According to statistics from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the North Carolina continues to rank among the worst states in the country when it comes to sexually transmitted infections – and depending on how you measure it, the Tar Heel State lands solidly in the Top 10.

That conclusion comes straight from  latest available state-by-state data from the CDC – which tracks rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis across the country.

And while there’s been some recent good news nationally – overall STI cases declined slightly in 2024 after years of increases – the broader picture is that the problem remains widespread and stubborn. Especially in North Carolina.

Which is interesting because Virginia is supposed to be the state for lovers.

Looking at the most recent full year of state rankings (2023), North Carolina places:

7th in the nation for chlamydia

6th for gonorrhea

15th for primary and secondary syphilis

That puts North Carolina’s average ranking at roughly No. 7 overall when combining the three major reportable infections – a simple and transparent way to measure overall STI burden.

In other words: no matter how you slice it, North Carolina is not just “high” – it’s consistently near the top.

Chlamydia, the most commonly reported STI, is where North Carolina stands out the most, with a rate of about 608 cases per 100,000 residents, placing it firmly among the worst-performing states. Gonorrhea is not far behind, with the state ranking 6th nationally.

Syphilis is somewhat lower but still elevated, with North Carolina landing 15th – meaning it’s above the national average but not quite at the extreme levels seen in some Western and Southern states.

Put together, those numbers paint a clear picture: North Carolina is dealing with high infection rates across the board, not just in one category.

The geographic pattern is also telling.

The CDC data shows that many of the highest-ranking states are in the South – Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina all show up near the top of one or more categories. North Carolina fits squarely into that regional trend.

Public health experts have long pointed to a mix of factors driving those numbers: poverty, access to healthcare, testing availability, and education about prevention.

State-level data backs that up. North Carolina’s own health department reports show higher STI rates in areas with greater levels of poverty, as well as disparities across age and demographic groups.

At the same time, there are signs that the national situation may be stabilizing.

According to the CDC, total reported cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis fell by about 9 percent in 2024 compared to the year before – the third straight year of decline.

But even with that drop, the agency says the overall burden “remains substantial,” and infection levels are still significantly higher than they were a decade ago.

That’s what makes the timing of this story relevant now.

After years of steadily rising STI rates nationwide, the latest numbers suggest things may finally be leveling off – but in states like North Carolina, the problem is still entrenched at a high level.

So while some of the headlines may point to improvement, the reality on the ground is that North Carolina remains one of the places where the issue is hitting hardest.

And for now, at least, it’s still a Top 10 state.

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