The America’s Health Rankings® 2025 Health of Women and Children Report, produced by the United Health Foundation, examines 125 measures of well-being from 34 data sources, offering a comprehensive view of women and children's health nationwide and in each of the 50 states and Washington, D.C.
The ninth edition of the report finds positive trends in childhood obesity, early education enrollment, some clinical care measures and maternal health behaviors. 
However, the report also reveals a continued increase in maternal mortality as well as rising mortality rates among children of all ages.
This year’s report also examines the health of women living in rural communities and highlights how their health needs differ from women in metropolitan areas.
The report’s insights are intended to help policymakers, community leaders and individuals address the needs of different communities across the United States and advance progress in women and children’s health and well-being.
For over 35 years, America’s Health Rankings® has been a trusted leader in public health data analysis, continually evolving to reflect the factors that contribute to population health and well-being.
The America’s Health Rankings platform, produced by the United Health Foundation, is a vital tool for driving meaningful improvements in population health across the country. Policymakers, public health leaders and researchers use these reports to identify and better understand the pressing health challenges and highlight areas of progress in their states.
Explore the America’s Health Rankings 2025 Health of Women and Children Report to gain deeper insights into the health of women and children across the nation.
Key national findings
7%
Overweight or obesity among children improved 7% between 2021-2022 and 2023-2024.
4%
Early childhood education enrollment rose 4% between 2022 and 2023.
19%
Smoking during pregnancy decreased 19% between 2022 and 2023.
Well-child and well-woman visits both increased (4% between 2021-2022 and 2023-2024 and 3% between 2020-2021 and 2022-2023 respectively).
Mortality worsened among several groups
- Maternal mortality increased 36% between 2014-2018 and 2019-2023.
- Child mortality increased 14% between 2018-2020 and 2021-2023.
- Infant mortality increased 4% and neonatal mortality increased 3% between 2020-2021 and 2022-2023.
Women in rural communities
Rates of chronic conditions were higher among women in rural areas compared with their metropolitan counterparts in 2022-2023, including:
- Arthritis: 1.5 times higher (14.0% vs. 9.4%)
- Diabetes: 1.4 times higher (4.6% vs. 3.4%)
- Cancer: 1.4 times higher (3.1% vs. 2.2%)
Spotlight on solutions
UnitedHealth Group and the United Health Foundation have a wide range of programs and partnerships that aim to improve health in response to the challenges identified by this year’s Health of Women and Children Report. Some examples include:
- This year, the United Health Foundation committed more than $7 million in new grants to increase access to maternal and infant health care, address gaps in care for women and children, and grow and support the doula workforce in Georgia, Michigan, New Mexico and Wisconsin.
- A $3.2 million grant partnership with East Carolina University and the United Health Foundation is expanding a statewide telepsychiatry program to support the mental health and well-being of youth in North Carolina by embedding behavioral health providers into community pediatric care clinics.
- UnitedHealth Group has now invested more than $1.2 billion in affordable housing and mixed-income housing developments since 2011, continuing its commitment to address social drivers of health.
- UnitedHealthcare has community-based interventions established in more than 20 locations, half of which are focused on chronic condition management, including diabetes, hypertension and obesity. As a result, since 2021, we have seen a 63% reduction in A1c levels and a 56% reduction in blood pressure among patients participating in programs focused on diabetes prevention and maintenance.
- In partnership with health centers and community organizations, UnitedHealth Group is providing diabetes education and access to fresh, healthy foods for patients in Hawaii living with chronic disease and experiencing food insecurity, resulting in:
- 3.7K pounds of food delivered to communities in need
- 69% of patients had a decrease in A1c
- 76% had a decrease in blood pressure
“Healthy women and children are vital to establishing strong, resilient communities throughout the country. Recent findings from America’s Health Rankings® have identified promising progress in some areas, but also troubling health trends that impact families at their foundation and underscore an urgent need. We must remain steadfast in our commitment to improving health outcomes by supporting women and children’s health, further aligning with our mission of helping people live healthier lives and helping make the health system work better for everyone.”
Dr. Lisa S. | national medical director of maternal child health, UnitedHealthcare
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