The greatest health strengths and challenges in Arizona

The recently released “America’s Health Rankings 2022 Annual Report” uncovered several health strengths and challenges in Arizona.


Arizona is ranked 32nd in the country for overall health – a slight decline from its ranking of 31 in 20191 – according to America’s Health Rankings 2022 Annual Report. Below is a summary of the positive and negative factors that contributed to this ranking.2

Arizona health struggles

  • Low prevalence of obesity
  • Low prevalence of cigarette smoking
  • Low percentage of housing with lead risk
  • 14% increase increase in mental health providers from 154.8 to 176 per 100,000 population between 2021 and 2022
  • 21% decrease in smoking among adults from 16.5% to 13.1% between 2014 and 2021

Arizona health challenges

  • High racial disparity in premature death rates
  • High economic hardship index score
  • Low prevalence of having a dedicated health care provider
  • 26% increase in premature death from 7,523 to 9,469 years lost before age 75 per 100,000 population between 2019 and 2020

What this means for employers

Employers who do business or have employees living in the state of Arizona may want to consider programs or benefits that can help support their employee population and guide them to better health decisions.

Learn more about the factors impacting the health of Arizona

The real people behind these numbers are what make the work ahead so critically important. Despite the challenges ahead, I remain optimistic that the health system can rise to the moment to address long-standing disparities and improve the health and well-being of all Americans, for this generation and the next.

— Patricia L. Lewis, Chief Sustainability Officer at UnitedHealth Group

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