Health Profile of West Memphis, Arkansas
West Memphis Health Score
The Map AI Health Index is a score that reflects local life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and physical environment to help you quickly compare the overall health and well-being of different areas.
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D
West Memphis Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
General Health Overview
| Metric | West Memphis | Arkansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy (years) | 72.2 | 75.5 | 78.3 |
| Uninsured Population (%) | 9.2% | 9.0% | 8.4% |
| Self-Rated Poor Health | 28.5% | 22.8% | 16.3% |
Life expectancy in West Memphis is 72.2 years, about 3.3 years shorter than the Arkansas average of 75.5 years. The uninsured rate is 9.2%, higher than the Arkansas average of 9.0%. Self-rated poor health is reported by 28.5% of residents, higher than the Arkansas average of 22.8%.
Population by Age
Older residents
7,076 residents in West Memphis are age 50 or older.
- 85+ 292 88 men · 203 women
- 75–84 1,059 440 men · 619 women
- 65–74 1,674 671 men · 1,002 women
- 50–64 4,052 1,852 men · 2,200 women
Younger residents
5,615 residents in West Memphis are age 17 or younger.
- 12–17 1,483 746 boys · 738 girls
- 7–12 1,663 767 boys · 896 girls
- 3–7 1,419 629 boys · 790 girls
- 0–3 1,050 481 boys · 570 girls
About 1,755 residents in West Memphis (8.0% of the population) are older than the area's life expectancy of 72.2 years.
The highlighted slice of the age axis is the share of residents older than the life-expectancy mark.
Disease Prevalence
| Disease / Condition | West Memphis | Arkansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 16.7% | 13.7% | 11.3% |
| Cancer | 5.5% | 7.1% | 6.9% |
| Heart Diseases | 7.8% | 8.7% | 7.1% |
| Adult Obesity | 50.4% | 39.0% | 34.3% |
The rate of obesity in West Memphis is about 29% higher than in Arkansas. The rate of diabetes in West Memphis is about 22% higher than in Arkansas. The rate of cancer in West Memphis is about 22% lower than in Arkansas.
Health Behaviors
| Behavior | West Memphis | Arkansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 26.3% | 23.3% | 19.0% |
| Binge Drinking | 12.1% | 13.9% | 16.5% |
| Sedentary Lifestyle | 38.7% | 33.0% | 25.1% |
The rate of sedentary lifestyle in West Memphis is about 17% higher than in Arkansas.
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 42,625 cigarettes a day, 1.3 million a month, or 15.6 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 468,877 minutes a day and 171.1 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in West Memphis is 72.2 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.01 lifetimes a day, or 4.51 lifetimes a year.
* Source: Shaw M, Mitchell R, Dorling D. "Time for a smoke? One cigarette reduces your life by 11 minutes." BMJ. 2000;320:53.
Illustrative only. This is not an estimate of how many people actually die from smoking each day or year - it's a rough, order-of-magnitude comparison meant to help grasp the scale of smoking in this area. We take no responsibility for any decisions made based on this figure.
Air Quality
| Metric | West Memphis | Arkansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Pollution (μg/m³) | 8.06 | 7.47 | 6.09 |
With an annual average of 8.1 µg/m³ of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), air quality in West Memphis is good — generally safe air quality for the vast majority of residents.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, West Memphis, Arkansas has an overall health index grade of D, making it about on par with Arkansas, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about health in West Memphis, Arkansas.
Is West Memphis, Arkansas a healthy place to live?
West Memphis, Arkansas has a Map AI Health Index grade of D, based on life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and the physical environment; a D grade means residents face somewhat worse health outcomes than the U.S. average.
What is the average lifespan in West Memphis, Arkansas?
People in West Memphis, Arkansas can expect to live 72.2 years on average, 3.3 years shorter than the Arkansas average of 75.5.
How many people lack health insurance in West Memphis, Arkansas?
9.2% of residents in West Memphis, Arkansas have no health insurance, about 1 in 11 people, about the same as the Arkansas rate of 9.0%.
How common is obesity in West Memphis, Arkansas?
50.4% of adults in West Memphis, Arkansas are classified as obese, about 5 in 10, 11.4 points above the Arkansas rate of 39.0%.
What health issue is more common in West Memphis, Arkansas than elsewhere?
Compared with Arkansas as a whole, obesity stands out most: the adult rate here is 50.4%, about 29% higher than the Arkansas rate of 39.0%.
How many cigarettes do smokers in West Memphis, Arkansas go through, and how much life does that cost?
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 42,625 cigarettes a day, 1.3 million a month, or 15.6 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 468,877 minutes a day and 171.1 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in West Memphis is 72.2 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.01 lifetimes a day, or 4.51 lifetimes a year.
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