Summary health statistics for the U.S. population: National Health Interview Survey, 2000

This report presents health statistics from the 2000 National Health Interview Survey for the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the United States, classified by age, sex, race and Hispanic or Latino origin, family income, poverty status, education, place of residence, region of residence, and, where appropriate, health insurance coverage. The topics covered are health status and limitations in activities, special education or early intervention services, injuries and poisonings, health care access and utilization, and health insurance coverage.

The NHIS is a household, multistage probability sample survey conducted annually by interviewers of the U.S. Census Bureau for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Household interviews were completed for 100,618 persons living in 38,633 households, reflecting a household response rate of 89%.

Nearly 7 in 10 persons were in excellent or very good health in 2000, and fewer than 1 in 10 were in fair or poor health. About 31 million people (11%) were limited in their usual activities due to one or more chronic health conditions, and about 3 million people (2%) required the help of another person with activities of daily living such as bathing and dressing. Persons with the least education and the lowest incomes were the most likely to be limited in their ability to work. About 5% of children received special education or early intervention services. The three leading causes of medically attended injury and poisoning episodes were falls, being struck by a person or an object, and transportation. Among people under age 65 years, about 40 million (17%) did not have any health insurance coverage.