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Florida's Health
How healthy is Florida?
How Kids Die — A Racial Divide
For all young Floridians, the death rate since 1976 from unintentional injury has fallen by two-thirds. The homicide rate is about the same. The suicide rate has increased.
- From 2014 through 2017, for children, youths and young adults, deaths by unintentional injury, homicide and suicide outnumbered deaths from disease by nearly four to one. Fatal disease is rare among youth.
- For young whites, the top three causes of death are unintentional injury, suicide and cancer. Homicide is fourth.
- For young blacks, the top three are homicide — more than double the number of white-victim homicides — followed by unintentional injury and suicide.
Drug Deaths
Gadsden County had the lowest rate in Florida at 3.7 drug deaths per 100,000 (2012-16). Manatee’s 29.3 rate was the highest.
| Major County | Rate Per 100,000 Residents |
| Palm Beach | 22.6 |
| Pinellas | 22.2 |
| Duval | 22.0 |
| Broward | 16.0 |
| Hillsborough | 13.9 |
| Orange | 13.4 |
| Miami-Dade | 5.4 |
Suicides
The 10th-leading cause of death in Florida (2015-17)
| Major County | Rate Per 100,000 Residents |
| Pinellas | 18.1 |
| Duval | 15.4 |
| Palm Beach | 14.3 |
| Hillsborough | 12.9 |
| Broward | 11.3 |
| Orange | 10.4 |
| Miami-Dade | 8.2 |
Homicides
Miami-Dade led the state in sheer numbers with 1,144 homicides (2012-16). Among the most populous counties, Duval is Florida’s murder capital.
| Major County | Rate Per 100,000 Residents |
| Duval | 12.1 |
| Miami-Dade | 8.7 |
| Orange | 7.5 |
| Palm Beach | 6.7 |
| Hillsborough | 5.7 |
| Broward | 5.2 |
| Pinellas | 4.8 |
Checkup: Florida’s Major Counties
Miami-Dade County
A Study in Contradictions
Population: 2.75 million
Miami-Dade is overwhelmingly Hispanic (68%). The population is younger, with a higher percentage of black residents, than the Florida average. More than a fifth of residents aren’t proficient in English. Among major Florida counties, Miami-Dade has the lowest household median income — $5,000 below the state average.
The Good News
Miami-Dade scores the best in health outcomes among major Florida counties. Premature ageadjusted mortality is the lowest among major Florida counties.
- The gap between black and white infant mortality is closing, and the overall infant mortality rate is better than Florida’s. Adult smoking and obesity are also relatively low. The county is much better than the state average in access to exercise opportunities and has the lowest rate of DUI deaths among major urban counties.
- The county health department worked with other groups on the adoption of Active Design Miami Guidelines and Complete Street guidelines to steer new private- and public-sector projects toward designs that encourage physical activity and better health.
The Bad News
- Miami-Dade has a high rate of uninsured residents and the highest health-care costs — some $2,700 higher than the state average.
- It has the highest share of kids among major counties eligible for free or reduced-price lunches.
- The county often has the nation’s highest HIV rate. Opioid abuse is rising.
- The immunization rate, while above 90% since 2013, is in the bottom quarter for Florida.
