Introduction
Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis, which is made of skin and mucosal tissue that otherwise covers the penis’ glans. Circumcision is a fairly common practice. While some believe there are health benefits that accompany circumcision, including a lower risk of urinary tract infections, penile cancer, and infection in the prepuce, others say it is an often unnecessary surgical intervention with its associated risks and pain.
All of the states where rates of circumcision are the highest are in the Midwestern United States, followed by the Northeast, the South, and then the Western Coastal United States, which has the lowest rates of circumcision in the United States. In 2009, 75% of newborn infant males in the Midwestern United States were circumcised, while only 25% of newborn infant males were circumcised in the Western United States.
| # | State | Circumcision Rates | Jewish Population | Muslim Population Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | 91% | 2,310 | 1% |
| 2 | Kentucky | 86% | 12,500 | < 1% |
| 3 | Michigan | 84% | 87,905 | 1% |
| 4 | Ohio | 84% | 151,615 | 1% |
| 5 | Indiana | 83% | 25,145 | < 1% |
| 6 | Iowa | 81% | 5,475 | 1% |
| 7 | Wisconsin | 81% | 33,455 | 1% |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | 79% | 434,165 | 1% |
| 9 | Hawaii | 77% | 7,100 | < 1% |
| 10 | North Dakota | 77% | 400 | 1% |
| 11 | South Dakota | 77% | 250 | < 1% |
| 12 | New Hampshire | 76% | 10,120 | < 1% |
| 13 | Missouri | 75% | 64,275 | < 1% |
| 14 | Nebraska | 75% | 9,350 | < 1% |
| 15 | Oklahoma | 75% | 4,425 | < 1% |
| 16 | Rhode Island | 75% | 18,750 | < 1% |
| 17 | Tennessee | 74% | 22,800 | 1% |
| 18 | Virginia | 74% | 150,595 | 1% |
| 19 | Kansas | 73% | 17,425 | 1% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 73% | 1,150 | < 1% |
| 21 | Georgia | 72% | 12,872 | < 1% |
| 22 | South Carolina | 72% | 16,820 | < 1% |
| 23 | Connecticut | 71% | 118,350 | 1% |
| 24 | Maine | 70% | 12,550 | < 1% |
| 25 | Arkansas | 67% | 2,225 | 2% |
| 26 | Vermont | 67% | 7,865 | < 1% |
| 27 | Maryland | 66% | 238,600 | 1% |
| 28 | Massachusetts | 65% | 293,080 | 1% |
| 29 | New Jersey | 65% | 546,950 | 3% |
| 30 | Illinois | 63% | 297,735 | 1% |
| 31 | Minnesota | 59% | 65,900 | 1% |
| 32 | New York | 58% | 1,772,470 | 2% |
| 33 | Colorado | 56% | 98,400 | < 1% |
| 34 | Texas | 51% | 176,000 | 1% |
| 35 | Montana | 50% | 1,495 | < 1% |
| 36 | North Carolina | 50% | 45,935 | < 1% |
| 37 | New Mexico | 47% | 12,625 | < 1% |
| 38 | Louisiana | 45% | 14,900 | < 1% |
| 39 | Utah | 33% | 5,650 | 1% |
| 40 | Florida | 31% | 657,095 | < 1% |
| 41 | California | 23% | 1,187,990 | 1% |
| 42 | Oregon | 17% | 4,065 | 1% |
| 43 | Arizona | 16% | 108,075 | 1% |
| 44 | Nevada | 10% | 76,300 | < 1% |
| 45 | Washington | 10% | 75,350 | < 1% |
Circumcision Rates by State
Arizona
Circumcision Rates
16%
Ranked in the US
#43
108,075
Ranked in the US
#13
Arkansas
Circumcision Rates
67%
Ranked in the US
#25
2,225
Ranked in the US
#45
California
Circumcision Rates
23%
Ranked in the US
#41
1,187,990
Ranked in the US
#2
Colorado
Circumcision Rates
56%
Ranked in the US
#33
98,400
Ranked in the US
#14
Connecticut
Circumcision Rates
71%
Ranked in the US
#23
118,350
