2026 Health Of Women And Children Report | 2026 Health Of Women And Children Report

Executive BriefForewordIntroductionNational SnapshotFindingsHealth OutcomesSocial and Economic FactorsClinical CareBehaviorsState RankingsAppendixMeasures Table - WomenMeasures Table - ChildrenData Source DescriptionsMethodologyReferencesState Summaries

US Summary

2026 Health of Women and Children Report 2026 Health of Women and Children Report – Executive Brief 2026 Health of Women and Children Report – State Summaries 2026 Health of Women and Children Report – Concentrated Disadvantage County-Level Maps 2026 Health of Women and Children Report – Measures Table 2026 Health of Women and Children Report – Infographics 2026 Health of Women and Children Report – Report Data (All States)

The United Health Foundation is proud to release the America’s Health Rankings® 2026 Health of Women and Children Report. This edition marks the 10th anniversary of the report, providing a decade of insights into the health and well-being of women and children across the United States.

The report highlights meaningful long-term progress in infant health outcomes and several factors that shape women’s and children’s health, including health behaviors, clinical care and socioeconomic conditions. Yet, these improvements have not consistently coincided with improved health outcomes.

Severe maternal morbidity increased 36% between 2016 and 2023 and maternal mortality increased 34% between 2014-2018 and 2020-2024.
Several measures of maternal behaviors and infant health improved over the decade. Cigarette smoking during pregnancy decreased 71% between 2014 and 2024, neonatal abstinence syndrome decreased 25% between 2016 and 2023 and infant mortality decreased 7% between 2012-2013 and 2022-2023.
Drug deaths among women increased 50% between 2014-2016 and 2022-2024, though the rate improved for the first time in a decade in the most recent period.
Suicide was a leading cause of child mortality across the decade. Child mortality increased 18% between 2012-2014 and 2022-2024.
Cigarette smoking among women decreased 52% between 2013-2014 and 2023-2024; however, e-cigarette use among women increased 121% between 2018 and 2023-2024.
Pediatricians increased 18% between September 2019 and September 2025; but well-child visits decreased 3% between 2016-2017 and 2023-2024.
Children living in poverty decreased 29% between 2014 and 2024. At the same time, housing cost burden decreased 13%, but increased 3% since 2019.
Food insecurity decreased 7% between 2012-2014 and 2022-2024, but increased 28% since 2019-2021.
The healthiest state for women and children was Massachusetts. This was followed by Vermont, New Hampshire, Minnesota and Connecticut. Louisiana had the most opportunity to improve, followed by Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma and West Virginia.

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