How many Americans have high blood pressure?
How many have it, how many know, and how many have it under control, by age, by sex and in every state.
Nearly half of US adults, 47.7%, have high blood pressure. But only about 6 in 10 of them know it (59.2%), and only about 1 in 5 (20.7%) have it under control, below 130/80. Out of every 100 adults, that’s about 48 with high blood pressure and only about 10 with it controlled.
- It’s common. Nearly half of adults have it, and more than 7 in 10 adults 60 and older do.
- Many people don’t know. About 4 in 10 adults with high blood pressure have never been told. Among adults 18 to 39 who have it, only about 1 in 4 know.
- Control is the weak link. About half take medicine for it, but only about 1 in 5 have it below 130/80.
- It hasn’t moved. Awareness, treatment and control showed no real change from 2017 to 2020 to 2021 to 2023.
- The South is highest. West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Kentucky lead the state map. Colorado and Utah are lowest.
What high blood pressure does to your body
High blood pressure means your blood pushes too hard on the walls of your arteries. Doctors count it as 130/80 or higher, or taking medicine to bring it down.
It rarely hurts. That’s the problem. It works slowly, on the vessels that feed your brain, eyes, heart and kidneys.
Your arteries are like a garden hose. Turn the tap up too high and nothing bursts right away, but over the years the hose wears thin and springs leaks. High blood pressure works the same way on your heart, brain and kidneys, quietly, which is why the reading matters more than how you feel.
- Too much pressureBlood pushes hard on artery walls, every heartbeat, all day.
- Arteries wear downOver years they get stiff, narrow and scarred. You don’t feel it.
- Organs pay the priceLess blood gets through, or a vessel blocks or bursts.
Stroke. A blood vessel in the brain gets blocked or bursts. High blood pressure is the biggest cause of stroke you can control.
Memory and thinking. Years of damage to the brain’s small vessels is linked to a higher risk of dementia.
Heart attack. Narrowed, damaged arteries can cut off blood to the heart muscle.
Heart failure. Pumping against high pressure for years wears the heart out.
Kidney disease. It harms the tiny vessels that filter your blood, and it’s one of the top causes of kidney failure.
Vision loss. The tiny blood vessels at the back of the eye can be damaged too.
Why people get high blood pressure
For most people there’s no single cause. It builds up slowly from your genes, your age and your daily habits. That’s why it’s so common: the CDC says about 9 in 10 Americans will develop it at some point in their lives.
The good news is that most of the causes are things you can change.
- Too much saltSalt makes your body hold extra water, so more fluid pushes through the same pipes. Most of it comes from packaged and restaurant food, not the salt shaker.
- Extra weightA bigger body needs more blood, and the heart pushes harder to move it.
- Not moving enoughRegular activity keeps arteries flexible. The goal is about 150 minutes of brisk walking or similar a week.
- Drinking a lotHeavy drinking raises blood pressure over time.
- Smoking and nicotineNicotine raises blood pressure and damages artery walls.
- AgeArteries naturally get stiffer as you get older.
- Family historyIt runs in families, through genes and shared habits.
- DiabetesAbout 3 in 4 people with diabetes also have high blood pressure.
- A reading that’s “a bit high”120 to 129 on top is called elevated. It often turns into high blood pressure if nothing changes.
Why most people miss it
High blood pressure usually has no symptoms. Most people who have it feel completely fine, which is why about 4 in 10 who have it don’t know. Headaches and nosebleeds are often blamed on it, but they’re not a reliable sign.
The only way to know is to measure it: at your doctor’s office, on the free machines many pharmacies have, or with a home blood pressure cuff.
Three things people often think
Want more than a yearly reading? See clinics near you that track blood pressure and heart health.
Out of every 100 adults, about 10 have it under control
Here’s how the numbers stack up, from having high blood pressure to having it under control. “Adults” means everyone 18 and older, the age group both national surveys measure.
| Out of every 100 adults | Adults | Share of those with it |
|---|---|---|
| Have high blood pressure | 47.7 | 100% |
| Know they have it | 28.2 | 59.2% |
| Take medicine for it | 24.4 | 51.2% |
| Have it under control (below 130/80) | 9.9 | 20.7% |
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, NHANES, August 2021 to August 2023 (Data Brief No. 511). Counts per 100 adults are our math from its shares.
longevityclinicshub.comWhat these numbers mean
The big drop is at the end. Of the 48 adults in every 100 who have it, about 28 know, about 24 take medicine, and only about 10 have it below 130/80.
Picture a room of 10 adults
Rounded from NCHS Data Brief No. 511 (our math): 47.7% have it, and of those 59.2% know, 51.2% take medicine and 20.7% are under control.
longevityclinicshub.comSo in most families and most offices, several people have high blood pressure, and at least one of them likely doesn’t know yet.
