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Jackson, MS Health Statistics

46.0% of adults have obesity and 18.4% have diabetes, among about 153,701 residents.

Obesity
46.0%
#113 of 417 · +12.7 pts
Diabetes
18.4%
#169 of 417 · +6.3 pts
Smoking
18.1%
+5.3 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
12.8%
+1.7 pts

How it compares

Largest differences from the U.S. average

Higher than the U.S.

  • Utility shutoff threat18.5% vs 8.0%
  • Food insecurity33.6% vs 15.9%
  • Lack of transportation17.6% vs 8.5%

Lower than the U.S.

  • Cancer5.6% vs 7.7%
  • Binge drinking11.8% vs 15.9%
  • Depression17.5% vs 21.6%

All health measures

Jackson, MS compared with Mississippi and the U.S.

Health outcomes

Adults withHereMSU.S.
Obesity46.0%+12.7 pts40.4%33.3%
Diagnosed diabetes18.4%+6.3 pts15.5%12.1%
High blood pressure48.8%+14.4 pts44.9%34.4%
High cholesterol (among those screened)37.5%+1.1 pts38.8%36.4%
Coronary heart disease7.3%+1.0 pts7.5%6.3%
Stroke5.5%+2.1 pts4.5%3.4%
Current asthma11.0%+0.8 pts10.0%10.2%
COPD8.6%+2.1 pts8.6%6.5%
Cancer (excluding skin cancer)5.6%-2.1 pts7.6%7.7%
Arthritis28.1%+2.9 pts29.9%25.2%
Depression17.5%-4.1 pts19.5%21.6%
All teeth lost (age 65+)22.7%+10.1 pts18.5%12.6%

Health behaviors

Adults withHereMSU.S.
Current smoking18.1%+5.3 pts16.9%12.8%
Binge drinking11.8%-4.1 pts13.6%15.9%
No leisure-time physical activity37.5%+12.3 pts34.0%25.2%
Short sleep (under 7 hours)43.7%+7.6 pts38.4%36.1%

Prevention

Adults withHereMSU.S.
No health insurance (age 18 to 64)12.8%+1.7 pts11.5%11.1%
Routine checkup in the past year83.3%+6.5 pts81.6%76.8%
Dental visit in the past year9.0%-52.7 pts9.3%61.7%
Taking blood pressure medicine (if high)80.0%+4.5 pts79.7%75.5%
Cholesterol screening86.0%about the same86.2%86.2%
Colorectal cancer screening (age 45 to 75)62.0%-1.7 pts61.8%63.7%
Mammogram in the past 2 years (women 50 to 74)76.9%+0.8 pts74.0%76.1%

Health status

Adults withHereMSU.S.
Fair or poor general health28.8%+9.0 pts24.4%19.8%
Frequent mental distress18.3%+1.8 pts17.3%16.5%
Frequent physical distress15.3%+2.0 pts14.8%13.3%

Disability

Adults withHereMSU.S.
Any disability39.7%+9.3 pts38.1%30.4%
Mobility disability21.5%+7.7 pts18.8%13.8%
Cognitive disability18.9%+4.6 pts17.5%14.3%
Hearing disability6.4%about the same8.1%6.8%
Vision disability9.6%+4.3 pts7.0%5.3%
Self-care disability7.3%+3.5 pts5.3%3.8%
Independent living disability12.6%+4.5 pts10.4%8.1%

Social needs

Adults withHereMSU.S.
Lack of social and emotional support34.4%+9.8 pts28.9%24.6%
Food insecurity in the past year33.6%+17.7 pts22.4%15.9%
Received SNAP (food stamps) in the past year24.1%+11.3 pts13.6%12.8%
Housing insecurity in the past year25.4%+12.4 pts16.8%13.0%
Threat of utility shutoff in the past year18.5%+10.5 pts11.3%8.0%
Lack of reliable transportation17.6%+9.1 pts11.9%8.5%

Share of adults (18 and older unless noted), crude prevalence. Differences are compared with the U.S.; green is better than the national rate, red is worse. These are model-based estimates, not counts.

Frequently asked questions

What is the obesity rate in Jackson, MS?
About 46.0% of adults in Jackson, MS have obesity, compared with 40.4% in Mississippi and 33.3% nationwide. That ranks #113 of 417 cities and towns in Mississippi.
How common is diabetes in Jackson, MS?
About 18.4% of adults have diagnosed diabetes (Mississippi 15.5%, U.S. 12.1%).
What share of adults smoke in Jackson, MS?
About 18.1% of adults currently smoke cigarettes, compared with 12.8% nationwide.
How accurate are these numbers?
They are CDC model-based estimates built from national survey data and local population data, not counts from local health records. Small areas have wider margins of error.

Source: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health · Last updated 12/01/2025 · 2025 release. Share of adults, crude prevalence.