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.