Reflecting the age distribution of the state's population, Florida has a relatively low birthrate and a high death rate. Florida's live birthrate was 13.2 per 1,000 population in 2001. The state's 2000 infant mortality rate was 7 per 1,000 live births. Some 83,971 legal abortions were performed in Florida in 1999, averaging 28 abortions per 1,000 women.
Florida's 2000 death rate, 1,072.2 per 100,000 population, was the fifth highest of all the states and well above the national rate of 873.1, due in part to the state's considerable geriatric population. A better measure is the age-adjusted death rate. For 2000, the age-adjusted death rate for Florida was 828.8 per 100,000 persons, substantially below the national rate of 872. In 2000, Florida exceeded the national rate in deaths from heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, accidents, and suicide. Of the residents 18 years of age and older 23.2% were smokers in 2000. In the same year, the HIV-related death rate was 11.7 per 100,000 population. AIDS cases numbering 85,324 had been reported through 2001.
In 2001, Florida had 202 community hospitals with 216,509 full-time equivalent personnel. In the same year, the total number of beds available was 51,762; admissions totaled 2,207,147. There were 55,402 full-time registered nurses and 7,003 full-time licensed practical nurses in 2001 and 280 physicians per 100,000 population in 2000.
In 2001, the preliminary average cost per inpatient day was $1,248.80. Federal government grants to cover the Medicare and Medicaid services in 2001 totaled $5.4 billion; 2,838,345 enrollees received Medicare benefits that year. At least 17.5% of the population was uninsured in 2002.