Kanawha County Health Data
Kanawha County, West Virginia
Health Score
35/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
71.0 yr
Uninsured Rate
7.5%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
71.0 yr
State avg 72.2 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
7.5%
State avg 7.6%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
130
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
318
per 100K population
National avg 350
Data Story
About Health in Kanawha County, West Virginia
Kanawha lags national health benchmarks
Kanawha's 71.0-year life expectancy falls 3.5 years short of the U.S. average of 74.5 years. At 22.4% reporting poor or fair health, the county nearly matches the national average of 23%, suggesting systemic health challenges beyond individual behaviors.
Below-average health statewide
Kanawha's 71.0-year life expectancy runs 1.2 years below West Virginia's state average of 72.2 years, placing it in the lower half of the state's counties. The 22.4% poor/fair health rate signals persistent chronic disease burden.
Struggles compared to nearby counties
Kanawha's 71.0-year life expectancy falls 2.1 years below Harrison County (73.1 years) and 4.9 years below Jefferson County (75.9 years). However, Kanawha's 130 primary care providers per 100K ranks among the strongest in the region, suggesting barriers are social or economic rather than access-based.
Good doctors, insurance gaps remain
Kanawha's 7.5% uninsured rate sits just below the state average, meaning about 1 in 13 residents lack coverage. Despite 130 primary care providers per 100K—better than most counties—health outcomes lag, suggesting social determinants like income and education play major roles.
Get insured, get preventive care
If you're among Kanawha's uninsured, healthcare.gov and WV DHHR can connect you to affordable plans or Medicaid. Regular primary care visits catch diseases early and can reverse some of the county's health trajectory.
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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.