HRSA Counties Indexed
53
with HPSA / MUA coverage
State healthcare shortage profile
North Dakota Healthcare Shortage Areas
207 active HRSA Health Professional Shortage Area designations and 57 Medically Underserved Areas across North Dakota.
- Total HPSAs
- 207
- Primary care
- 72
- Mental health
- 67
- Dental
- 68
Highest-density verdict
Current HRSA Data Warehouse records put North Dakota in the highest-density quarter of states and territories. It carries 207 active shortage designations across 53 counties; McLean County has the largest county count at 15. About 54.8% of residents live in a geographic shortage county.
- 207
- Active HPSA designations
- 72
- Primary-care shortages
- 57
- Medically underserved areas
- 54.8%
- Residents in a shortage county
Corpus placement
Where North Dakota sits among all 56 states and territories
North Dakota carries 207 active HPSA designations for a population of 779,094, which is 26.6 per 100,000 residents, ranking it 4 of 56 and above 93% of states and territories, against a median of 7.3.
61 of those are county-wide geographic designations; the remainder are facility-, population- or clinic-based, which is why the county map and the designation count answer different questions.
Designation density tracks rural geography as much as unmet need: AK records 134.7 designations per 100,000 residents and NJ 1.5, because a sparsely-settled state accumulates more separate designations to cover the same population. Designations also overlap, so this counts designations, not people. Counted as distinct HRSA designation IDs, the same unit as the totals above. Computed from the designation records and county populations behind this page; states without county population data are given no placement rather than an estimated one.
Snapshot comparison
Change since the previous HRSA snapshot
Between Jun 2, 2026 and Jul 25, 2026, the number of active stable HPSA IDs recorded for North Dakota changed from 203 to 207 (+4).
- IDs added
- 1
- IDs absent now
- 0
- Newly designated
- 3
- No longer designated
- 0
Among IDs present in both snapshots, scores rose for 4 and fell for 0; recorded providers needed rose for 1 and fell for 2. These are changes in published designation records, not evidence of cause, care quality, or patient outcomes. See the national comparison and limitations.
Medically Underserved Areas
57
Residents in Geographic Shortage Areas
426,954
% Residents in Geographic Shortage
54.8%
Discipline Mix
72 / 67 / 68 PC/MH/D
Primary care · Mental health · Dental
% Residents in Geographic Shortage-Designated Counties 54.8%
North Dakota Shortage Designations by Care Type
How North Dakota's 207 active HRSA designations split across the three provider categories. According to KFF's May 2026 tracker, North Dakota has adopted ACA Medicaid expansion. That policy context does not measure provider supply, appointment availability, or care quality.
North Dakota HPSA designations by type
Active Health Professional Shortage Area designations, by provider category.
- Primary care
Primary care
72 designations
- Dental
Dental
68 designations
- Mental health
Mental health
67 designations
Counties in North Dakota, by shortage volume
The 40 counties with the most active HPSA designations, of 53 in North Dakota. Counts are live designated-HPSA records by care type (primary care, mental health, dental).
| # | County | Designations | Primary Care | Mental Health | Dental | MUA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McLean | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | MUA |
| 2 | Mountrail | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | MUA |
| 3 | Rolette | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | MUA |
| 4 | Sioux | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | MUA |
| 5 | Williams | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | - |
| 6 | Benson | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | MUA |
| 7 | LaMoure | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | MUA |
| 8 | McIntosh | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | MUA |
| 9 | McKenzie | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | MUA |
| 10 | Pembina | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | MUA |
| 11 | Burke | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 12 | Divide | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 13 | Dunn | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 14 | Emmons | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 15 | Griggs | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 16 | Logan | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 17 | Nelson | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 18 | Towner | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 19 | Bottineau | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | MUA |
| 20 | Bowman | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | MUA |
| 21 | Burleigh | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 22 | Cavalier | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 23 | Grand Forks | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | MUA |
| 24 | Mercer | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | MUA |
| 25 | Stutsman | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | MUA |
| 26 | Walsh | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | MUA |
| 27 | Cass | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | MUA |
| 28 | Eddy | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | MUA |
| 29 | Pierce | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | MUA |
| 30 | Ransom | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | MUA |
| 31 | Golden Valley | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | MUA |
| 32 | Kidder | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | MUA |
| 33 | McHenry | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | MUA |
| 34 | Ramsey | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - |
| 35 | Richland | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | MUA |
| 36 | Wells | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | MUA |
| 37 | Adams | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | MUA |
| 38 | Billings | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | MUA |
| 39 | Grant | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | MUA |
| 40 | Hettinger | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | MUA |
Medically Underserved Areas in North Dakota
Showing 30 of 57 MUA designations (lowest MUA Index first, i.e. most underserved).
