Per capita national health expenditures in the United States have increased significantly since 1960. In 2023, national health expenditures amounted to **** thousand U.S. dollars per capita. For comparison, in 1960, per capital expenditures for health stood at *** U.S. dollars. According to recent data, the U.S. has some of the highest health care costs in the world. Health care expenditures With increased per capita health expenditures, U.S. health care expenditures as a percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP) have also increased over the decades. Among developed countries, the U.S. has the highest health expenditure as a proportion of the GDP. The high level of health costs in the U.S. may be attributable to high costs for prescribed drugs and health services as well as high administrative costs. Cost areas A large proportion of all health care spending in the U.S. is attributable to hospital care and physician and clinical services. In recent years, many sectors have seen an increase in health care spending. However, data suggests that prescription drugs have seen some of the most dramatic increases in spending in recent years. The annual prescription drug expenditures in the U.S. reached an all-time high by the end of 2022.

U.S. healthcare spending per capita for 2022 was $12,434, a 3.63% increase from 2021.

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

<li>U.S. healthcare spending per capita for 2021 was <strong>$11,999</strong>, a <strong>2.8% increase</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>U.S. healthcare spending per capita for 2020 was <strong>$11,673</strong>, a <strong>10.68% increase</strong> from 2019.</li>
<li>U.S. healthcare spending per capita for 2019 was <strong>$10,546</strong>, a <strong>3.57% 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.

In 2023, U.S. national health expenditure as a share of its gross domestic product (GDP) reached 17.6 percent, this was an increase on the previous year. The United States has the highest health spending based on GDP share among developed countries. Both public and private health spending in the U.S. is much higher than other developed countries. Why the U.S. pays so much moreWhile private health spending in Canada stays at around three percent and in Germany under two percent of the gross domestic product, it is nearly nine percent in the United States. Another reason for high costs can be found in physicians’ salaries, which are much higher in the U.S. than in other wealthy countries. A general practitioner in the U.S. earns nearly twice as much as the average physician in other high-income countries. Additionally, medicine spending per capita is also significantly higher in the United States. Finally, inflated health care administration costs are another of the predominant factors which make health care spending in the U.S. out of proportion. It is important to state that Americans do not pay more because they have a higher health care utilization, but mainly because of higher prices. Expected developmentsBy 2031, it is expected that health care spending in the U.S. will reach nearly one fifth of the nation’s gross domestic product. Or in dollar-terms, health care expenditures will accumulate to about seven trillion U.S. dollars in total.

Graph and download economic data for Health Expenditures per Capita (HLTHSCPCHCSA) from 2000 to 2021 about healthcare, health, expenditures, per capita, and USA.

The United States has the highest expenditure on health care per capita globally. However, the U.S. has an unique way of paying for their health care where a majority of the expenditure falls upon private insurances. In FY 2024, around one ***** of all health expenditure is paid by private insurance. Public insurance programs Medicare and Medicaid accounted for ** and ** percent, respectively, of health expenditure during that same year. U.S. health care system Globally health spending has been increasing among most countries. However, the U.S. has the highest public and private per capita health expenditure among all countries globally, followed by Switzerland. As of 2020, annual health care costs per capita in the United States totaled to over ** thousand U.S. dollars, a significant amount considering the average U.S. personal income is around ** thousand dollars. Out of pocket costs in the U.S. Aside from overall high health care costs for U.S. residents, the total out-of-pocket costs for health care have been on the rise. In recent years, the average per capita out-of-pocket health care payments have exceeded *** thousand dollars. Physician services, dental services and prescription drugs account for the largest proportion of out-of-pocket expenditures for U.S. residents.

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.

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

Graph and download economic data for Expenditures: Healthcare by Age: Age 65 or over (CXUHEALTHLB0407M) from 1988 to 2023 about 65-years +, healthcare, age, health, expenditures, and USA.

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.

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

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

Vietnam healthcare spending per capita for 2022 was $188.90, a 12.39% increase from 2021.

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

<li>Vietnam healthcare spending per capita for 2021 was <strong>$168.08</strong>, a <strong>9.78% increase</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>Vietnam healthcare spending per capita for 2020 was <strong>$153.10</strong>, a <strong>10.55% decline</strong> from 2019.</li>
<li>Vietnam healthcare spending per capita for 2019 was <strong>$171.15</strong>, a <strong>5.66% 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.

In 2023, total U.S. personal health care expenditure came to nearly *** trillion U.S. dollars. This statistic depicts the total personal health care expenditure in the United States from 1960 to 2023.

Hong Kong: Healthcare price index, world average = 100: The latest value from 2021 is 137.11 index points, a decline from 138.09 index points in 2017. In comparison, the world average is 67.78 index points, based on data from 165 countries. Historically, the average for Hong Kong from 2017 to 2021 is 137.6 index points. The minimum value, 137.11 index points, was reached in 2021 while the maximum of 138.09 index points was recorded in 2017.

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

China: Healthcare price index, world average = 100: The latest value from 2021 is 63.77 index points, an increase from 61.64 index points in 2017. In comparison, the world average is 67.78 index points, based on data from 165 countries. Historically, the average for China from 2017 to 2021 is 62.71 index points. The minimum value, 61.64 index points, was reached in 2017 while the maximum of 63.77 index points was recorded in 2021.

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

Guyana: Healthcare price index, world average = 100: The latest value from 2021 is 56.3 index points, a decline from 57.21 index points in 2017. In comparison, the world average is 67.78 index points, based on data from 165 countries. Historically, the average for Guyana from 2017 to 2021 is 56.76 index points. The minimum value, 56.3 index points, was reached in 2021 while the maximum of 57.21 index points was recorded in 2017.

Barbados's Domestic private healthcare expenditure as % of total healthcare expenditure is 54.04% which is the 44th highest in the world ranking. Transition graphs on Domestic private healthcare expenditure as % of total healthcare expenditure in Barbados and comparison bar charts (USA vs. China vs. Japan vs. Barbados), (Vanuatu vs. Sao Tome vs. Principe vs. Barbados) are used for easy understanding. Various data can be downloaded and output in csv format for use in EXCEL free of charge.

Brazil: Healthcare price index, world average = 100: The latest value from 2021 is 68.63 index points, a decline from 108.45 index points in 2017. In comparison, the world average is 67.78 index points, based on data from 165 countries. Historically, the average for Brazil from 2017 to 2021 is 88.54 index points. The minimum value, 68.63 index points, was reached in 2021 while the maximum of 108.45 index points was recorded in 2017.