Ranked in the US
#12
Florida
Circumcision Rates
31%
Ranked in the US
#40
657,095
Ranked in the US
#3
Georgia
Circumcision Rates
72%
Ranked in the US
#21
12,872
Ranked in the US
#30
Hawaii
Circumcision Rates
77%
Ranked in the US
#9
7,100
Ranked in the US
#38
Illinois
Circumcision Rates
63%
Ranked in the US
#30
297,735
Ranked in the US
#6
Indiana
Circumcision Rates
83%
Ranked in the US
#5
25,145
Ranked in the US
#23
Iowa
Circumcision Rates
81%
Ranked in the US
#6
5,475
Ranked in the US
#41
Kansas
Circumcision Rates
73%
Ranked in the US
#19
17,425
Ranked in the US
#26
Kentucky
Circumcision Rates
86%
Ranked in the US
#2
12,500
Ranked in the US
#33
Louisiana
Circumcision Rates
45%
Ranked in the US
#38
14,900
Ranked in the US
#29
Maine
Circumcision Rates
70%
Ranked in the US
#24
12,550
Ranked in the US
#32
Maryland
Circumcision Rates
66%
Ranked in the US
#27
238,600
Ranked in the US
#8
Massachusetts
Circumcision Rates
65%
Ranked in the US
#28
293,080
Ranked in the US
#7
Michigan
Circumcision Rates
84%
Ranked in the US
#3
87,905
Ranked in the US
#15
Minnesota
Circumcision Rates
59%
Ranked in the US
#31
65,900
Ranked in the US
#18
Missouri
Circumcision Rates
75%
Ranked in the US
#13
64,275
Ranked in the US
#19
Montana
Circumcision Rates
50%
Ranked in the US
#35
1,495
Ranked in the US
#48
Nebraska
Circumcision Rates
75%
Ranked in the US
#14
9,350
Ranked in the US
#36
Nevada
Circumcision Rates
10%
Ranked in the US
#44
76,300
Ranked in the US
#16
New Hampshire
Circumcision Rates
76%
Ranked in the US
#12
10,120
Ranked in the US
#35
New Jersey
Circumcision Rates
65%
Ranked in the US
#29
546,950
Ranked in the US
#4
New Mexico
Circumcision Rates
47%
Ranked in the US
#37
12,625
Ranked in the US
#31
New York
Circumcision Rates
58%
Ranked in the US
#32
1,772,470
Ranked in the US
#1
North Carolina
Circumcision Rates
50%
Ranked in the US
#36
45,935
Ranked in the US
#21
North Dakota
Circumcision Rates
77%
Ranked in the US
#10
Ranked in the US
#50
Ohio
Circumcision Rates
84%
Ranked in the US
#4
151,615
Ranked in the US
#10
Oklahoma
Circumcision Rates
75%
Ranked in the US
#15
4,425
Ranked in the US
#42
Oregon
Circumcision Rates
17%
Ranked in the US
#42
4,065
Ranked in the US
#43
Pennsylvania
Circumcision Rates
79%
Ranked in the US
#8
434,165
Ranked in the US
#5
Rhode Island
Circumcision Rates
75%
Ranked in the US
#16
18,750
Ranked in the US
#25
South Carolina
Circumcision Rates
72%
Ranked in the US
#22
16,820
Ranked in the US
#27
South Dakota
Circumcision Rates
77%
Ranked in the US
#11
Ranked in the US
#51
Tennessee
Circumcision Rates
74%
Ranked in the US
#17
22,800
Ranked in the US
#24
Texas
Circumcision Rates
51%
Ranked in the US
#34
176,000
Ranked in the US
#9
Utah
Circumcision Rates
33%
Ranked in the US
#39
5,650
Ranked in the US
#40
Vermont
Circumcision Rates
67%
Ranked in the US
#26
7,865
Ranked in the US
#37
Virginia
Circumcision Rates
74%
Ranked in the US
#18
150,595
Ranked in the US
#11
Washington
Circumcision Rates
10%
Ranked in the US
#45
75,350
Ranked in the US
#17
West Virginia
Circumcision Rates
91%
Ranked in the US
#1
2,310
Ranked in the US
#44
Wisconsin
Circumcision Rates
81%
Ranked in the US
#7
33,455
Ranked in the US
#22
Wyoming
Circumcision Rates
73%
Ranked in the US
#20
1,150
Ranked in the US
#49