Brooklyn has the largest population of the five boroughs with 2.7 million people in 2020 and was the fastest-growing borough over the last decade (9.1 percent).

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Of the 62 counties that comprise New York State, Kings County/Brooklyn ranks 20 in health outcomes and 61st in Health Factors.  Health outcomes represent how healthy a county is right now, in terms of length of life but quality of life as well. Health Factors represent those things we can modify to improve the length and quality of life for residents. Kings (KI) is ranked among the least healthy counties in New York (Lowest 0%-25%).

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Uninsured living in Brooklyn

 

In Kings County, nearly 100% of the population lives in an urban area (more than 500 people per square mile or more than 2,500 people). 8% of Brooklynites are uninsured compared to 10% city-wide and 10% nationally.

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Covid

 

Despite its size, Brooklyn’s cumulative COVID-19 case rate was second-lowest of the five boroughs.  Cumulative hospitalization and death rates were third-lowest. Of the five boroughs, Brooklyn had the highest total COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths as of January 2022, reflecting its relative population size.

Cases 694, 279 Hospitalization 48, 327 Deaths 12,783

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Food Insecurity

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Hunger Free America estimates that the number of individuals who were food insecure in Brooklyn for the 2018 to 2020 three-year period was the highest among the five boroughs, and amounted to an average of 14.1 percent of the borough’s residents. At the neighborhood level, nearly 40 percent of Brighton Beach/Coney Island households received SNAP benefits, and 55 percent of Borough Park/Kensington/Ocean Parkway residents received Medicaid, the highest shares of all neighborhoods in both cases.

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Child Poverty

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Household and child poverty rates in Brooklyn in 2019 (i.e., the share of households and children living below the poverty level) were the second-highest of the five boroughs (after the Bronx). Even so, both its household and child poverty rates declined since 2010 and by larger differences than for citywide, resulting in narrower gaps.

 

Among Brooklyn’s neighborhoods, Brownsville/Ocean Hill had the highest household and child poverty rates (33.4 percent and 47.4 percent, respectively) while Park Slope/Carroll Gardens/Red Hook had the lowest (7.1 percent and 6.6 percent, respectively) in 2019.

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The four neighborhoods with the largest reductions in their child poverty rates between 2010 and 2019 within the borough (Flatbush/Midwood, Crown Heights North/ Prospect Heights, East New York/Starrett City and Bedford-Stuyvesant) had declines that ranged from 16 percentage points to 24 percentage points.

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Asthma

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Using data from the 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, the American Lung Association estimates that there are about 237,000 people in Kings County with asthma, or about 9.3% of the county population.  This is higher than the national average of 7.7%.

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Cancer

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In terms of types of cancer found in Brooklyn, prostate cancer is still the cancer with higher incidence and mortality rate for males followed by lung and colon and colorectal cancers. For females, breast cancer has higher incidence and mortality rates followed by lung, colorectal and colon, uterus and thyroid cancer.

 

Per 100,000; Colorectal 102.8; Prostate 139.6; Breast 116.1; Lungs 38.7

Communities with the highest rates of invasive malignant tumors include Canarsie, Flatlands, East Flatbush and Farragut at 1062, per 100,000. NYS Department of Health.

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Maternal Mortality

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Maternal Mortality is defined as the Death of a woman during pregnancy or within one year from the end of pregnancy that is due to a pregnancy complication. At 33% Brooklyn had the highest number of cases of the 5 boroughs, but ranked second to the Bronx in the percentage of maternal mortality. In 2017 Brooklyn had the highest rate at 28 per 100,000. Maternal Mortality and Severe Maternal Morbidity rates are highest among black women throughout New York City. Per 100,000 23 African American  and 16 per 100K Latinas. According to the New York City Department of Health’s April 2021 the leading causes of pregnancy-related death were embolism (20%), hemorrhage (20%), mental health conditions (15%).

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Opioid-related Deaths

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Kings County ranks 4th lowest in Opioid among New York State Counties, at 15%.

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Diabetes

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According to the New York State Department of Health Kings County/Brooklyn an estimated 8.4% - 11.7% have been diagnosed with diabetes.

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Cardiovascular

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The rate of cardiovascular deaths in Kings County/Brooklyn is 278. 7 per 100,000 slightly higher than the New York city rate of 273.8 per 100,000

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