Did you know there are 169 million women in the United States? Studies show that one-third of women postpone necessary medical care due primarily to a lack of access and rising health care costs.

Even though there are efforts nationwide to support women’s health, some states provide better conditions for women to thrive than others. To highlight the best states for women’s health and those that need to improve most, the nonprofit SmileHub compared each of the 50 states across 18 key metrics. The data set ranges from women’s life expectancy at birth to the quality of women’s hospitals to the affordability of a doctor’s visit. They also looked at the states with the highest and lowest maternal mortality rates and states that have the largest and smallest share of obese women.

Women’s health care in the United States includes a wide range of services from preventive screenings and reproductive care to pregnancy, childbirth, and management of chronic conditions. While the U.S. offers advanced medical technology and specialized providers, access and outcomes vary widely depending on factors such as income, insurance coverage, race, and geographic location.

Many women benefit from preventive services like annual exams, cancer screenings, and prenatal care, yet significant disparities remain, particularly in maternal health, mental health care, and reproductive services. Efforts to improve women’s health care increasingly focus on expanding access, addressing health inequities, and supporting a more holistic approach that considers physical, mental, and social well-being.

Key Stats

• Massachusetts has the lowest uninsured rate among women, 7.8 times lower than Texas, which has the highest rate.
• New Jersey has the lowest depression rate for women, 2.3 times lower than West Virginia, which has the highest rate.
• California has the lowest maternal mortality rate, 3.9 times lower than Tennessee, which has the highest rate.

Best States for Women’s Health	States in Need of Improvement
1. Massachusetts	41. Wyoming
2. Connecticut	42. Nevada
3. Hawaii	43. Louisiana
4. New York	44. Alabama
5. Vermont	45. Mississippi
6. Minnesota	46. Tennessee
7. New Jersey	47. Texas
8. California	48. West Virginia
9. New Hampshire	49. Arkansas
10. Maryland	50. Oklahoma