Adolescent Health

Data are for the U.S.

Health status
  • Percent of adolescents ages 12–17 years who are in fair or poor health: 3.8% (2022)
  • Percent of adolescents ages 12–17 years who missed 11 or more days of school in the past 12 months because of illness, injury, or disability: 9.9% (2022)

Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Children: National Health Interview Survey, 2019-2022

Smoking and alcohol use
  • Percent of adolescents ages 12–17 years who smoked cigarettes in the past month: 2.3% (2019)
  • Percent of adolescents ages 12–17 years who used alcohol in the past month: 9.4% (2019)

Source: Health, United States, 2020-2021 Table SubUse [PDF – 9.8 MB]

Access to health care
  • Percent of adolescents ages 12–17 years with a usual source of health care: 96.4% (2022)
  • Percent of adolescents ages 12–17 years without health insurance: 4.6% (2022)

Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Children: National Health Interview Survey, 2019-2022

Mortality
  • Number of deaths for adolescents ages 15–19 years: 13,407
  • Deaths per 100,000 population for adolescents ages 15–19 years: 62.2

Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality data (2021) via CDC WONDER

Leading causes of death

Leading causes of deaths among adolescents ages 15–19 years:

  • Accidents (unintentional injuries)
  • Homicide
  • Suicide

Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality data (2021) for via CDC WONDER