Who has it most
Age makes the biggest difference
High blood pressure climbs steadily with age. So do knowing about it and having it controlled, but even in the oldest group fewer than 1 in 3 have it under control.
| Age | Have it | Know it | Under control |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 to 39 | 23.4% | 27.2% | 4.5% |
| 40 to 59 | 52.5% | 56.7% | 18.1% |
| 60 and older | 71.6% | 73.7% | 29.2% |
Source: NCHS Data Brief No. 511. “Have it” is a share of all adults in the age group; “Know it” and “Under control” are shares of those who have it.
longevityclinicshub.comMen and women
Men are more likely to have high blood pressure (50.8%, compared with 44.6% of women). But among people who have it, women are more likely to know (63.6% vs 55.2%) and to have it controlled (22.8% vs 18.9%).
The gap is widest in young adults. Among 18 to 39 year olds who have it, 23.3% of men know, compared with 34.6% of women.
High blood pressure by state
The state map comes from a different CDC survey: adults who say a doctor or nurse has told them they have high blood pressure. It’s the best way to compare states. West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Kentucky are highest; Colorado and Utah are lowest.
Source: CDC BRFSS 2025, adults who have been told they have high blood pressure. Striped tiles show 2023: California didn’t run the survey in 2025, and Mississippi and Nevada didn’t get enough answers for a 2025 estimate. Why this is lower than 47.7%: the map counts people who have been told, and many people with high blood pressure have not been.
longevityclinicshub.comEvery state, ranked
Click any column to sort. States with a LongevityClinicsHub city guide link to the clinics there.
| · | Typical state (median) | 34.1% |
| 1 | West Virginia | 43.8% |
| 2 | Alabama | 43.3% |
| 3 | Arkansas | 42.4% |
| 4 | Louisiana | 41.5% |
| 5 | Kentucky | 41.3% |
| 6 | South Carolina | 39.9% |
| 7 | Oklahoma | 39.5% |
| 8 | Tennessee | 38.5% |
| 9 | Delaware | 38.0% |
| 10 | Georgia | 37.2% |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | 37.2% |
| 12 | Indiana | 37.1% |
| 13 | Maryland | 36.6% |
| 14 | Michigan | 36.5% |
| 15 | North Carolina | 36.3% |
| 16 | Missouri | 36.2% |
| 17 | Ohio | 36.1% |
| 18 | Virginia | 36.0% |
| 19 | Maine | 36.0% |
| 20 | Florida | 35.7% |
| 21 | Kansas | 35.1% |
| 22 | Connecticut | 34.4% |
| 23 | Rhode Island | 34.3% |
| 24 | Hawaii | 34.1% |
| 25 | Alaska | 34.1% |
| 26 | Vermont | 33.9% |
| 27 | Illinois | 33.7% |
| 28 | Texas | 33.7% |
| 29 | Oregon | 33.7% |
| 30 | New Hampshire | 33.6% |
| 31 | Nebraska | 33.2% |
| 32 | New York | 32.9% |
| 33 | Arizona | 32.9% |
| 34 | Iowa | 32.8% |
| 35 | North Dakota | 32.5% |
| 36 | Wisconsin | 32.4% |
| 37 | Montana | 32.2% |
| 38 | Minnesota | 32.1% |
| 39 | Wyoming | 32.0% |
| 40 | South Dakota | 32.0% |
| 41 | New Jersey | 31.8% |
| 42 | Washington | 31.7% |
| 43 | Massachusetts | 31.3% |
| 44 | New Mexico | 31.1% |
| 45 | Idaho | 31.0% |
| 46 | District of Columbia | 29.6% |
| 47 | Utah | 27.7% |
| 48 | Colorado | 27.4% |
| – | California | 30.6% (2023) |
| – | Mississippi | 46.0% (2023) |
| – | Nevada | 34.0% (2023) |
*Likely range: the CDC’s 95% confidence interval. States whose ranges overlap may not truly differ. Rank 1 is the highest share. California, Mississippi and Nevada show their 2023 rate and aren’t ranked, because the CDC has no 2025 estimate for them.
Is it getting better?
Measured nationally, not much. The share of adults with high blood pressure, and the shares who know, are treated and are controlled, all stayed about the same between the last two survey periods.
2017 to March 2020 compared with August 2021 to August 2023. NCHS found no significant change in awareness, treatment or control.
In the state survey, the share of adults who say they’ve been told has crept up, from 30.8% in the typical state in 2011 to 34.1% in 2025.
| Year | Adults told (typical state) |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 30.8% |
| 2013 | 31.4% |
| 2015 | 30.9% |
| 2017 | 32.3% |
| 2019 | 32.3% |
| 2021 | 32.4% |
| 2023 | 34.0% |
| 2025 | 34.1% |
Source: CDC BRFSS, all states and DC (median), 2011 to 2025.
longevityclinicshub.comWhat to do about it
When to get checked
Here’s what US guidelines say for adults. Your doctor may suggest more, based on your history.
