The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that U.S. emergency departments handle about 139 million visits each year. That’s an enormous number, but it doesn’t mean everyone is rushing to the ER regularly.

On average, it works out to about 42 visits per 100 people annually, or 0.4 visits per person each year. In other words, most people don’t go at all in a given year—while others may visit multiple times, often because of chronic health conditions, accidents, or sudden illness.

The takeaway? ER use is widespread but uneven, reflecting how different people experience access to and use of healthcare in the U.S.