top of page

Alabama

A silhouette of the state of Alabama

Basic Statistics

Alabama's Appalachian counties have a population of 3,302,235 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024)

​

37 of Alabama's 67 counties lie within the Appalachian Region

Alabama is home to the southernmost county in Appalachia—Macon County

​

Alabama is the 7th-most impoverished state in the U.S., with 16.2% of residents earning 100% or less of the Federal Poverty Level. Similarly, 16.2% of residents living Appalachian counties live in extreme poverty.

​

More than 1 out of every 7 adults (15.6%) in Alabama's Appalachian counties has not graduated from high school.

Looking for More Data?

​

Check out APPLI's Infographics database for state- and county-level data and downloadable graphics.

Alabama 05.png
Alabama - Literacy Background Slide (12-29-24).png
Literacy
The image is a graphic shaped like the outline of the state of Alabama, filled with a dark red color. At the top of this shape, there are five simplistic, human figure icons aligned horizontally. The first three figures on the left are white, while the two figures on the right are gray. Below these icons, large white text reads, "Nearly 2 out of 3." Below this, in smaller white text, it states, "adults living in Alabama’s Appalachian counties read at or below an 8th Grade level."

Literacy in Alabama

The image is a vertical bar divided into three equal sections. The top section is bright red with "26.3%" written in white text. The middle section is orange with "39.4%" in black text. The bottom section is green with "34.4%" in black text. Each section occupies approximately one-third of the bar's height, and the text in each section represents a percentage value.

26.3% of adults living in Alabama's Appalachian counties read below a 3rd Grade level

39.4% of adults read between a 3rd and 8th Grade level

34.4% of Alabama adults are proficient in reading texts above an 8th Grade level

Alabama 00.png
Alabama - Numeracy Background Slide (01-11-25).png
Numeracy
The image is a silhouette of the state of Alabama filled with a dark blue color. At the top, there are five simplified figures representing people, aligned horizontally. Three of these figures are white, and two are orange. Below the figures, a bold, white statement reads "Nearly 3 out of 4." Further below, smaller white text states, "adults living in Alabama’s Appalachian counties struggle with basic math."

Numeracy in Alabama

Alabama - Numeracy Bar.png

39.6% of adults living in Alabama's Appalachian counties struggle to solve math problems that require more than 1 step

34.4% of Alabama adults struggle to solve math problems that require more than 3 steps

26% of adults are proficient in math taught above an 8th Grade level

Alabama 10.png
Education Data

Alabama Education Data by County

Bibb County

The image is an infographic highlighting statistics about Bibb County, Alabama, as part of the Appalachian Learning Initiative. The top of the image displays the title, "Appalachian Learning Initiative Bibb County, Alabama," followed by "Population: 21,868". The left side of the graphic shows an illustration of five human figures in a gradient of gray to red, representing a statistic. Below this illustration, large text states "72.3% of Bibb County adults read at or below an 8th Grade level." In the center, there is a map depicting a section of Alabama counties, color-coded and labeled, including Bibb, Jefferson, Shelby, Chilton, Tuscaloosa, and Hale. The right side features additional statistics in bold red text: "31% of Bibb County residents earn below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level," "19% of Bibb County adults have not completed high school," and "8.1% of Bibb County residents lack health insurance." At the bottom left is the logo "APPLI Appalachian Learning Initiative" with a URL, "www.appli.org." The bottom right indicates, "National Center for Education Statistics, 2020" and social media icons with "Follow us @APPLIOrg".
Download
Percentage of Adults Reading
At or Below an 8th Grade Level

72.3%

Percentage of Adults Who Struggle
to Solve Math Problems
with More Than Three Steps

81.9%

Percentage of Adults Who Have
Not Graduated High School
or Achieved an Equivalent Certificate

19.0%

The image is an infographic highlighting socioeconomic statistics for Bibb County, Alabama, as part of the Appalachian Learning Initiative. The background is dark blue with white text. At the top, it states the population of Bibb County as 21,868. Below, it shows five figures, one colored orange, representing the statistic that 81.9% of Bibb County adults struggle with basic math. A map of the region is displayed, indicating Bibb and neighboring counties like Tuscaloosa, Jefferson, Shelby, Hale, and Chilton, each with different colors. To the right of the map, the infographic lists that 20.5% of residents live in extreme poverty, and 20.3% rely on SNAP for nutrition assistance. Below the figures, it mentions that 10.1% of residents spend at least 50% of their income on housing. The bottom section includes the Appalachian Learning Initiative logo and social media icons, along with a note that the data is from the National Center for Education Statistics, 2020.
Download
Alabama 23.jpeg
Resources

