Health Profile of Des Moines County, Iowa
Des Moines County 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 County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
General Health Overview
| Metric | Des Moines County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy (years) | 78.5 | 79.2 | 78.3 |
| Uninsured Population (%) | 3.9% | 5.0% | 8.4% |
| Self-Rated Poor Health | 14.6% | 13.6% | 16.3% |
Life expectancy in Des Moines County is 78.5 years, about 0.8 years shorter than the Iowa average of 79.2 years. The uninsured rate is 3.9%, lower than the Iowa average of 5.0%. Self-rated poor health is reported by 14.6% of residents, higher than the Iowa average of 13.6%.
Population by Age
Older residents
15,466 residents in Des Moines County are age 50 or older.
- 85+ 1,201 495 men · 706 women
- 75–84 2,246 868 men · 1,378 women
- 65–74 4,326 2,145 men · 2,181 women
- 50–64 7,694 3,800 men · 3,894 women
Younger residents
8,114 residents in Des Moines County are age 17 or younger.
- 12–17 2,501 1,238 boys · 1,263 girls
- 7–12 2,450 1,317 boys · 1,133 girls
- 3–7 1,865 1,018 boys · 848 girls
- 0–3 1,297 660 boys · 637 girls
About 2,506 residents in Des Moines County (6.5% of the population) are older than the area's life expectancy of 78.5 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 County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 10.8% | 10.6% | 11.3% |
| Cancer | 7.5% | 7.6% | 6.9% |
| Heart Diseases | 7.5% | 7.3% | 7.1% |
| Adult Obesity | 35.2% | 37.3% | 34.3% |
On average, diseases in Des Moines County are about the same as in Iowa.
Health Behaviors
| Behavior | Des Moines County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 20.1% | 17.6% | 19.0% |
| Binge Drinking | 21.5% | 20.8% | 16.5% |
| Sedentary Lifestyle | 26.5% | 25.4% | 25.1% |
On average, health behaviors in Des Moines County are about the same as in Iowa.
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 60,099 cigarettes a day, 1.8 million a month, or 21.9 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 661,085 minutes a day and 241.3 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Des Moines County is 78.5 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.02 lifetimes a day, or 5.85 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 County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Pollution (μg/m³) | 7.15 | 6.49 | 6.09 |
With an annual average of 7.1 µg/m³ of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), air quality in Des Moines County is good — generally safe air quality for the vast majority of residents.
Des Moines County, IA Health Compared With Nearby Counties
Des Moines County, IA is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 38,487 residents against a local median of 17,281. The measure that sets Des Moines County, IA apart most is uninsured: 3.9%, 20% below the local median of 4.8%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.1% on uninsured, so Des Moines County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Des Moines County, IA has the 2nd lowest uninsured of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Life expectancy | Uninsured | Obesity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines County, IA | 38,487 | 78.5 yrs #5/6 | 3.9% #2/6 | 35.2% #2/6 |
| Henderson County, IL | 6,193 | 80.5 yrs | 2.6% | 35.5% |
| Louisa County, IA | 10,678 | 80.7 yrs | 4.8% | 37.9% |
| Henry County, IA | 20,002 | 79.8 yrs | 4.7% | 36.7% |
| Lee County, IA | 32,893 | 76.9 yrs | 5.4% | 39.9% |
| Hancock County, IL | 17,281 | 81.5 yrs | 5.7% | 34.4% |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Des Moines County, Iowa has an overall health index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Iowa, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about health in Des Moines County, Iowa.
How healthy is Des Moines County, Iowa?
Des Moines County, 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.
Is Des Moines County, Iowa one of the healthiest counties in Iowa?
Des Moines County ranks 63rd healthiest out of 99 counties in Iowa by the Map AI Health Index, which measures life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and the physical environment.
What is the average lifespan in Des Moines County, Iowa?
People in Des Moines County, Iowa can expect to live 78.5 years on average, 0.8 years shorter than the Iowa average of 79.2.
How many people lack health insurance in Des Moines County, Iowa?
3.9% of residents in Des Moines County, Iowa have no health insurance, about 1 in 26 people, 1.1 points below the Iowa rate of 5.0%.
What percentage of Des Moines County, Iowa residents are obese?
35.2% of adults in Des Moines County, Iowa are classified as obese, about 1 in 3, 2.1 points below the Iowa rate of 37.3%.
How many cigarettes do smokers in Des Moines County, Iowa go through, and how much life does that cost?
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 60,099 cigarettes a day, 1.8 million a month, or 21.9 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 661,085 minutes a day and 241.3 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Des Moines County is 78.5 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.02 lifetimes a day, or 5.85 lifetimes a year.
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