Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are common infections passed on through sexual contact, often without symptoms, that can potentially lead to serious health issues if left untreated.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are approximately 20 million new STD cases in the United States each year.
Newsweek analyzed 2024 data from the World Population Review to determine which states have the highest and lowest STD rates, measured as the number of cases per 100,000 people. The data measures cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis.
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This ranking highlights the significant variations in STD rates across the United States, often linked to factors such as access to healthcare, contraception availability and the prevalence of sex education.
Highest STD Rates by State
- Mississippi has the highest STD rate, driven by high levels of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. The state reported 750 chlamydia cases, 427.7 gonorrhea cases and 28.1 syphilis cases per 100,000 people. Health officials attribute these high rates to Mississippi’s strained healthcare system, which limits residents’ access to essential services, including STD testing and treatment.
- Alaska
Ranking second, with the highest rate of chlamydia in the country at 760.4 cases per 100,000 people. Gonorrhea is also prevalent, with a rate of 269.8 cases per 100,000. Experts believe the state’s high STD rates are due to a combination of unprotected sex and limited access to healthcare, particularly in remote areas. - Louisiana
Reporting 730.1 chlamydia cases and 354.5 gonorrhea cases per 100,000 people, Louisiana is the state with the third-highest STD rate. While there was a period of decline in STD cases between 2017 and 2018, recent years have seen an increase in infections, particularly for gonorrhea and syphilis. - South Carolina
This state has the fourth-highest chlamydia rate at 702.7 cases per 100,000 people and the fifth-highest gonorrhea rate at 309.2 cases per 100,000 people. Columbia, the state capital, is one of the cities with the highest STD rates in the nation. - Alabama
With a chlamydia rate of 625.2 cases and a gonorrhea rate of 321.3 cases per 100,000 people, the state faces significant public health challenges, contributing to its high STD rates.
The Impact of Sex Education on STD Rates
Several states in the U.S. still implement abstinence-only sex education programs, which focus exclusively on promoting abstinence until marriage as the sole method of preventing STDs and pregnancies.
These programs are often criticized for providing limited information about contraception and safe sex practices.
According to research from the Guttmacher Institute, abstinence-only programs have been shown to be ineffective in reducing STD rates among adolescents.
Data suggests that states with abstinence-only education programs tend to have higher rates of STDs. Mississippi and Louisiana, both of which stress abstinence in their sex education curricula, rank among the states with the highest STD rates. Similarly, Alabama and Texas, which also emphasize abstinence, report significantly higher STD rates compared to states that offer comprehensive sex education.
This correlation indicates that abstinence-only education may not effectively reduce STD rates. Instead, the lack of comprehensive information on safe sex practices in these states potentially leaves young people underprepared to protect themselves against STDs, leading to higher infection rates.
Comprehensive sex education, which includes information on both abstinence and contraceptive methods, has been shown to result in better sexual health outcomes.
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