STATE VITALS: FLORIDA

Among the 50 U.S. states, Florida ranks 3rd highest for cesarean delivery rates, and 4th highest in the proportion of births to unmarried mothers and preterm births.

The Sunshine State also has a higher homicide rate and higher mortality rate from drug overdose deaths than the national rate, and has a significant larger proportion of its population without health insurance than the national average.

However, among the ten leading causes of death in the U.S.,  Florida has lower mortality rates than the national rate for the following causes: heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and influenza/pneumonia.