| Check | Who and how often | Guideline |
|---|---|---|
| Blood pressure reading | Adults 18 and older. Every year from 40, or if at higher risk. Every 3 to 5 years from 18 to 39 after a normal reading. Confirm a high office reading with readings outside the office before a diagnosis. | USPSTF, 2021 |
| Know your category | Normal: under 120 and under 80. Elevated: 120 to 129 and under 80. Stage 1: 130 to 139 or 80 to 89. Stage 2: 140 or higher, or 90 or higher. | AHA/ACC guideline, 2025 |
| Home blood pressure monitor | A useful tool alongside your care team. Don’t rely on cuffless devices such as smartwatches for accurate readings yet. | AHA/ACC guideline, 2025 |
| A reading above 180/120 | Needs medical attention. If a repeat reading 5 minutes later is still that high and you have symptoms, call 911. | NHLBI |
| Blood sugar (A1C or fasting glucose) | Adults 35 to 70 with overweight or obesity. | USPSTF, 2021 |
| Cholesterol and 10-year heart risk | Adults 40 to 75 with a risk factor such as high blood pressure: a statin is recommended if 10-year risk is 10% or higher. | USPSTF, 2022 |
| Wearables, 24-hour monitors and other extras | Ask your doctor. | Ask your doctor |
Sources: USPSTF statements, the 2025 AHA/ACC guideline and NHLBI, with their years in the table.
Where to start
Start with your regular doctor. A blood pressure reading takes a minute, and guidelines say every adult should have one, every year from age 40. If a reading is high, a home monitor helps confirm it. For many people, the 2025 guideline starts with a few months of lifestyle changes before medicine.
Longevity care can add to that, with closer tracking, home and 24-hour readings, and a look at the numbers that travel with blood pressure, like blood sugar and cholesterol. If you’re curious, read biomarker testing vs. your annual physical or see clinics near you.
See clinics near you that check blood pressure, cholesterol and the other numbers behind heart health.
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LongevityClinicsHub. (2026, October). How many Americans have high blood pressure? https://longevityclinicshub.com/learn/high-blood-pressure-statistics/ (Data: CDC NCHS and CDC BRFSS.) Common questions
What percentage of US adults have high blood pressure?
47.7%, or nearly half, based on blood pressure measured in person from August 2021 to August 2023. That counts anyone at 130/80 or higher, or taking medicine for it. In the state survey, where people say whether a doctor has told them, the typical state was at 34.1% in 2025.
Which state has the highest rate of high blood pressure?
West Virginia, where 43.8% of adults said they had been told they have high blood pressure in 2025. Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Kentucky came next. Mississippi had the highest rate in 2023 (46.0%) but has no 2025 estimate. Colorado was lowest, at 27.4%, just below Utah (27.7%).
What blood pressure counts as high?
Under the 2025 American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology guideline, 130/80 or higher is stage 1 high blood pressure, and 140/90 or higher is stage 2. Under 120/80 is normal, and 120 to 129 with a bottom number under 80 is called elevated.
Why don’t so many people know they have it?
Because it usually doesn’t feel like anything. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute says high blood pressure usually causes no symptoms until it has already caused serious problems. A reading is the only way to know.
Why is the national number higher than the state map?
They measure different things. The national number comes from blood pressure measured in person, so it includes people who have never been told. The state map counts adults who say a doctor has told them, and the CDC says that likely undercounts the real total.
Why do California, Mississippi and Nevada show 2023 numbers?
California didn’t run the CDC’s state survey in 2025, and Mississippi and Nevada didn’t collect enough answers to meet the CDC’s minimum. The map and table show their 2023 rates instead: California 30.6%, Mississippi 46.0% and Nevada 34.0%.
Why is the national data from 2021 to 2023?
It’s the newest measured data. The national exam survey takes two years to collect, and the results for August 2021 to August 2023 were published in October 2024.
Prepared by the LongevityClinicsHub editorial team. How we research and source these guides.
Sources
- NCHS, Hypertension Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control Among Adults Age 18 and Older: United States, August 2021 to August 2023. Data Brief No. 511 (October 2024).
- CDC, BRFSS Prevalence Data, 2011 to present: adults who have been told they have high blood pressure, 2025 (and 2023 for California, Mississippi and Nevada; state medians 2011 to 2025).
- CDC, 2025 BRFSS Overview: which states have no 2025 estimate, and why.
- CDC, High Blood Pressure Facts (updated June 2, 2026): deaths in 2024, and the note that self-reported maps likely undercount.
- CDC, Risk Factors for High Blood Pressure (updated October 13, 2026): the causes you can and can’t change, the lifetime share, and the share with diabetes.
- NHLBI, High Blood Pressure: Symptoms.
- American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology, 2025 High Blood Pressure Guideline: Top things to know (published August 14, 2025).
- US Preventive Services Task Force: Hypertension in Adults: Screening (2021), Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes: Screening (2021), Statin Use for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease (2022).
- Our math: “out of every 100 adults” (the NCHS share with high blood pressure times the share aware, treated or controlled), the room of 10 figures, state ranks (by the published value, with an exact tie in name order), and the fractions in the text.
This guide is independent editorial content, written to orient, not to diagnose. It is not medical advice, and it is no substitute for a conversation with a licensed physician who knows your history. Where we describe what clinics claim, the claim belongs to the clinic.
Educational reading, not medical advice. Talk to a clinician about your own health.