Marlboro County Health Data
Marlboro County, South Carolina
Health Score
14/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
69.1 yr
Uninsured Rate
11.7%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
69.1 yr
State avg 72.5 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
11.7%
State avg 11.6%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
11
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
327
per 100K population
National avg 350
Data Story
About Health in Marlboro County, South Carolina
Marlboro's health crisis runs deep
Marlboro County residents live just 69.1 years on average, nearly 7 years shorter than the U.S. median of 76.1 years. Nearly 28% report poor or fair health—the highest rate in this eight-county cohort and well above the national 18% average. This combination marks Marlboro as facing South Carolina's most acute health challenges.
Lowest life expectancy in South Carolina
Marlboro County ranks dead last statewide on life expectancy at 69.1 years, trailing the state average by 3.4 years. Its 28.1% poor/fair health rate is also among South Carolina's worst, reflecting decades of economic and healthcare disinvestment. The county's health crisis demands urgent, sustained attention and resources.
Severely isolated from care
Marlboro's 11 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—the lowest in this region—leaves residents traveling far for basic doctor visits. By contrast, neighboring McCormick County has 51 providers per 100K and achieves 4.2 years longer life expectancy. Marlboro does have strong mental health capacity at 327 per 100K, but geography and transportation barriers limit real-world access.
One in eight Marlboro residents uninsured
Marlboro's 11.7% uninsured rate is just slightly below the state average, but when paired with critically low primary care capacity, it means many residents lack both coverage and nearby clinicians. Uninsured and underinsured residents often skip preventive care, driving up emergency room use and poor health outcomes. The shortage of primary care doctors compounds the burden on already-fragile health.
Coverage is your health foundation
Marlboro residents should explore Medicaid eligibility and healthcare.gov plans immediately—coverage access is more critical here than in most counties. Free or low-cost community health center visits are available even for uninsured residents; ask local clinics about sliding-scale options. Taking action on insurance today can improve your access to the primary care Marlboro desperately needs.
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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.