Health Profile of Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines 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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B
Des Moines Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
General Health Overview
| Metric | Des Moines | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy (years) | 76.2 | 79.2 | 78.3 |
| Uninsured Population (%) | 7.1% | 5.0% | 8.4% |
| Self-Rated Poor Health | 16.2% | 13.6% | 16.3% |
Life expectancy in Des Moines is 76.2 years, about 3.0 years shorter than the Iowa average of 79.2 years. The uninsured rate is 7.1%, higher than the Iowa average of 5.0%. Self-rated poor health is reported by 16.2% of residents, higher than the Iowa average of 13.6%.
Population by Age
Older residents
62,024 residents in Des Moines are age 50 or older.
- 85+ 3,439 1,295 men · 2,144 women
- 75–84 7,322 2,841 men · 4,481 women
- 65–74 14,864 6,992 men · 7,872 women
- 50–64 36,399 17,919 men · 18,479 women
Younger residents
45,677 residents in Des Moines are age 17 or younger.
- 12–17 13,726 6,934 boys · 6,792 girls
- 7–12 13,007 6,580 boys · 6,427 girls
- 3–7 10,643 5,374 boys · 5,269 girls
- 0–3 8,301 4,179 boys · 4,123 girls
About 9,762 residents in Des Moines (4.7% of the population) are older than the area's life expectancy of 76.2 years.
The highlighted slice of the age axis is the share of residents older than the life-expectancy mark.
Disease Prevalence
| Disease / Condition | Des Moines | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 10.4% | 10.6% | 11.3% |
| Cancer | 5.6% | 7.6% | 6.9% |
| Heart Diseases | 5.9% | 7.3% | 7.1% |
| Adult Obesity | 37.6% | 37.3% | 34.3% |
The rate of cancer in Des Moines is about 26% lower than in Iowa. The rate of heart disease in Des Moines is about 19% lower than in Iowa.
Health Behaviors
| Behavior | Des Moines | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 20.0% | 17.6% | 19.0% |
| Binge Drinking | 22.6% | 20.8% | 16.5% |
| Sedentary Lifestyle | 25.4% | 25.4% | 25.1% |
On average, health behaviors in Des Moines are about the same as in Iowa.
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 322,992 cigarettes a day, 9.7 million a month, or 117.9 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 3.6 million minutes a day and 1.3 billion a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Des Moines is 76.2 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.09 lifetimes a day, or 32 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 | Des Moines | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Pollution (μg/m³) | 6.52 | 6.49 | 6.09 |
With an annual average of 6.5 µg/m³ of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), air quality in Des Moines is good — generally safe air quality for the vast majority of residents.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Des Moines, Iowa has an overall health index grade of B, making it about on par with Iowa, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about health in Des Moines, Iowa.
What is the health grade for Des Moines, Iowa?
Des Moines, Iowa has a Map AI Health Index grade of B, based on life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and the physical environment; a B grade means residents are somewhat healthier than the U.S. average.
How long do people live in Des Moines, Iowa?
People in Des Moines, Iowa can expect to live 76.2 years on average, 3.0 years shorter than the Iowa average of 79.2.
What is the uninsured rate in Des Moines, Iowa?
7.1% of residents in Des Moines, Iowa have no health insurance, about 1 in 14 people, 2.1 points above the Iowa rate of 5.0%.
How common is obesity in Des Moines, Iowa?
37.6% of adults in Des Moines, Iowa are classified as obese, about 1 in 3, about the same as the Iowa rate of 37.3%.
How many cigarettes do smokers in Des Moines, Iowa go through, and how much life does that cost?
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 322,992 cigarettes a day, 9.7 million a month, or 117.9 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 3.6 million minutes a day and 1.3 billion a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Des Moines is 76.2 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.09 lifetimes a day, or 32 lifetimes a year.
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