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State Profile

North Carolina

Population (2019): 10.488 million

North Carolina’s public health outcomes stack up unevenly against those of the United States, but it has taken several steps that strengthened its preparedness for public health emergencies. Deaths owed to drug misuse, alcohol, or suicide trail the country as a whole. Its rates of obesity and related conditions indicate an area of concern, with the percentage of adults with obesity higher than the U.S. median, as rates of diabetes and hypertension rank high. Finally, the state achieved a score of eight out of a possible 10 measures of public health preparedness for diseases, disasters, and bioterrorism.

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State Related News

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Mar 2023 New Report Measures States’ Emergency Preparedness and Makes Recommendations About How to Strengthen the Nation’s Public Health System
Oct 2022 New CDC Data Shows 4 Percent Rise in Suicides in 2021
Sep 2022 Nation’s Obesity Epidemic is Growing: 19 States Have Adult Obesity Rates Above 35 Percent, Up From 16 States Last Year

North Carolina at a glance

50.6

Percent of population (age 6 months or older) who received seasonal flu vaccination, 2021-22

High Tier

Public health emergency preparedness performance tier (High, Middle, Low), 2022

35.4

Percent of adults who have hypertension, 2021

12.6

Percent of adults who have diabetes, 2021

19.8

Percent of children age 10-17 who have obesity, 2019-20

36.0

Percent of adults who have obesity, 2021

55.5

Deaths related to alcohol, drugs, or suicide (per 100,000), 2020

13.2

Suicide deaths (per 100,000), 2020

32.1

Drug-related deaths (per 100,000), 2020

11.3

Alcohol-related deaths (per 100,000), 2020

Data in Detail

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Discover North Carolina

Check these TFAH reports for latest state-specific data:

Ready or Not 2022: Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism Read More
The Impact of Chronic Underfunding on America’s Public Health System: Trends, Risks, and Recommendations, 2022 Read More
Pain in the Nation 2022: U.S. Experienced Highest Ever Combined Rates of Deaths Due to Alcohol, Drugs, and Suicide During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic Read More
State of Obesity 2022: Better Policies for a Healthier America Read More

Spotlight On

North Carolina

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North Carolina’s Comprehensive Approach to Preventing and Reversing Drug Overdoses

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