Wayne County Health Data

Wayne County, North Carolina

Health Score

32/100

Below Avg

Life Expectancy

73.2 yr

Uninsured Rate

13.6%

Health Statistics

Life Expectancy

73.2 yr

State avg 74.4 yr

National avg 77.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

13.6%

State avg 12.5%

National avg 9%

Primary Care Providers

51

per 100K population

National avg 82

Mental Health Providers

282

per 100K population

National avg 350

Data Story

About Health in Wayne County, North Carolina

Wayne County trails national health norms

Wayne County residents live 73.2 years, just below the U.S. average of 73.4 and 1.2 years below North Carolina's 74.4-year baseline. Nearly one in five (19.5%) report poor or fair health, suggesting moderate chronic disease burden and limited preventive care access. Wayne faces health challenges that require targeted intervention.

Below-average health outcomes for NC

Wayne's 73.2-year life expectancy ranks fourth from the bottom among the eight profiled counties, trailing North Carolina's average by 1.2 years. Its 19.5% poor/fair health rate sits in the middle-to-worse range, indicating both chronic disease burden and care access gaps. Wayne has room for substantial health improvement.

Moderate care infrastructure

Wayne's 51 primary care providers and 282 mental health providers per 100,000 residents place it in the middle tier—better than Warren (5 primary, 117 mental) and Washington (46 primary, 103 mental), but trailing Union (69 primary, 147 mental) and Watauga (79 primary, 524 mental). The mental health workforce is relatively strong, but primary care falls short of the state's healthiest counties. Workforce gaps compound access barriers.

Above-average uninsured rate

Wayne's 13.6% uninsured rate tops North Carolina's 12.5% average, meaning roughly 4,100 residents lack coverage. With 51 primary care providers per 100,000—less than Union's 69 or Watauga's 79—residents face both insurance and access constraints. Uninsured status and sparse primary care create dual barriers to preventive and routine care.

Make coverage your first priority

With 13.6% uninsured and limited primary care access, securing health coverage through Medicaid or Marketplace plans is essential for Wayne residents. Visit healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 to explore your options. Coverage opens the door to preventive care that can prevent early mortality and reduce chronic disease burden.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the health ranking of Wayne County, NC?
Wayne County has a health score of 32/100, rated "Below Average." It ranks #67 out of 100 counties in North Carolina (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 Wayne County?
Life expectancy in Wayne County is 73.2 years. The North Carolina state average is 74.4 years, making Wayne County below the state average.
How does Wayne County health compare to the North Carolina average?
Wayne County's health score of 32/100 is below the North Carolina average of 41/100. Life expectancy is 73.2 years vs. the state average of 74.4 years. The uninsured rate is 13.6% vs. 12.5% statewide.
What health factors affect Wayne County?
Key health factors for Wayne County include: life expectancy (73.2 years), uninsured rate (13.6%), and primary care physician access (51:1 (population to primary care physicians)). Mental health provider access is 282:1 population-to-provider ratio. These metrics are sourced from the CDC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program.
Is Wayne County a healthy place to live?
With a health score of 32/100 ("Below Average"), Wayne County faces health challenges compared to other counties in North Carolina. Residents have a life expectancy of 73.2 years. 13.6% of adults lack health insurance. Factors like healthcare access, environmental quality, and socioeconomic conditions all contribute to these outcomes.
What are the biggest health challenges in Wayne County?
Wayne County's health score of 32/100 is below the North Carolina average of 41/100. The uninsured rate of 13.6% means a significant portion of residents may face barriers to healthcare. Improving health outcomes often requires investment in healthcare infrastructure, insurance coverage expansion, and community health programs.

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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.