Dewey County Health Data
Dewey County, South Dakota
Health Score
6/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
56.7 yr
Uninsured Rate
17.6%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
56.7 yr
State avg 75.4 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
17.6%
State avg 11.1%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
19
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
77
per 100K population
National avg 350
Data Story
About Health in Dewey County, South Dakota
Dewey County faces severe health crisis
Dewey County's life expectancy of 56.7 years is catastrophically low—16.3 years below the U.S. average of 73 years and nearly 19 years shorter than the national median. With 26.4% of residents reporting poor or fair health, the county faces extraordinary health challenges that demand urgent action.
South Dakota's most vulnerable county
Dewey County's 56.7-year life expectancy is more than 18 years below South Dakota's state average of 75.4 years, representing a profound health emergency. The county ranks last among South Dakota's 66 counties and signals a population experiencing severe poverty, limited healthcare access, and chronic disease burdens.
Dewey faces isolation and hardship
Dewey County's 56.7-year life expectancy trails every neighboring county by more than 15 years; Faulk County (77.2) and Fall River County (72.8) both substantially outlive Dewey residents. The county's 19 primary care providers per 100,000—the fewest in this group—compounds healthcare access barriers for a vulnerable population.
Uninsured rate reflects deep poverty
Dewey County's 17.6% uninsured rate is the highest among these eight counties and 58% above South Dakota's average of 11.1%. Limited primary care (19 per 100K) and modest mental health capacity (77 per 100K) leave residents with few local options for addressing the chronic conditions driving premature mortality.
Life-saving coverage starts here
In Dewey County, getting insured is urgent—nearly 1 in 5 residents lack coverage, deepening health risks in a community already facing a mortality crisis. Contact your local health department immediately to apply for Medicaid, or call 211 for help navigating insurance, preventive care, and community health resources.
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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.