Alabama Adult Education Resources

Horizon School.png
Literacy Council of Central Alabama

2301 1st Ave. N., #102
Birmingham, AL 35203

Charge for Services:

No

Counties Served:

  • Blount

  • Jefferson

  • Shelby

  • St. Clair

  • Walker

Services Offered

  • Adult Literacy

Delivery Model:

  • In-Person

  • Virtual

  • Hybrid In-Person/Virtual

Contact Info:

Steve Hannum

Email
(205) 541-7722
Horizon School.png
The Horizons School

2018 15th Ave. S.
Birmingham, AL 35205

Charge for Services:

Yes

Counties Served:

  • Jefferson

Services Offered

  • Adult Literacy

  • Adult Numeracy

Delivery Model:

  • In-Person

Contact Info:

Shon Jackson

Email
(205) 322-6606
Horizon School.png
Village of Promise

2700 Fairbanks St NW
Huntsville, AL 35816, USA

Charge for Services:

No

Counties Served:

  • Madison

Services Offered

  • Adult Literacy

  • Family Literacy

  • GED/High School Equivalence Prep

Delivery Model:

  • In-Person

Contact Info:

T'Sha Buycks

Email
(256) 536-8052
DeKalb County, AL 11.jpg
Health Data

Alabama Public Health Data

Here are a couple of tips to help users access and utilize the information they'll find:​​

 

  • If a data point reads "Suppressed," this means that there were fewer than 10 cases in a jurisdiction. Because of this, the exact numbers have been hidden to protect the patients' identities.
     

  • Incidence and mortality rates are rates per 100,000 residents (e.g., HIV Diagnosis Rate)
     

  • Numbers that are expressed as percentages represent the percentage of the population living with a given health issue
     

  • The Pearson Correlation Coefficient shows the correlation between low literacy proficiency and a given health condition. Numbers range from -1.0 (a Perfect Negative correlation) to 1.0 (a Perfect Positive correlation). The closer the number is to -1.0 or 1.0, the higher the correlation between low literacy skills and the health condition.
     

  • Our sources for these data may be found on our Resources page in the Citations section.

All Cancer Incidence
(2021)

Regional Rate (Per 100k)
(or)
Prevalence
Statewide Rate
(or)
Prevalence
National Rate
(or)
Prevalence

436.2

431.4

444.4

Pearson Correlation Coefficient

0.2

The image presents a horizontal correlation scale ranging from -1.0 to 1.0. On the left end, -1.0 is labeled "Perfect Negative Correlation" and on the right end, 1.0 is labeled "Perfect Positive Correlation." The center, marked as 0, is labeled "No Correlation." The scale is segmented into different correlation strengths: "Strong Negative Correlation" (-1.0 to -0.7), "Moderate Negative Correlation" (-0.6 to -0.4), "Weak Negative Correlation" (-0.3 to -0.1), "Weak Positive Correlation" (0.1 to 0.3), "Moderate Positive Correlation" (0.4 to 0.6), and "Strong Positive Correlation" (0.7 to 1.0).
A graphic showing cancer incidence in Alabama's Appalachian region from 2017-2021. A map highlights counties shaded in purple, representing varying cancer diagnosis rates. Pickens and Calhoun Counties, labeled with 502.9 and 493.2 cases per 100,000 residents respectively, have the highest rates. The text notes that the regional average rate is 436.2 diagnoses per 100,000 people, higher than the statewide rate of 431.4 but lower than the national rate of 444.4. A color scale at the bottom ranges from light to dark purple, representing rates from 369.3 to 502.9.
Full-Width Graphic
A graphic showing cancer incidence in Alabama's Appalachian region from 2017-2021. A map highlights counties shaded in purple, representing varying cancer diagnosis rates. Pickens and Calhoun Counties, labeled with 502.9 and 493.2 cases per 100,000 residents respectively, have the highest rates. The text notes that the regional average rate is 436.2 diagnoses per 100,000 people, higher than the statewide rate of 431.4 but lower than the national rate of 444.4. A color scale at the bottom ranges from light to dark purple, representing rates from 369.3 to 502.9.
Social Media Graphic
A graphic showing cancer incidence in Alabama's Appalachian region from 2017-2021. A map highlights counties shaded in purple, representing varying cancer diagnosis rates. Pickens and Calhoun Counties, labeled with 502.9 and 493.2 cases per 100,000 residents respectively, have the highest rates. The text notes that the regional average rate is 436.2 diagnoses per 100,000 people, higher than the statewide rate of 431.4 but lower than the national rate of 444.4. A color scale at the bottom ranges from light to dark purple, representing rates from 369.3 to 502.9.
Colbert County, AL 06.jpg
Social Determinants Data

Alabama Social Determinants Data

The Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) are non-medical factors that influence health outcomes, and include the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, as well as the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life (World Health Organization, 2025).

