Hawai'i has the highest proportion of residents with healthcare insurance in the nation, according to state and U.S. Census Bureau statistics.

The number of insured people age 65 and younger was 92.5 percent in 2007, officials at the Department of Human Services said last week. That meant just 7.5 percent of Hawai'i's people were uninsured.

"Hawai'i has always done well with getting people health insurance," said DHS administrator Ken Finks. Hawai'i has often ranked first or second in such national rankings.

"Part of the reason for the low number (of uninsured) is our state law requiring businesses to provide healthcare," Fink said.

Meanwhile, the Census Bureau released more detailed numbers last week on who is and who is not covered by health insurance.

The Small Area Health Insurance Estimates survey, which was based on 2005 Census Bureau statistics, showed that women in Hawai'i age 65 and younger are more likely to be covered than men and that O'ahu residents are more likely to have coverage than Neighbor Islanders.

The SAHIE report said Minnesota led the nation in health insurance coverage in 2005 with only 9.5 percent of its residents 65 and younger not having health insurance. Hawai'i was second in that report.

The states with the highest percentage without health coverage were New Mexico (24.2 percent) and Florida (24 percent).