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Explore national- and state-level data for hundreds of health, environmental and socioeconomic measures, including background information about each measure. Use features on this page to find measures; view subpopulations, trends and rankings; and download and share content.
Maryland Value:
Percentage of adults age 65 and older who reported their health was very good or excellent
Maryland Rank:
Percentage of adults age 65 and older who reported their health was very good or excellent
49.8% - 44.2%
44.1% - 42.3%
42.2% - 40.8%
40.7% - 37.0%
36.9% - 29.1%
No Data
US Value: 40.5 %
Top State(s): New Hampshire: 49.8 %
Bottom State(s): Mississippi: 29.1 %
Definition: Percentage of adults age 65 and older who reported their health was very good or excellent
Data Source and Years(s): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2023
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2026.
Self-reported health status measures how individuals perceive their health. It is a subjective measure of health-related quality of life that is not limited to specific health conditions or outcomes, but also factors in social support, ability and ease of functioning and other socioeconomic, environmental and cultural components. Health status is used to track the health of a population over time and is an independent predictor of mortality, which makes this measure a good predictor of both short- and long-term mortality as well as future use of health care, particularly among those age 65 and older.
According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, the prevalence of adults age 65 and older who report “very good” or “excellent” health is higher among:
People with higher levels of education are more likely to be healthier. While older adults cannot change whether or not they received a high school education during young adulthood, education remains one of the most important drivers of health. Health literacy skills, for example, are key predictors of an individual's well-being. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has multiple plans to help individuals or organizations improve health literacy among older adults.
Mental health is also essential to overall wellness. Studies have found that social and emotional support can increase the number of mentally healthy days for older individuals. In particular, having supportive relationships is a strong predictor of an individual's overall health. Therefore, policies and interventions aimed at promoting social ties and reducing social isolation could help to advance population health.
Other ways to support healthy aging for individuals include visiting the doctor for regular health screenings, staying active, eating nutritious foods and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule.
Health status is an overall health and well-being measure used by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to summarize and gauge progress toward achieving Healthy People 2030 objectives.
Brown, Derek S., William W. Thompson, Matthew M. Zack, Sarah E. Arnold, and John P. Barile. “Associations Between Health-Related Quality of Life and Mortality in Older Adults.” Prevention Science 16, no. 1 (January 1, 2015): 21–30. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-013-0437-z.
Clouston, Sean A. P., Marcus Richards, Dorina Cadar, and Scott M. Hofer. “Educational Inequalities in Health Behaviors at Midlife: Is There a Role for Early-Life Cognition?” Journal of Health and Social Behavior 56, no. 3 (September 2015): 323–40. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022146515594188.
Kaplan, Robert M., and Ron D. Hays. “Health-Related Quality of Life Measurement in Public Health.” Annual Review of Public Health 43, no. 1 (April 5, 2022): 355–73. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-052120-012811.
Keyes, C. L., B. Michalec, R. Kobau, H. Zahran, M. M. Zack, and E. J. Simoes. “Social Support and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Older Adults --- Missouri, 2000.” MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 54, no. 17 (May 6, 2005): 433–37. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5417a4.htm.
Lorem, Geir, Sarah Cook, David A. Leon, Nina Emaus, and Henrik Schirmer. “Self-Reported Health as a Predictor of Mortality: A Cohort Study of Its Relation to Other Health Measurements and Observation Time.” Scientific Reports 10 (December 2020): 4886. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-61603-0.
Myers, David G. “Close Relationships and Quality of Life.” In Well-Being: The Foundations of Hedonic Psychology, edited by Daniel Kahneman, Ed Diener, and Norbert Schwarz, 376–93. New York: Russell Sage Foundation Publications, 1999. https://davidmyers.org/uploads/Close.Relationships.pdf.
Perrin, Nancy A., Matt Stiefel, David M. Mosen, Alan Bauck, Elizabeth Shuster, and Erin M. Dirks. “Self-Reported Health and Functional Status Information Improves Prediction of Inpatient Admissions and Costs.” The American Journal of Managed Care 17, no. 12 (December 1, 2011): e472-478. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22216871/.
Umberson, Debra, and Jennifer Karas Montez. “Social Relationships and Health: A Flashpoint for Health Policy.” Journal of Health and Social Behavior 51, no. 1_suppl (March 2010): S54–66. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022146510383501.
America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.
We have developed detailed analyses on the health of key populations in the country, including women and children, seniors and those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to a deep dive into health disparities across the country.
