Harlan County Health Data
Harlan County, Kentucky
CDC County Health RankingsHealth Score
27/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
65.7 yr
Uninsured Rate
6.6%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
65.7 yr
State avg 72.2 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
6.6%
State avg 7.0%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
34
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
59
per 100K population
National avg 350
Poor / Fair Health
31.3%
State avg 23.9%
National avg 19.6%
Healthcare Access
Primary Care Physicians
11.5
per 100K residentsCDC: 34.4 per 100K
Dentists
3.8
per 100K residents
Nurse Practitioners & PAs
11.5
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 Harlan County differs most from state and national norms.
Most prevalent chronic conditions
| Measure | Harlan | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity | — | — | 37.6% | — |
| Diabetes | — | — | 11.2% | — |
| High Blood Pressure | — | — | 33.5% | — |
| Depression | — | — | 24.1% | — |
Health-risk behaviors
| Measure | Harlan | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Cigarette Smoking | — | — | 16.3% | — |
| Binge Drinking | — | — | 17.8% | — |
| Physical Inactivity | — | — | 27.0% | — |
Preventive-care uptake
| Measure | Harlan | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Routine Checkup | — | — | 74.9% | — |
| Dental Visit (past year) | 44.5% | 53.9% | 57.3% | 9.4 pts worse than state |
| Mammography (women 50–74) | 69.7% | 71.3% | 73.3% | 1.6 pts worse than state |
Daily-life impact
| Measure | Harlan | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent Mental Distress | — | — | 18.6% | — |
| Short Sleep Duration | 45.3% | 41.7% | 37.3% | 3.6 pts worse than state |
These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Harlan County nationally on dental visit (past year).
Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.
Data Story
Harlan County Life Expectancy Falls Well Below National Average
Health data brief for Harlan County, Kentucky.
Life expectancy in Harlan County is 65.7 years, a figure more than six years lower than the Kentucky state average of 72.2 years and more than 11 years lower than the national average of 77 years. Additionally, 31.3% of residents report poor or fair health, compared to the national average of 17%. Clinical care access includes 34 primary care providers per 100,000 residents and 59 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, both well below national medians of 70 and 250, respectively. The uninsured rate is 6.6%, which is lower than both the state average of 7.0% and the national rate of 10%. This data is retrieved from federal programs tracking health outcomes across the United States. See the CDC County Health Rankings methodology.
Sources
- CDC County Health Rankings v2
- HHS NPPES
Get Care in Harlan County, Kentucky
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 →Harlan Arh Hospital
EReHealth Insurance
Compare health insurance plans from top carriers for Harlan County residents.
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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.