 

Similarly, the Social Determinants of Learning (SDOL)™ framework defines SDOLs as "social and structural factors outside the individual learner, often beyond the traditional reach of teachers and schools, that can affect learning” (Levinson & Cohen, 2023). These include healthcare access and quality, economic stability, neighborhood and built environments, social inclusion and non-discrimination, educational access and quality, and family group and structural conflicts.

In both frameworks, social determinants can be predictive or correlated to both health and educational outcomes—people without access to a vehicle may be unable to access high-quality healthcare and educational services; people living with disabilities may face structural and discrimination-related barriers to accessing equitable healthcare and education services compared to able-bodied peers.

The infographics in this section highlight over 20 different social determinants, including measures of poverty, energy burden (the percentage of one's annual income spent on energy costs), housing burden (spending 50% or more of one's annual income on housing), and the prevalence of disabilities.

Please find below some tips to help users access and utilize the information they'll find:

​​

  • Numbers that are expressed as percentages represent the percentage of the population experiencing a given social determinant.
     

  • The counties highlighted generally represent the lowest and highest values of a given measure.
     

  • The Pearson Correlation Coefficient shows the correlation between low literacy proficiency and a given health condition. Numbers range from -1.0 (a Perfect Negative correlation) to 1.0 (a Perfect Positive correlation). The closer the number is to -1.0 or 1.0, the higher the correlation between low literacy skills and the social determinant.
     

  • Our sources for these data may be found on our Resources page in the Citations section.

% Bridges Fair / Poor
(2024)

Regional Prevalence
Statewide Prevalence
National Prevalence

59.7%

63.0%

55.8%

Pearson Correlation Coefficient

0.4

The image presents a horizontal correlation scale ranging from -1.0 to 1.0. On the left end, -1.0 is labeled "Perfect Negative Correlation" and on the right end, 1.0 is labeled "Perfect Positive Correlation." The center, marked as 0, is labeled "No Correlation." The scale is segmented into different correlation strengths: "Strong Negative Correlation" (-1.0 to -0.7), "Moderate Negative Correlation" (-0.6 to -0.4), "Weak Negative Correlation" (-0.3 to -0.1), "Weak Positive Correlation" (0.1 to 0.3), "Moderate Positive Correlation" (0.4 to 0.6), and "Strong Positive Correlation" (0.7 to 1.0).
The image is divided into two sections. On the left, there is a map of Alabama illustrating various counties highlighted in different shades of purple, indicating the condition of bridges: "Fair" or "Poor." Two counties are specifically labeled: Lawrence, in light purple at 47.9%, and Blount, in a darker shade at 87.2%. Below the map, a color gradient ranges from light purple (47.9%) to dark purple (87.2%), representing the condition percentages. The central text states, "Nearly 2 out of every 3 bridges (63.8%) in Alabama’s Appalachian counties are classified as being in either “Fair” or “Poor” condition." The right side features an image of a rusted bridge over water, set against a background of autumnal trees. At the bottom right, the Appalachian Learning Initiative (APPLI) logo is displayed with the website link, "www.appli.org"
Full-Width Graphic
The image is divided into two sections. On the left, there is a map of Alabama illustrating various counties highlighted in different shades of purple, indicating the condition of bridges: "Fair" or "Poor." Two counties are specifically labeled: Lawrence, in light purple at 47.9%, and Blount, in a darker shade at 87.2%. Below the map, a color gradient ranges from light purple (47.9%) to dark purple (87.2%), representing the condition percentages. The central text states, "Nearly 2 out of every 3 bridges (63.8%) in Alabama’s Appalachian counties are classified as being in either “Fair” or “Poor” condition." The right side features an image of a rusted bridge over water, set against a background of autumnal trees. At the bottom right, the Appalachian Learning Initiative (APPLI) logo is displayed with the website link, "www.appli.org"
Social Media Graphic
The image is divided into two sections. On the left, there is a map of Alabama illustrating various counties highlighted in different shades of purple, indicating the condition of bridges: "Fair" or "Poor." Two counties are specifically labeled: Lawrence, in light purple at 47.9%, and Blount, in a darker shade at 87.2%. Below the map, a color gradient ranges from light purple (47.9%) to dark purple (87.2%), representing the condition percentages. The central text states, "Nearly 2 out of every 3 bridges (63.8%) in Alabama’s Appalachian counties are classified as being in either “Fair” or “Poor” condition." The right side features an image of a rusted bridge over water, set against a background of autumnal trees. At the bottom right, the Appalachian Learning Initiative (APPLI) logo is displayed with the website link, "www.appli.org"
bottom of page