In 2023, roughly ** percent of community hospitals across the United States were rural hospitals. The number of hospital closures have outweighed openings, leading to an overall decrease in the number of community hospitals in the U.S. in the past years. Rural hospitals are disproportionally affected. Over **** of the decline in the number of community hospitals to date were rural hospitals.
This statistic is compiled from multiple reports from the same source.Â
Community hospitals are defined as all nonfederal, short-term general, and other special hospitals. Other special hospitals include obstetrics and gynecology; eye, ear, nose, and throat; long term acute-care; rehabilitation; orthopedic; and other individually described specialty services. Community hospitals include academic medical centers or other teaching hospitals if they are nonfederal short-term hospitals. Excluded are hospitals not accessible by the general public, such as prison hospitals or college infirmaries.
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American Hospital Association. (January 30, 2025). Number of rural vs. urban community hospitals in the United States from 2017 to 2023 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1614415/number-of-rural-vs-urban-community-hospitals-in-the-us/
American Hospital Association. "Number of rural vs. urban community hospitals in the United States from 2017 to 2023." Chart. January 30, 2025. Statista. Accessed June 25, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1614415/number-of-rural-vs-urban-community-hospitals-in-the-us/
American Hospital Association. (2025). Number of rural vs. urban community hospitals in the United States from 2017 to 2023. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: June 25, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1614415/number-of-rural-vs-urban-community-hospitals-in-the-us/
American Hospital Association. "Number of Rural Vs. Urban Community Hospitals in The United States from 2017 to 2023." Statista, Statista Inc., 30 Jan 2025, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1614415/number-of-rural-vs-urban-community-hospitals-in-the-us/
American Hospital Association, Number of rural vs. urban community hospitals in the United States from 2017 to 2023 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1614415/number-of-rural-vs-urban-community-hospitals-in-the-us/ (last visited June 25, 2025)
Number of rural vs. urban community hospitals in the United States from 2017 to 2023 [Graph], American Hospital Association, January 30, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1614415/number-of-rural-vs-urban-community-hospitals-in-the-us/
