Malheur County Health Data

Malheur County, Oregon

Health Score

35/100

Below Avg

Life Expectancy

75.1 yr

Uninsured Rate

10.0%

Health Statistics

Life Expectancy

75.1 yr

State avg 77.0 yr

National avg 77.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

10.0%

State avg 8.1%

National avg 9%

Primary Care Providers

25

per 100K population

National avg 82

Mental Health Providers

556

per 100K population

National avg 350

Data Story

About Health in Malheur County, Oregon

Oregon's most urgent health crisis

Malheur County residents live to just 75.1 years, nearly 4.2 years shorter than the U.S. average of 79.3 years. Over 1 in 4 residents (25.9%) report poor or fair health—Oregon's worst rate and well above the national average of 21%. Malheur County faces compounding economic, healthcare access, and population health challenges.

Worst health burden in Oregon

Malheur County's 75.1-year life expectancy is 1.9 years below Oregon's 77.0-year average, and its 25.9% poor/fair health rate exceeds the state average by 5 percentage points—highest in Oregon. The county's agricultural economy, isolation, and limited healthcare infrastructure create a perfect storm of health disadvantage. Malheur ranks last among Oregon counties on health burden.

Isolation and provider shortage

Malheur County's 75.1-year life expectancy and 25.9% poor/fair health rate are far worse than all regional peers, including Lake County (75.7 years, 21.2% poor/fair). Its primary care provider density is catastrophically low at 25 per 100,000—less than one-third of most Oregon counties. The 10.0% uninsured rate ties Lake County as Oregon's highest, adding financial barriers to care-seeking.

Crisis-level provider shortage

Malheur County has just 25 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—the lowest in Oregon—forcing many to travel hours for basic medical services. The 10.0% uninsured rate means 1 in 10 residents cannot afford to seek care, even when available. Mental health providers number 556 per 100,000, but the severe primary care gap means many with mental illness cannot access any healthcare.

Get covered now

Malheur County's 10.0% uninsured rate and provider shortage create a dual crisis—coverage is essential but not sufficient. Visit healthcare.gov or Oregon's health marketplace immediately to check Medicaid eligibility and find affordable plans. In Malheur County, insurance is often the only lever residents can pull to improve health access.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the health ranking of Malheur County, OR?
Malheur County has a health score of 35/100, rated "Below Average." It ranks #36 out of 36 counties in Oregon (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 Malheur County?
Life expectancy in Malheur County is 75.1 years. The Oregon state average is 77.0 years, making Malheur County below the state average.
How does Malheur County health compare to the Oregon average?
Malheur County's health score of 35/100 is below the Oregon average of 61/100. Life expectancy is 75.1 years vs. the state average of 77.0 years. The uninsured rate is 10.0% vs. 8.1% statewide.
What health factors affect Malheur County?
Key health factors for Malheur County include: life expectancy (75.1 years), uninsured rate (10.0%), and primary care physician access (25:1 (population to primary care physicians)). Mental health provider access is 556:1 population-to-provider ratio. These metrics are sourced from the CDC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program.
Is Malheur County a healthy place to live?
With a health score of 35/100 ("Below Average"), Malheur County faces health challenges compared to other counties in Oregon. Residents have a life expectancy of 75.1 years. 10.0% 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 Malheur County?
Malheur County's health score of 35/100 is below the Oregon average of 61/100. 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.