Health Profile of Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston 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
Charleston Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
General Health Overview
| Metric | Charleston | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy (years) | 78.0 | 75.8 | 78.3 |
| Uninsured Population (%) | 6.1% | 9.6% | 8.4% |
| Self-Rated Poor Health | 12.9% | 19.6% | 16.3% |
Life expectancy in Charleston is 78.0 years, about 2.1 years longer than the South Carolina average of 75.8 years. The uninsured rate is 6.1%, lower than the South Carolina average of 9.6%. Self-rated poor health is reported by 12.9% of residents, lower than the South Carolina average of 19.6%.
Population by Age
Older residents
46,155 residents in Charleston are age 50 or older.
- 85+ 2,760 883 men · 1,876 women
- 75–84 6,254 2,533 men · 3,720 women
- 65–74 12,352 5,478 men · 6,874 women
- 50–64 24,790 11,951 men · 12,839 women
Younger residents
22,836 residents in Charleston are age 17 or younger.
- 12–17 6,299 3,112 boys · 3,187 girls
- 7–12 6,512 3,498 boys · 3,014 girls
- 3–7 5,635 2,853 boys · 2,782 girls
- 0–3 4,390 2,004 boys · 2,386 girls
About 6,890 residents in Charleston (5.0% of the population) are older than the area's life expectancy of 78.0 years.
The highlighted slice of the age axis is the share of residents older than the life-expectancy mark.
Disease Prevalence
| Disease / Condition | Charleston | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 9.8% | 14.2% | 11.3% |
| Cancer | 5.6% | 6.4% | 6.9% |
| Heart Diseases | 5.2% | 7.4% | 7.1% |
| Adult Obesity | 29.4% | 39.9% | 34.3% |
The rate of diabetes in Charleston is about 31% lower than in South Carolina. The rate of heart disease in Charleston is about 30% lower than in South Carolina. The rate of obesity in Charleston is about 26% lower than in South Carolina.
Health Behaviors
| Behavior | Charleston | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 13.7% | 21.5% | 19.0% |
| Binge Drinking | 21.4% | 16.0% | 16.5% |
| Sedentary Lifestyle | 18.9% | 30.0% | 25.1% |
The rate of sedentary lifestyle in Charleston is about 37% lower than in South Carolina. The rate of smoking in Charleston is about 36% lower than in South Carolina. The rate of binge drinking in Charleston is about 34% higher than in South Carolina.
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 157,892 cigarettes a day, 4.7 million a month, or 57.6 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 1.7 million minutes a day and 633.9 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Charleston is 78.0 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.04 lifetimes a day, or 15 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 | Charleston | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Pollution (μg/m³) | 6.73 | 6.97 | 6.09 |
With an annual average of 6.7 µg/m³ of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), air quality in Charleston is good — generally safe air quality for the vast majority of residents.
Charleston, SC Health Compared With Nearby Cities
How Charleston, SC compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Life expectancy | Uninsured | Obesity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SC | 138,300 | 78.0 yrs #2/3 | 6.1% #1/3 | 29.4% #1/3 |
| Hanahan, SC | 21,136 | 78.2 yrs | 11.3% | 36.9% |
| North Charleston, SC | 123,884 | 74.6 yrs | 15.4% | 37.0% |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Charleston, South Carolina has an overall health index grade of B, making it notably better than South Carolina, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about health in Charleston, South Carolina.
Is Charleston, South Carolina a healthy place to live?
Charleston, South Carolina 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 Charleston, South Carolina?
People in Charleston, South Carolina can expect to live 78.0 years on average, 2.1 years longer than the South Carolina average of 75.8.
How many people lack health insurance in Charleston, South Carolina?
6.1% of residents in Charleston, South Carolina have no health insurance, about 1 in 16 people, 3.5 points below the South Carolina rate of 9.6%.
What is the obesity rate in Charleston, South Carolina?
29.4% of adults in Charleston, South Carolina are classified as obese, about 1 in 3, 10.5 points below the South Carolina rate of 39.9%.
What health issue is more common in Charleston, South Carolina than elsewhere?
Compared with South Carolina as a whole, binge drinking stands out most: the adult rate here is 21.4%, about 34% higher than the South Carolina rate of 16.0%.
How many cigarettes do smokers in Charleston, South Carolina go through, and how much life does that cost?
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 157,892 cigarettes a day, 4.7 million a month, or 57.6 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 1.7 million minutes a day and 633.9 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Charleston is 78.0 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.04 lifetimes a day, or 15 lifetimes a year.
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