The Us Hospital Count: A Comprehensive Overview

The United States has a lot of hospitals—more than any other country in the world. There are over 6,000 hospitals in the US, with some sources citing 6,090, 6,093, and 6,129. The number of hospitals has fluctuated over the years due to factors like population growth, competition, industry consolidation, and service specialization. Healthcare mergers and acquisitions have also contributed to the changing number of hospitals. The US has the most hospitals in the world, while Japan, with a larger population, has only 8% of the number of hospitals in the US. California has the most hospitals of any state in the US, with over 400. More than half of the hospitals in the US are non-profit, and around 20% are government-owned or operated. For-profit hospitals make up about 18% of all hospitals in the country. The US has around 165,000 hospitals.

There are approximately 6,100 hospitals in the US

There are approximately 6,100 hospitals in the United States, according to the American Hospital Association (AHA). This number includes a few hundred federal government-operated hospitals, which often specialize in providing care for active military personnel or specific patient populations. The remaining hospitals are non-federal, with the majority being community hospitals.

The number of hospitals in the US has grown since the first public hospital, NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, opened in 1736. Factors like growing populations, competition, industry consolidation, and service specialization have contributed to the ever-fluctuating total. As of April 2024, Definitive Healthcare's HospitalView product tracked over 7,300 active hospitals in the US, though this number may vary depending on how each organization classifies hospital types.

The breakdown of hospitals by type includes short-term acute care hospitals, critical access hospitals, long-term acute care hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, and religious non-medical health care institutions. Short-term acute care hospitals are the most common type, while religious non-medical health care institutions are the least common. Critical access hospitals, which are small, rural hospitals that serve underserved communities, play an essential role in improving healthcare access.

The number of hospitals varies by state, with California having the highest number at over 400, followed by Texas with over 350, and Florida with over 200. Since 2010, more than 100 rural hospitals have closed, and over 450 more are at risk of closure. This trend is expected to continue, with up to 25% of rural hospitals in danger of shutting down.

36% of hospitals are non-profit organisations

The United States is home to thousands of hospitals, with sources citing different numbers. While one source states that there are 6,093 hospitals in the country, another mentions tracking 7,378 active hospitals as of April 2024. These hospitals vary in their ownership and operational models, including federal and state-owned, private, and non-profit organisations.

Non-profit hospitals, which comprise approximately 58% of US hospitals, are those that do not aim to generate profits for shareholders. According to the IRS and Affordable Care Act, they are classified as charitable organisations and are exempt from paying federal income and state and local property taxes. This tax exemption amounts to $28 billion annually.

Non-profit hospitals use their funding sources to build financial reserves, ensuring they can meet the medical needs of their communities, even during financial distress. They provide billions of dollars in charitable benefits annually, including financial assistance, unreimbursed Medicaid care, and benefits through means-tested government programs.

Despite the benefits, non-profit hospitals have faced criticism for behaving similarly to for-profit hospitals. Scholars and policymakers have questioned whether they are meeting a standard of "charity care" and general benevolence commensurate with their tax exemptions. Defenders of non-profit hospitals argue that their value lies in the trust and assurance they provide to vulnerable patients. The contract failure theory suggests that non-profit hospitals are important in markets with information asymmetries, where patients can be confident they will not be exploited.

While the number and nature of hospitals vary across the United States, non-profit hospitals play a significant role in the country's healthcare system, contributing to community support and patient trust.

California has the most hospitals

California is the state with the most hospitals in the United States. There are over 6,000 hospitals in the US, with the number reaching several thousand since the opening of the country's first public hospital in 1736. California, the most populous state in the nation, is home to some of the country's best universities, most beautiful landscapes, and wealthiest and most influential residents. It is no surprise, then, that the state also boasts the highest number of hospitals.

The number of hospitals in a state is closely linked to its population. As the state with the highest population, California's high number of hospitals is to be expected. The state is known for its famous residents, from Hollywood stars to Silicon Valley technologists, and its booming industries, including Napa Valley's wine production and ancient Redwood and Sequoia forests.

