Cape Girardeau County Health Data

Cape Girardeau County, Missouri

CDC County Health Rankings

Health Score

50/100

Below Avg

Life Expectancy

75.8 yr

Uninsured Rate

9.8%

Health Statistics

Life Expectancy

75.8 yr

State avg 74.3 yr

National avg 77.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

9.8%

State avg 12.5%

National avg 9%

Primary Care Providers

90

per 100K population

National avg 82

Mental Health Providers

304

per 100K population

National avg 350

Poor / Fair Health

19.4%

State avg 20.4%

National avg 19.6%

Healthcare Access

Primary Care Physicians

19.5

per 100K residentsCDC: 90.1 per 100K

Dentists

13.4

per 100K residents

Nurse Practitioners & PAs

4.9

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 Cape Girardeau County differs most from state and national norms.

Most prevalent chronic conditions

MeasureCape GirardeauState avgNational avgVs state
Obesity35.9%39.0%37.6%3.1 pts better than state
Diabetes10.2%11.0%11.2%0.8 pts better than state
High Blood Pressure33.3%34.0%33.5%0.7 pts better than state
Depression25.1%26.4%24.1%1.3 pts better than state

Health-risk behaviors

MeasureCape GirardeauState avgNational avgVs state
Current Cigarette Smoking16.1%19.4%16.3%3.3 pts better than state
Binge Drinking17.8%17.5%17.8%near state average
Physical Inactivity28.0%31.0%27.0%3.0 pts better than state

Preventive-care uptake

MeasureCape GirardeauState avgNational avgVs state
Annual Routine Checkup77.4%75.8%74.9%1.6 pts better than state
Dental Visit (past year)55.9%55.4%57.3%near state average
Mammography (women 50–74)73.4%71.9%73.3%1.5 pts better than state

Daily-life impact

MeasureCape GirardeauState avgNational avgVs state
Frequent Mental Distress18.6%19.8%18.6%1.2 pts better than state
Short Sleep Duration39.3%39.4%37.3%near state average

These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Cape Girardeau County nationally on current cigarette smoking.

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

Data Story

Cape Girardeau County Mental Health Provider Density Surpasses State Baseline

Health data brief for Cape Girardeau County, Missouri.

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorPublished Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor
Lead metric:Mental health access

Cape Girardeau County features 304 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, a figure that exceeds the national median of 250 per 100,000. The primary care provider ratio is also higher than the national norm, at 90 per 100,000 compared to the national median of 70. Life expectancy is 75.8 years, higher than the Missouri average of 74.3 but lower than the national 77-year average. The uninsured rate is 9.8%, lower than the state average of 12.5% and slightly better than the 10% national average. Additionally, 19.4% of the adult population reports being in fair or poor health, compared to the 17% national average. Explore state-level data.

Get Care in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri

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.

Saint Francis Medical Center

ER
3/5
(573) 331-3000
211 St Francis Dr, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703
Acute Care HospitalsVoluntary non-profit - Private

Mercy Hospital Southeast

ER
2/5
(573) 334-4822
1701 Lacey St, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
Acute Care HospitalsVoluntary non-profit - Private

Southeast Behavioral Hospital

Not rated by CMS
(601) 630-5669
639 South Silver Springs Road, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703
PsychiatricProprietary

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 Cape Girardeau County, MO?
Cape Girardeau County has a health score of 50/100, rated "Below Average." It ranks #25 out of 115 counties in Missouri (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 Cape Girardeau County?
Life expectancy in Cape Girardeau County is 75.8 years. The Missouri state average is 74.3 years, making Cape Girardeau County above the state average.
How does Cape Girardeau County health compare to the Missouri average?
Cape Girardeau County's health score of 50/100 is above the Missouri average of 38/100. Life expectancy is 75.8 years vs. the state average of 74.3 years. The uninsured rate is 9.8% vs. 12.5% statewide.
What health factors affect Cape Girardeau County?
Key health factors for Cape Girardeau County include: life expectancy (75.8 years), uninsured rate (9.8%), and primary care physician access (90:1 (population to primary care physicians)). Mental health provider access is 304:1 population-to-provider ratio. These metrics are sourced from the CDC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program.
Is Cape Girardeau County a healthy place to live?
With a health score of 50/100 ("Below Average"), Cape Girardeau County faces health challenges compared to other counties in Missouri. Residents have a life expectancy of 75.8 years. 9.8% of adults lack health insurance. Factors like healthcare access, environmental quality, and socioeconomic conditions all contribute to these outcomes.
Why is Cape Girardeau County healthier than the Missouri average?
Cape Girardeau County's health score of 50/100 exceeds the Missouri average of 38/100. 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.