Swain County Health Data
Swain County, North Carolina
CDC County Health RankingsHealth Score
11/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
67.3 yr
Uninsured Rate
19.4%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
67.3 yr
State avg 74.4 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
19.4%
State avg 12.5%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
64
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
417
per 100K population
National avg 350
Poor / Fair Health
22.3%
State avg 19.1%
National avg 19.6%
Healthcare Access
Primary Care Physicians
241.7
per 100K residentsCDC: 63.7 per 100K
Dentists
85.3
per 100K residents
Nurse Practitioners & PAs
135.1
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 Swain County differs most from state and national norms.
Most prevalent chronic conditions
| Measure | Swain | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity | 40.8% | 37.5% | 37.6% | 3.3 pts worse than state |
| Diabetes | 12.5% | 11.2% | 11.2% | 1.3 pts worse than state |
| High Blood Pressure | 36.5% | 35.3% | 33.5% | 1.2 pts worse than state |
| Depression | 27.9% | 25.8% | 24.1% | 2.1 pts worse than state |
Health-risk behaviors
| Measure | Swain | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Cigarette Smoking | 20.4% | 16.0% | 16.3% | 4.4 pts worse than state |
| Binge Drinking | 16.0% | 15.9% | 17.8% | near state average |
| Physical Inactivity | 26.5% | 25.3% | 27.0% | 1.2 pts worse than state |
Preventive-care uptake
| Measure | Swain | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Routine Checkup | 77.7% | 78.1% | 74.9% | near state average |
| Dental Visit (past year) | 55.4% | 59.7% | 57.3% | 4.3 pts worse than state |
| Mammography (women 50–74) | 73.8% | 77.3% | 73.3% | 3.5 pts worse than state |
Daily-life impact
| Measure | Swain | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent Mental Distress | 20.7% | 18.5% | 18.6% | 2.2 pts worse than state |
| Short Sleep Duration | 36.2% | 35.6% | 37.3% | 0.6 pts worse than state |
These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Swain County nationally on current cigarette smoking.
Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.
Data Story
Swain County Uninsured Rate Nearly Double the National Average
Health data brief for Swain County, North Carolina.
Swain County has an uninsured rate of 19.4%, which is nearly double the national average of 10% and higher than the North Carolina average of 12.5%. The county reports a life expectancy of 67.3 years, which is lower than the state average of 74.4 years and the national average of 77 years. Approximately 22.3% of residents report being in poor or fair health, compared to the national rate of 17%. Regarding medical provider availability, the county has 64 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, which is below the national median of 70. However, mental health provider availability in Swain County is 417 per 100,000 residents, exceeding the national median of 250. These metrics provide a snapshot of clinical and health outcomes within the region. Explore state-level data.
Sources
- CDC County Health Rankings v2
- HHS NPPES
Get Care in Swain County, North Carolina
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 →Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority
ERDlp Swain County Hospital Llc
EReHealth Insurance
Compare health insurance plans from top carriers for Swain 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.