| Name | MUA Index |
|---|---|
| Sheridan Service Area | 24.7 |
| Benson Service Area | 33.4 |
| Sioux Service Area | 39.6 |
| Hankinson City Service Area | 46.9 |
| Rolette Service Area | 47.4 |
| West Morton | 47.8 |
| Lamoure Service Area | 48.4 |
| Burke Service Area | 48.4 |
| Billings Service Area | 48.7 |
| Kidder Service Area | 49.5 |
| Emmons Service Area | 49.8 |
| Native Amer. Pop - Trenton Service Area | 49.9 |
| Walhalla Service Area | 50.3 |
| Mchenry County | 52.8 |
| Cecil Service Area | 53.6 |
| Divide Service Area | 54.1 |
| Hettinger Service Area | 54.2 |
| Cordelia Service Area | 54.5 |
| Logan Service Area | 54.6 |
| Bicker Service Area | 54.9 |
| Adams County | 55.0 |
| Steele Service Area | 55.0 |
| Cass Service Area | 55.2 |
| Griggs Service Area | 55.6 |
| Mcintosh Service Area | 55.6 |
| Dunn Service Area | 55.8 |
| Nelson Service Area | 56.0 |
| Pierce Service Area | 56.6 |
| Eddy Service Area | 56.6 |
| Dickey Service Area | 56.8 |
High-density reading for North Dakota
At 207 active designations (72 primary care / 67 mental health / 68 dental), North Dakota sits in the top quarter of the state and territory corpus by designations per resident. That volume is where NHSC placements, FQHC operating geography, and related federal instruments concentrate; eligibility still follows the designated area and provider type, not the state boundary alone.
McLean County leads the in-state table with 15 active records; open that county profile before treating the state total as evenly spread. About 54.8% of residents live in a geographic shortage county; facility and population-group designations cover additional residents counted separately.
Learn More About Healthcare Shortages
Explore more North Dakota shortage data
Dig deeper into the federal shortage designations behind North Dakota's numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there doctor shortages in North Dakota? ▼
Yes. North Dakota has 207 Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), including 72 in primary care, 67 in mental health, and 68 in dental care. About 54.8% of North Dakota residents live in a county that HRSA has designated as a geographic (whole-community) shortage area; additional residents are covered by population-group and facility designations counted separately.
What are HPSAs? ▼
Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) are federal designations by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) identifying communities with insufficient healthcare providers. HPSAs are categorized into three types: primary care, mental health, and dental. In North Dakota, there are 207 designated HPSAs and 57 Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs).
How many Medically Underserved Areas are in North Dakota? ▼
North Dakota has 57 Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs). About 426,954 residents (54.8% of the state) live in a county with a geographic HRSA shortage designation. MUA-designated areas qualify for enhanced federal funding and Community Health Center grants.
What federal programs address healthcare shortages in North Dakota? ▼
HRSA shortage designations in North Dakota unlock eligibility for over 30 federal programs, including National Health Service Corps (NHSC) loan repayment and scholarships, Community Health Center (FQHC) funding, Medicare bonus payments (10% for physicians in HPSAs), J-1 visa waiver programs for international medical graduates, and Rural Health Clinic certification. These programs direct billions of dollars annually toward underserved communities.
How does North Dakota compare to other states in HRSA shortage designations? ▼
North Dakota has 207 total HPSA designations and 57 Medically Underserved Areas. With 54.8% of residents in counties carrying a geographic shortage designation, you can compare the recorded HRSA designations and scores with other states on our national rankings pages for primary care, mental health, and dental care.
How often is North Dakota HPSA data updated? ▼
HRSA publishes HPSA designation changes through the Data Warehouse on a rolling basis. This page reports the portal's stated HRSA source vintage after a verified refresh; use HRSA's official tools when a current designation status matters.
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse HRSA Data Warehouse Not affiliated with HRSA
Choose the next comparison
Use North Dakota's designation totals as a starting point, then move to the comparison that answers the next decision without treating a shortage designation as a personal care outcome.
- Compare North Dakota's primary-care shortage record with every other state before drawing conclusions from a raw total; population and geography affect designation counts. Compare states
- McLean County has the most active HPSA designations in this state profile. Open its county record to inspect the local primary-care, mental-health, and dental breakdown. Open county profile
- Use the national statistics reference for the source vintage, aggregate context, and methodology behind these state-level figures. Read national context
HRSA designations describe structural provider-shortage criteria and federal-program eligibility. They do not measure appointment availability, insurance coverage, care quality, or an individual patient’s access to care.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →
Every figure on PlainHealthAccess is rendered directly from HRSA source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page aggregates every county-level HPSA and MUA designation on record for North Dakota (ND) and ranks the state's per-capita designation density among all states and territories. Designations describe federal shortage criteria, not appointment availability or care quality for any person. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, review the public data changelog, or report a data issue for this page. Data current as of 2026.