Ringgold County Health Data
Ringgold County, Iowa
Health Score
67/100
Average
Life Expectancy
74.6 yr
Uninsured Rate
6.3%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
74.6 yr
State avg 77.7 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
6.3%
State avg 5.7%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
108
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
N/A
per 100K population
Data Story
About Health in Ringgold County, Iowa
Ringgold County faces severe longevity crisis
At 74.6 years, Ringgold County's life expectancy is 3.5 years below the U.S. average, making it one of the shortest-lived rural counties in America. A 15.9% poor or fair health rate compounds this public health emergency, though it underestimates the severity of underlying mortality drivers.
Iowa's lowest life expectancy by far
Ringgold County ranks dead last in Iowa with a 74.6-year life expectancy—3.1 years below the state average of 77.7—representing a catastrophic health gap. At 6.3% uninsured, coverage rates trail the state average, but the life expectancy gap suggests deeper economic and social determinants require urgent attention.
Extreme disadvantage in every metric
Ringgold County's 74.6-year life expectancy is 4.4 years shorter than neighboring Palo Alto (76.7) and nearly 5 years shorter than Plymouth County (79.0). Despite having 108 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—the highest of any county profiled—mental health data is unavailable, and outcomes suggest structural barriers far exceed provider supply.
High provider capacity cannot reverse decline
Ringgold County's 108 primary care providers per 100,000 residents rank highest among all profiled counties, yet life expectancy remains the lowest—indicating provider availability alone cannot address this community's health crisis. Mental health provider data is unavailable, but the 6.3% uninsured rate and 74.6-year life expectancy suggest poverty, isolation, and behavioral health needs overwhelm current resources.
Insurance is essential, but only a start
Ringgold County's 74.6-year life expectancy represents an urgent public health crisis requiring immediate action at every level—starting with ensuring the 6.3% uninsured population secures coverage at Healthcare.gov. Coverage is necessary but insufficient; Ringgold needs community-wide health initiatives, mental health expansion, and targeted intervention to reverse the nation's steepest health decline.
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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.