Health Profile of Seattle, Washington
Seattle 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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A+
Seattle Top grade
Source: Map AI Methodology
General Health Overview
| Metric | Seattle | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy (years) | 81.2 | 79.6 | 78.3 |
| Uninsured Population (%) | 4.2% | 6.3% | 8.4% |
| Self-Rated Poor Health | 9.1% | 15.4% | 16.3% |
Life expectancy in Seattle is 81.2 years, about 1.5 years longer than the Washington average of 79.6 years. The uninsured rate is 4.2%, lower than the Washington average of 6.3%. Self-rated poor health is reported by 9.1% of residents, lower than the Washington average of 15.4%.
Population by Age
Older residents
210,991 residents in Seattle are age 50 or older.
- 85+ 12,678 4,508 men · 8,171 women
- 75–84 25,877 10,953 men · 14,925 women
- 65–74 51,671 25,064 men · 26,607 women
- 50–64 120,764 63,034 men · 57,730 women
Younger residents
100,569 residents in Seattle are age 17 or younger.
- 12–17 28,174 14,278 boys · 13,896 girls
- 7–12 28,721 14,476 boys · 14,245 girls
- 3–7 24,326 12,220 boys · 12,106 girls
- 0–3 19,347 9,733 boys · 9,614 girls
About 21,296 residents in Seattle (2.9% of the population) are older than the area's life expectancy of 81.2 years.
The highlighted slice of the age axis is the share of residents older than the life-expectancy mark.
Disease Prevalence
| Disease / Condition | Seattle | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 6.3% | 10.1% | 11.3% |
| Cancer | 5.4% | 7.2% | 6.9% |
| Heart Diseases | 3.9% | 6.9% | 7.1% |
| Adult Obesity | 20.9% | 32.6% | 34.3% |
The rate of heart disease in Seattle is about 43% lower than in Washington. The rate of diabetes in Seattle is about 37% lower than in Washington. The rate of obesity in Seattle is about 36% lower than in Washington.
Health Behaviors
| Behavior | Seattle | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 9.4% | 16.4% | 19.0% |
| Binge Drinking | 19.3% | 16.2% | 16.5% |
| Sedentary Lifestyle | 12.8% | 20.3% | 25.1% |
The rate of smoking in Seattle is about 43% lower than in Washington. The rate of sedentary lifestyle in Seattle is about 37% lower than in Washington. The rate of binge drinking in Seattle is about 19% higher than in Washington.
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 602,862 cigarettes a day, 18.1 million a month, or 220.0 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 6.6 million minutes a day and 2.4 billion a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Seattle is 81.2 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.16 lifetimes a day, or 57 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 | Seattle | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Pollution (μg/m³) | 5.29 | 5.25 | 6.09 |
With an annual average of 5.3 µg/m³ of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), air quality in Seattle is good — generally safe air quality for the vast majority of residents.
Seattle, WA Health Compared With Nearby Cities
How Seattle, WA compares with the 1 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Life expectancy | Uninsured | Obesity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | 746,776 | 81.2 yrs #2/2 | 4.2% #2/2 | 20.9% #2/2 |
| Mercer Island, WA | 25,053 | 84.4 yrs | 1.2% | 18.6% |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Seattle, Washington has an overall health index grade of A+, making it notably better than Washington, and far better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about health in Seattle, Washington.
What is the health grade for Seattle, Washington?
Seattle, Washington has a Map AI Health Index grade of A+, based on life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and the physical environment; an A+ grade means residents are among the healthiest and longest-living in the country.
How long do people live in Seattle, Washington?
People in Seattle, Washington can expect to live 81.2 years on average, 1.5 years longer than the Washington average of 79.6.
What percentage of Seattle, Washington residents are uninsured?
4.2% of residents in Seattle, Washington have no health insurance, about 1 in 24 people, 2.2 points below the Washington rate of 6.3%.
What is the obesity rate in Seattle, Washington?
20.9% of adults in Seattle, Washington are classified as obese, about 1 in 5, 11.6 points below the Washington rate of 32.6%.
How many cigarettes do smokers in Seattle, Washington go through, and how much life does that cost?
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 602,862 cigarettes a day, 18.1 million a month, or 220.0 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 6.6 million minutes a day and 2.4 billion a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Seattle is 81.2 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.16 lifetimes a day, or 57 lifetimes a year.
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