78
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
108
per 100K population
National avg 350
Poor / Fair Health
23.4%
State avg 25.3%
National avg 19.6%
Healthcare Access
Primary Care Physicians
20.7
per 100K residentsCDC: 77.5 per 100K
Dentists
15.5
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 Polk County differs most from state and national norms.
Most prevalent chronic conditions
| Measure | Polk | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity | 40.2% | 41.1% | 37.6% | 0.9 pts better than state |
| Diabetes | 11.8% | 12.4% | 11.2% | 0.6 pts better than state |
| High Blood Pressure | 37.2% | 39.6% | 33.5% | 2.4 pts better than state |
| Depression | 26.8% | 25.9% | 24.1% | 0.9 pts worse than state |
Health-risk behaviors
| Measure | Polk | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Cigarette Smoking | 19.4% | 18.7% | 16.3% | 0.7 pts worse than state |
| Binge Drinking | 16.6% | 15.6% | 17.8% | 1.0 pts worse than state |
| Physical Inactivity | 33.5% | 34.3% | 27.0% | 0.8 pts better than state |
Preventive-care uptake
| Measure | Polk | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Routine Checkup | 76.0% | 77.0% | 74.9% | 1.0 pts worse than state |
| Dental Visit (past year) | 51.4% | 49.6% | 57.3% | 1.8 pts better than state |
| Mammography (women 50–74) | 71.6% | 70.1% | 73.3% | 1.5 pts better than state |
Daily-life impact
| Measure | Polk | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent Mental Distress | 21.1% | 20.7% | 18.6% | near state average |
| Short Sleep Duration | 39.3% | 41.1% | 37.3% | 1.8 pts better than state |
These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Polk County nationally on high blood pressure.
Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.
Data Story
Polk Mental Health Provider Ratios Lower Than National Median
Health data brief for Polk County, Arkansas.
In Polk County, there are 108 mental health providers for every 100,000 people. This count is less than half the national median of 250 providers per 100,000. Life expectancy in the county is 72.2 years, which is nearly the same as the Arkansas state average of 72.3 years, but shorter than the national figure of 77 years. Around 23.4% of adults report their health as poor or fair, a higher portion than the 17% national average. The uninsured rate stands at 11.2%, which is more than the state rate of 9.9% and the national rate of 10%. Primary care access includes 78 providers per 100,000 residents, slightly more than the national median of 70. These statistics are based on reporting from various health monitoring agencies. See the CDC County Health Rankings methodology.
Sources
- CDC County Health Rankings v2
- HHS NPPES
Get Care in Polk 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.
Hospitals near you
Compare all on Medicare.gov →Mena Regional Health System
EReHealth Insurance
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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.