The public and private per capita health expenditure differs significantly by country. As of 2023, the United States had by far the highest public per capita spending worldwide. Moreover, the U.S. had the second-highest private expenditure on health globally just after Switzerland. Health expenditures globally Health expenditures include the consumption of health goods, services and public health programs as well as insurance and government spending. Globally, health expenditures are on the rise. Among all countries the average per capita health expenditure is projected to see an increase of over 30 percent from the 2019 totals by the year 2050. Despite the growing expenditures, there are still countries with relatively low health expenditures. The countries with the lowest governmental health expenditure include South Sudan, Eritrea and Bangladesh. Health expenditures spotlight: the U.S. In 2021 the U.S. national health expenditure was at an all-time high. However, the projections indicate that total health expenditures will increase even more. The per capita health expenditures for the U.S. looked equally grim, with 2021 projected to be the most expensive year for health care on record. Despite having seen a significant increase in the total cost of health care in the U.S., trends indicate that the annual percentage change in health expenditures is decreasing over time.

This statistic describes the countries with the highest share of domestic governmental health expenditure in 2022. In this year, San Marino had the highest percentage, spending about 29.51 percent of its total governmental expenditures on health-related issues.

Global Domestic General Government Health Expenditure Per Capita by Country, 2023 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Among OECD member countries, the United States had the highest percentage of gross domestic product spent on health care as of 2023. The U.S. spent nearly ** percent of its GDP on health care services. Germany, France and Japan followed the U.S. with distinctly smaller percentages. The United States had both significantly higher private and public spending on health compared with other developed countries. Why compare OECD countries?OECD stands for Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. It is an economic organization consisting of ** members, mostly high-income countries and committed to democratic principles and market economy. This makes OECD statistics more comparable than statistics of developed and undeveloped countries. Health economics is an important matter for the OECD, even more since increasing health costs and an aging population have become an issue for many developed countries. Health costs in the U.S.  A higher GDP share spent on health care does not automatically lead to a better functioning health system. In the case of the U.S., high spending is mainly because of higher costs and prices, not due to higher utilization. For example, physicians’ salaries are much higher in the U.S. than in other comparable countries. A doctor in the U.S. earns almost twice as much as the average physician in Germany. Pharmaceutical spending per capita is also distinctly higher in the United States. Furthermore, the U.S. also spends more on health administrative costs compare to other wealthy countries.

The average for 2021 based on 181 countries was 7.21 percent. The highest value was in Afghanistan: 21.83 percent and the lowest value was in Brunei: 2.2 percent. The indicator is available from 2000 to 2022. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

In 2014, Government Expenditure on Health in Monaco rose 18.8% compared to the previous year.

The dataset contains a summary of government spending on healthcare, presented as a share of a country's GDP in selected years. Data are presented for the years 1880–2020, in 10-year intervals (i.e. in 1880, 1890, 1900, …, 2010, 2020). The aim of the summary was to present changes in the approach of governments of selected countries in Europe (including Poland), the USA, China andIndia over the 140 years studied.

China Government Expenditure: Health and Family Planning data was reported at 233.600 RMB bn in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 246.100 RMB bn for Dec 2024. China Government Expenditure: Health and Family Planning data is updated monthly, averaging 84.877 RMB bn from Jan 2007 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 203 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 311.100 RMB bn in Dec 2022 and a record low of 5.840 RMB bn in Jan 2007. China Government Expenditure: Health and Family Planning data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Finance. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Government and Public Finance – Table CN.FA: Government Revenue and Expenditure: Monthly.

This statistic depicts the countries with the lowest share of government health expenditure in 2020. In that year, South Sudan had the lowest health expenditure worldwide, measured by the percentage of total governmental expenditures. Only 2.1 percent of all expenditures went to health-related issues.

