St. Louis city Health Data
St. Louis city, Missouri
Health Score
33/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
71.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
9.6%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
71.5 yr
State avg 74.3 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
9.6%
State avg 12.5%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
97
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
603
per 100K population
National avg 350
Data Story
About Health in St. Louis city, Missouri
St. Louis City confronts serious health disparities
At 71.5 years, St. Louis City's life expectancy is 3 years below the U.S. average of 74.5 years, reflecting concentrated poverty and health inequities typical of older industrial cities. With 20.8% of residents reporting poor or fair health, the city sits just below the national average, but the significantly shorter lifespan suggests premature mortality from chronic conditions and preventable causes.
St. Louis City ranks among Missouri's worst
St. Louis City's 71.5-year life expectancy trails Missouri's state average of 74.3 years by 2.8 years, placing it among the lowest-performing counties in the state. At 9.6% uninsured, the city's rate is better than state average (12.5%), yet life expectancy remains poor, pointing to non-insurance barriers like poverty and healthcare system fragmentation.
City lags suburban health outcomes significantly
St. Louis City's 71.5-year life expectancy is 7.6 years below St. Louis County (76.3) and 7.6 years below St. Charles (79.1), revealing stark geographic health inequities within the metro area. Despite having 97 primary care providers and 603 mental health providers per 100K—the highest densities in the region—the city's outcomes lag, highlighting that provider supply alone cannot overcome concentrated poverty and social barriers.
Urban concentration of poverty drives outcomes
St. Louis City has the region's highest provider densities (97 primary care, 603 mental health per 100K), yet the lowest life expectancy, indicating that poverty, housing instability, and transportation challenges outweigh clinical capacity. The 9.6% uninsured rate is better than surrounding counties, but housing crises and food insecurity likely prevent residents from fully benefiting from available care.
Insurance plus community care improves health
St. Louis City residents benefit from dense provider networks, but ensuring insurance coverage removes a critical barrier to accessing them. Enroll in a marketplace plan at Healthcare.gov or visit a local federally qualified health center to pair coverage with culturally competent, neighborhood-based care.
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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.