San Diego County Health Data

San Diego County, California

CDC County Health Rankings

Health Score

79/100

Excellent

Life Expectancy

80.3 yr

Uninsured Rate

7.3%

Health Statistics

Life Expectancy

80.3 yr

State avg 78.5 yr

National avg 77.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

7.3%

State avg 7.2%

National avg 9%

Primary Care Providers

84

per 100K population

National avg 82

Mental Health Providers

526

per 100K population

National avg 350

Poor / Fair Health

16.4%

State avg 18.9%

National avg 19.6%

Healthcare Access

Primary Care Physicians

14.1

per 100K residentsCDC: 84.4 per 100K

Dentists

5.1

per 100K residents

Nurse Practitioners & PAs

4.2

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 San Diego County differs most from state and national norms.

Most prevalent chronic conditions

MeasureSan DiegoState avgNational avgVs state
Obesity25.4%30.0%37.6%4.6 pts better than state
Diabetes9.4%10.3%11.2%0.9 pts better than state
High Blood Pressure27.4%29.3%33.5%1.9 pts better than state
Depression21.2%22.7%24.1%1.5 pts better than state

Health-risk behaviors

MeasureSan DiegoState avgNational avgVs state
Current Cigarette Smoking10.1%12.6%16.3%2.5 pts better than state
Binge Drinking17.2%17.6%17.8%near state average
Physical Inactivity20.4%24.1%27.0%3.7 pts better than state

Preventive-care uptake

MeasureSan DiegoState avgNational avgVs state
Annual Routine Checkup71.9%70.0%74.9%1.9 pts better than state
Dental Visit (past year)65.8%61.3%57.3%4.5 pts better than state
Mammography (women 50–74)75.8%74.3%73.3%1.5 pts better than state

Daily-life impact

MeasureSan DiegoState avgNational avgVs state
Frequent Mental Distress16.6%18.3%18.6%1.7 pts better than state
Short Sleep Duration34.5%35.3%37.3%0.8 pts better than state

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

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

Data Story

San Diego County life expectancy reaches 80.3 years

Health data brief for San Diego County, California.

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorPublished Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor
Lead metric:Life expectancy

San Diego County residents have a life expectancy of 80.3 years, which is longer than the California state average of 78.5 years and the national average of 77 years. The county has 526 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, more than double the national median of 250. Primary care availability is 84 providers per 100,000 people, higher than the national midpoint of 70. Data shows that 16.4% of the population reports poor or fair health, slightly lower than the 17% national average. The uninsured rate stands at 7.3%, which is nearly identical to the state average of 7.2% and lower than the national rate of 10%. See the CDC County Health Rankings methodology.

Get Care in San Diego County, California

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.

Uc San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med Ctr

ER
5/5
(619) 543-6222
200 West Arbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92103
Acute Care HospitalsVoluntary non-profit - Other

Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla

ER
5/5
(858) 626-4123
9888 Genesee Avenue, La Jolla, CA 92037
Acute Care HospitalsPhysician

Va San Diego Healthcare System

ER
5/5
(858) 552-8585
3350 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA 92161
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationVeterans Health Administration

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 San Diego County, CA?
San Diego County has a health score of 79/100, rated "Excellent." It ranks #18 out of 58 counties in California (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 San Diego County?
Life expectancy in San Diego County is 80.3 years. The California state average is 78.5 years, making San Diego County above the state average.
How does San Diego County health compare to the California average?
San Diego County's health score of 79/100 is above the California average of 67/100. Life expectancy is 80.3 years vs. the state average of 78.5 years. The uninsured rate is 7.3% vs. 7.2% statewide.
What health factors affect San Diego County?
Key health factors for San Diego County include: life expectancy (80.3 years), uninsured rate (7.3%), and primary care physician access (84:1 (population to primary care physicians)). Mental health provider access is 526:1 population-to-provider ratio. These metrics are sourced from the CDC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program.
Is San Diego County a healthy place to live?
With a health score of 79/100 ("Excellent"), San Diego County is one of the healthier counties in California. Residents have a life expectancy of 80.3 years. 7.3% of adults lack health insurance. Factors like healthcare access, environmental quality, and socioeconomic conditions all contribute to these outcomes.
Why is San Diego County healthier than the California average?
San Diego County's health score of 79/100 exceeds the California average of 67/100. Higher health scores often correlate with better access to healthcare providers, lower uninsured rates, higher median incomes, and environmental factors.

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.