California's diverse and expansive population necessitates a comprehensive healthcare system, and the state is home to a range of hospital types. Short-term acute care hospitals are the most common type of hospital in California and the United States, with over 3,800 facilities across the country. These hospitals provide traditional inpatient care for injuries, illnesses, or post-surgical recovery.

In addition to short-term acute care hospitals, California also has its fair share of critical access hospitals, which are small, rural hospitals that serve underserved communities. With its vast rural areas, California relies on these hospitals to improve healthcare access for its residents outside of major cities.

The state also has a range of specialty hospitals, including psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, and long-term acute care hospitals. These hospitals cater to specific patient populations and provide specialized care for mental health, intensive therapy, and complex medical conditions requiring extended hospital stays.

California's healthcare system reflects the state's diverse needs and influential position within the United States. With the highest population in the nation, California has responded by developing a robust healthcare infrastructure that serves its residents and solidifies its status as a leader in healthcare provision.

Critical access hospitals are the second most common type

There are over 6,000 hospitals in the United States, with Definitive Healthcare HospitalView tracking over 7,000 active hospitals as of April 2024. The number of hospitals is ever-fluctuating due to factors like growing populations, competition, industry consolidation, and service specialization.

Critical access hospitals (CAHs) are the second most common type of hospital in the U.S., with over 1,300 hospitals nationwide. CAHs are small, rural hospitals that provide healthcare to underserved communities. They are defined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as hospitals that are located in rural areas, which is any area outside of a Metropolitan Statistical Area as outlined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). CAHs must also meet specific distance criteria: they must be located more than 35 miles from another hospital, or more than 15 miles in areas with mountainous terrain or secondary roads only.

CAHs are important because they offer more affordable and accessible healthcare to individuals living in rural areas. They receive most of their payer reimbursements from CMS, and they can also access technical help, educational resources, and grants. CAHs must maintain an annual average length of stay of 96 hours or less per patient for acute inpatient care and furnish 24-hour emergency care services seven days a week. They may also be granted ""swing-bed" approval to provide post-hospital skilled nursing facility-level care in their inpatient beds.

In addition to the 25 inpatient beds, CAHs may operate a psychiatric and/or rehabilitation unit of up to 10 beds each. These units must comply with the Hospital Conditions of Participation. CAHs also have their own Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoP) and separate payment methods. As of January 1, 2004, CAHs are eligible for allowable cost plus 1% reimbursement, although this was subject to a 2% reduction from April 1, 2013, due to sequestration.

The average hospital stay is 5 days

The average hospital stay in the United States varies depending on the type of hospital and the patient's condition. Short-term acute care hospitals are the most common type of hospital in the country, and patients typically receive treatment for a short period. On the other hand, long-term acute care hospitals have an average length of stay of 25 days or more, with some sources citing 30 days or more. These hospitals provide specialized services such as respiratory therapy, head trauma treatment, and pain management.

The average length of hospital stays can also depend on various demographic factors. For example, data from 2019 suggests that people aged 1–64 living below 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL) were the most likely to have had a hospital stay in the past year, with an age-adjusted rate of 10.1%. The rate decreases as the percentage of FPL increases, with those living at 400% or more of FPL being the least likely to have had a hospital stay, at 4.4%.

Additionally, the overall trend in hospital stays for people aged 1–64 has shown a decrease from 5.9% in 2009 to 5.1% in 2014, stabilizing at around 5.9% in 2019. This data indicates that while the average hospital stay in the US might be around 5 days, there are complex factors at play that influence the length of a patient's stay in a hospital.

The number of hospitals in the United States also impacts the average length of hospital stays. As of 2024, there were over 7,000 hospitals in the country, with more than 6,000 of them confirmed by the American Hospital Association in 2025. This extensive network of healthcare facilities, including critical access hospitals, specialty hospitals, and rehabilitation centers, contributes to the varying durations of patient stays based on the availability of beds, resources, and specialized care.

Frequently asked questions