Carter County Health Data
Carter County, Kentucky
Health Score
32/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
70.4 yr
Uninsured Rate
7.5%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
70.4 yr
State avg 72.2 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
7.5%
State avg 7.0%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
19
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
182
per 100K population
National avg 350
Data Story
About Health in Carter County, Kentucky
Life expectancy far below U.S. average
Carter County residents live to 70.4 years, nearly a full year below the U.S. average of 71.4 years and among the nation's lowest rates. With 23.3% reporting poor or fair health, Carter exceeds national rates, reflecting severe population-wide chronic disease and mortality pressure. The county faces acute health inequities relative to national outcomes.
Kentucky's second-shortest life expectancy
At 70.4 years, Carter County ranks near Kentucky's bottom for life expectancy, falling 1.8 years below the state average of 72.2 years. The 23.3% poor/fair health rate places Carter among the state's unhealthiest counties, indicating profound systemic health challenges. Residents face substantially worse health outcomes than most Kentucky peers.
Regional health baseline at bottom
Carter's 70.4-year life expectancy is among the lowest in this region, trailing Calloway (74.1 years) by nearly four years and Caldwell (73.0 years) by 2.6 years. At 23.3% poor/fair health, Carter sits in the region's unhealthiest cohort alongside Carlisle and Carroll counties. The county faces health challenges that mirror and compound regional struggles.
Sparse primary care, strong mental health access
Carter County has just 19 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—among Kentucky's lowest—leaving many without accessible routine care options. However, 182 mental health providers per 100,000 is surprisingly strong, suggesting good behavioral health support despite primary care scarcity. The imbalance in resources reflects uneven healthcare infrastructure in a resource-stretched county.
One in thirteen without insurance—get covered
Carter's 7.5% uninsured rate means 1 in 13 residents navigate health challenges without insurance coverage in a county already facing provider shortages. Visit healthcare.gov or Kentucky's kynect to find a plan that fits your budget and connects you to the limited providers available. Insurance becomes even more critical when local healthcare options are sparse.
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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.