Health Profile of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee 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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C
Milwaukee Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
General Health Overview
| Metric | Milwaukee | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy (years) | 75.7 | 79.6 | 78.3 |
| Uninsured Population (%) | 9.1% | 5.2% | 8.4% |
| Self-Rated Poor Health | 19.4% | 13.2% | 16.3% |
Life expectancy in Milwaukee is 75.7 years, about 3.9 years shorter than the Wisconsin average of 79.6 years. The uninsured rate is 9.1%, higher than the Wisconsin average of 5.2%. Self-rated poor health is reported by 19.4% of residents, higher than the Wisconsin average of 13.2%.
Population by Age
Older residents
148,271 residents in Milwaukee are age 50 or older.
- 85+ 7,567 2,288 men · 5,280 women
- 75–84 17,090 7,096 men · 9,995 women
- 65–74 36,462 16,460 men · 20,002 women
- 50–64 87,152 41,606 men · 45,546 women
Younger residents
138,699 residents in Milwaukee are age 17 or younger.
- 12–17 41,557 21,258 boys · 20,299 girls
- 7–12 40,669 20,776 boys · 19,892 girls
- 3–7 31,895 16,189 boys · 15,706 girls
- 0–3 24,578 12,463 boys · 12,115 girls
About 23,225 residents in Milwaukee (4.1% of the population) are older than the area's life expectancy of 75.7 years.
The highlighted slice of the age axis is the share of residents older than the life-expectancy mark.
Disease Prevalence
| Disease / Condition | Milwaukee | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 11.8% | 9.9% | 11.3% |
| Cancer | 4.7% | 7.3% | 6.9% |
| Heart Diseases | 5.3% | 6.7% | 7.1% |
| Adult Obesity | 41.8% | 34.9% | 34.3% |
The rate of cancer in Milwaukee is about 36% lower than in Wisconsin. The rate of heart disease in Milwaukee is about 20% lower than in Wisconsin. The rate of obesity in Milwaukee is about 20% higher than in Wisconsin.
Health Behaviors
| Behavior | Milwaukee | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 22.7% | 18.5% | 19.0% |
| Binge Drinking | 23.6% | 23.6% | 16.5% |
| Sedentary Lifestyle | 28.0% | 21.7% | 25.1% |
The rate of sedentary lifestyle in Milwaukee is about 29% higher than in Wisconsin. The rate of smoking in Milwaukee is about 23% higher than in Wisconsin.
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 951,403 cigarettes a day, 28.5 million a month, or 347.3 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 10.5 million minutes a day and 3.8 billion a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Milwaukee is 75.7 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.26 lifetimes a day, or 96 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 | Milwaukee | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Pollution (μg/m³) | 7.40 | 6.34 | 6.09 |
With an annual average of 7.4 µg/m³ of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), air quality in Milwaukee is good — generally safe air quality for the vast majority of residents.
Milwaukee, WI Health Compared With Nearby Cities
How Milwaukee, WI compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Life expectancy | Uninsured | Obesity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 561,873 | 75.7 yrs #2/3 | 9.1% #3/3 | 41.8% #3/3 |
| Wauwatosa, WI | 48,477 | 79.7 yrs | 2.7% | 29.6% |
| West Allis, WI | 59,584 | 75.2 yrs | 6.9% | 33.8% |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Milwaukee, Wisconsin has an overall health index grade of C, making it about on par with Wisconsin, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about health in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
What is the health grade for Milwaukee, Wisconsin?
Milwaukee, Wisconsin has a Map AI Health Index grade of C, based on life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and the physical environment; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average.
What is the life expectancy in Milwaukee, Wisconsin?
People in Milwaukee, Wisconsin can expect to live 75.7 years on average, 3.9 years shorter than the Wisconsin average of 79.6.
What percentage of Milwaukee, Wisconsin residents are uninsured?
9.1% of residents in Milwaukee, Wisconsin have no health insurance, about 1 in 11 people, 3.9 points above the Wisconsin rate of 5.2%.
What percentage of Milwaukee, Wisconsin residents are obese?
41.8% of adults in Milwaukee, Wisconsin are classified as obese, about 1 in 2, 6.9 points above the Wisconsin rate of 34.9%.
Which health problem stands out most in Milwaukee, Wisconsin?
Compared with Wisconsin as a whole, physical inactivity stands out most: the adult rate here is 28.0%, about 29% higher than the Wisconsin rate of 21.7%.
How many cigarettes do smokers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin go through, and how much life does that cost?
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 951,403 cigarettes a day, 28.5 million a month, or 347.3 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 10.5 million minutes a day and 3.8 billion a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Milwaukee is 75.7 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.26 lifetimes a day, or 96 lifetimes a year.
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