Global State Government Expenditures on Health by Country, 2023 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Chad TD: Health Expenditure: Public: % of Government Expenditure data was reported at 8.967 % in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 7.758 % for 2013. Chad TD: Health Expenditure: Public: % of Government Expenditure data is updated yearly, averaging 10.441 % from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2014, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.924 % in 2004 and a record low of 4.855 % in 2010. Chad TD: Health Expenditure: Public: % of Government Expenditure data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Chad – Table TD.World Bank.WDI: Social: Health Statistics. Public health expenditure consists of recurrent and capital spending from government (central and local) budgets, external borrowings and grants (including donations from international agencies and nongovernmental organizations), and social (or compulsory) health insurance funds.; ; World Health Organization Global Health Expenditure database (see http://apps.who.int/nha/database for the most recent updates).; Weighted average;

Nigeria NG: Domestic General Government Health Expenditure: % of GDP data was reported at 0.589 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.446 % for 2014. Nigeria NG: Domestic General Government Health Expenditure: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 0.567 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2015, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.854 % in 2007 and a record low of 0.331 % in 2002. Nigeria NG: Domestic General Government Health Expenditure: % of GDP data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.World Bank: Health Statistics. Public expenditure on health from domestic sources as a share of the economy as measured by GDP.; ; World Health Organization Global Health Expenditure database (http://apps.who.int/nha/database).; Weighted average;

In 2023, the United States had the highest per capita health expenditure among OECD countries. At that time, per capita health expenditure in the U.S. amounted over ****** U.S. dollars, significantly higher than in Switzerland, the country with the second-highest per capita health expenditure. Norway, Germany and Austria are also within the top five countries with the highest per capita health expenditure. The United States also spent the highest share of it’s gross domestic product on health care, with **** percent of its GDP spent on health care services. Health Expenditure in the U.S. The United States is the highest spending country worldwide when it comes to health care. In 2022, total health expenditure in the U.S. exceeded **** trillion dollars. Expenditure as a percentage of GDP is projected to increase to approximately ** percent by the year 2031. Distribution of Health Expenditure in the U.S. Health expenditure in the United States is spread out across multiple categories such as nursing home facilities, home health care, and prescription drugs. As of 2022, the majority of health expenditure in the United States was spent on hospital care, accounting for a bit less than *** third of all health spending. Hospital care was followed by spending on physician and clinical services which accounted for ** percent of overall health expenditure.

European Government Expenditure on R&D in Medical and Health Sciences by Country, 2023 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

European Government Expenditure on R&D in Health by Country, 2023 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Cuba CU: Health Expenditure: Public: % of Government Expenditure data was reported at 18.011 % in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 14.146 % for 2013. Cuba CU: Health Expenditure: Public: % of Government Expenditure data is updated yearly, averaging 11.299 % from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2014, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 18.011 % in 2014 and a record low of 8.024 % in 1995. Cuba CU: Health Expenditure: Public: % of Government Expenditure data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Cuba – Table CU.World Bank.WDI: Social: Health Statistics. Public health expenditure consists of recurrent and capital spending from government (central and local) budgets, external borrowings and grants (including donations from international agencies and nongovernmental organizations), and social (or compulsory) health insurance funds.; ; World Health Organization Global Health Expenditure database (see http://apps.who.int/nha/database for the most recent updates).; Weighted average;

Colombia CO: Health Expenditure: Public: % of GDP data was reported at 5.410 % in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.219 % for 2013. Colombia CO: Health Expenditure: Public: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 4.937 % from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2014, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.459 % in 1999 and a record low of 3.721 % in 1995. Colombia CO: Health Expenditure: Public: % of GDP data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Colombia – Table CO.World Bank.WDI: Social: Health Statistics. Public health expenditure consists of recurrent and capital spending from government (central and local) budgets, external borrowings and grants (including donations from international agencies and nongovernmental organizations), and social (or compulsory) health insurance funds.; ; World Health Organization Global Health Expenditure database (see http://apps.who.int/nha/database for the most recent updates).; Weighted average;

Japan healthcare spending per capita for 2022 was $3,889, a 13.23% decline from 2021.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Japan healthcare spending per capita for 2021 was <strong>$4,483</strong>, a <strong>0.09% decline</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>Japan healthcare spending per capita for 2020 was <strong>$4,487</strong>, a <strong>1.25% increase</strong> from 2019.</li>
<li>Japan healthcare spending per capita for 2019 was <strong>$4,431</strong>, a <strong>3.88% increase</strong> from 2018.</li>
</ul>Current expenditures on health per capita in current US dollars. Estimates of current health expenditures include healthcare goods and services consumed during each year.

This statistic describes the domestic general government health expenditure per capita in the Middle East and North Africa in 2017, by country. In that year, the domestic general government health expenditure per capita in Kuwait was current (PPP) 2,504 U.S. dollars.

Historical chart and dataset showing Kenya healthcare spending per capita by year from 2000 to 2022.