In 2022, U.S. national health expenditure as a share of its gross domestic product (GDP) reached 17.3 percent, this was a decrease 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.

In 2024, the U.S. GDP increased from the previous year to about 29.18 trillion U.S. dollars. Gross domestic product (GDP) refers to the market value of all goods and services produced within a country. In 2024, the United States has the largest economy in the world. What is GDP? Gross domestic product is one of the most important indicators used to analyze the health of an economy. GDP is defined by the BEA as the market value of goods and services produced by labor and property in the United States, regardless of nationality. It is the primary measure of U.S. production. The OECD defines GDP as an aggregate measure of production equal to the sum of the gross values added of all resident, institutional units engaged in production (plus any taxes, and minus any subsidies, on products not included in the value of their outputs). GDP and national debt Although the United States had the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the world in 2022, this does not tell us much about the quality of life in any given country. GDP per capita at purchasing power parity (PPP) is an economic measurement that is thought to be a better method for comparing living standards across countries because it accounts for domestic inflation and variations in the cost of living. While the United States might have the largest economy, the country that ranked highest in terms of GDP at PPP was Luxembourg, amounting to around 141,333 international dollars per capita. Singapore, Ireland, and Qatar also ranked highly on the GDP PPP list, and the United States ranked 9th in 2022.

Graph and download economic data for Real Gross Domestic Product: Health Care and Social Assistance (62) in the United States (USHLTHSOCASSRQGSP) from Q1 2005 to Q4 2024 about healthcare, social assistance, health, GSP, private industries, education, services, private, real, industry, GDP, and USA.

This statistic shows a forecast of the U.S. national health expenditure as a percentage of GDP from 2023 to 2032. By 2032, this share is expected to increase up to nearly one-fifth of the national gross domestic product.

United States US: Health Expenditure: Private: % of GDP data was reported at 8.862 % in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 8.853 % for 2013. United States US: Health Expenditure: Private: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 8.434 % from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2014, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.985 % in 2009 and a record low of 7.132 % in 1997. United States US: Health Expenditure: Private: % of GDP data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Private health expenditure includes direct household (out-of-pocket) spending, private insurance, charitable donations, and direct service payments by private corporations.; ; World Health Organization Global Health Expenditure database (see http://apps.who.int/nha/database for the most recent updates).; Weighted average;

Of the U.S. adults surveyed, most agreed to some extent that mental illness negatively affects the U.S. economy. This statistic shows the percentage of U.S. adults who agree or disagree with the statement "untreated mental illness has a significant negative impact on the U.S. economy" as of 2021.

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 16 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 38 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.

Graph and download economic data for Value Added by Industry: Educational Services, Health Care, and Social Assistance: Health Care and Social Assistance as a Percentage of GDP (VAPGDPHCSA) from Q1 2005 to Q4 2024 about social assistance, value added, health, private industries, education, percent, services, private, industry, GDP, and USA.

In 2024, the finance, insurance, real estate, rental, and leasing industry contributed the highest amount of value to the GDP of the U.S. at 21.2 percent. The construction industry contributed around four percent of GDP in the same year.

Graph and download economic data for Real Gross Domestic Product: Health Care and Social Assistance (62) in the United States (USHLTHSOCASSRGSP) from 1997 to 2024 about healthcare, social assistance, health, GSP, private industries, education, services, private, real, industry, GDP, and USA.

United States Unemployment Rate: PW: NA: EH: Health Care & Social Assistance (HC) data was reported at 2.600 % in Apr 2025. This stayed constant from the previous number of 2.600 % for Mar 2025. United States Unemployment Rate: PW: NA: EH: Health Care & Social Assistance (HC) data is updated monthly, averaging 3.200 % from Jan 2000 (Median) to Apr 2025, with 304 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.300 % in Apr 2020 and a record low of 2.000 % in Apr 2024. United States Unemployment Rate: PW: NA: EH: Health Care & Social Assistance (HC) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G037: Current Population Survey: Unemployment Rate.

The average for 2021 based on 19 countries was 7.85 percent. The highest value was in Brazil: 9.89 percent and the lowest value was in Haiti: 3.48 percent. The indicator is available from 2000 to 2022. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Graph and download economic data for Gross Domestic Product: Health Care and Social Assistance (62) in Maryland (MDHLTHSOCASSNGSP) from 1997 to 2024 about healthcare, social assistance, health, MD, GSP, private industries, education, services, private, industry, GDP, and USA.

In 2021, the U.S. animal health industry invested around 42 thousand U.S. dollars in research and development per worker, much higher than around 17,600 U.S. dollarsper worker in the overall manufacturing sector. The animal health industry outperforms the overall manufacturing sector in the other select economic indicators as well. The animal health industry earned more, was more productive, and exported more per worker. The animal health industry is a subset of the biopharmaceutical industry and produces innovative products such as medicines and vaccines for food and companion animals.

Out of all 50 states, New York had the highest per-capita real gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023, at 90,730 U.S. dollars, followed closely by Massachusetts. Mississippi had the lowest per-capita real GDP, at 39,102 U.S. dollars. While not a state, the District of Columbia had a per capita GDP of more than 214,000 U.S. dollars. What is real GDP? A country’s real GDP is a measure that shows the value of the goods and services produced by an economy and is adjusted for inflation. The real GDP of a country helps economists to see the health of a country’s economy and its standard of living. Downturns in GDP growth can indicate financial difficulties, such as the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009, when the U.S. GDP decreased by 2.5 percent. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on U.S. GDP, shrinking the economy 2.8 percent. The U.S. economy rebounded in 2021, however, growing by nearly six percent. Why real GDP per capita matters Real GDP per capita takes the GDP of a country, state, or metropolitan area and divides it by the number of people in that area. Some argue that per-capita GDP is more important than the GDP of a country, as it is a good indicator of whether or not the country’s population is getting wealthier, thus increasing the standard of living in that area. The best measure of standard of living when comparing across countries is thought to be GDP per capita at purchasing power parity (PPP) which uses the prices of specific goods to compare the absolute purchasing power of a countries currency.

This statistic shows select economic indicators for the U.S. animal health industry in 2016. According to the data, the animal health industry has generated 21,257 jobs and 1.2 billion dollars in wages.

United States US: Health Expenditure: Public: % of Total Health Expenditure data was reported at 48.297 % in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 47.610 % for 2013. United States US: Health Expenditure: Public: % of Total Health Expenditure data is updated yearly, averaging 45.073 % from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2014, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 48.297 % in 2014 and a record low of 43.215 % in 1999. United States US: Health Expenditure: Public: % of Total Health Expenditure data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: 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. Total health expenditure is the sum of public and private health expenditure. It covers the provision of health services (preventive and curative), family planning activities, nutrition activities, and emergency aid designated for health but does not include provision of water and sanitation.; ; World Health Organization Global Health Expenditure database (see http://apps.who.int/nha/database for the most recent updates).; Weighted average;

United States - Personal consumption expenditures: Services: Health care was 3448.38200 Bil. of $ in January of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Personal consumption expenditures: Services: Health care reached a record high of 3448.38200 in January of 2025 and a record low of 14.46300 in January of 1959. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Personal consumption expenditures: Services: Health care - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on June of 2025.

This statistic depicts the total impact of community hospitals on the economy in the United States from 2009 to 2020. In 2009, hospital expenditures in the United States came to some 680 billion U.S. dollars, while the effect of these expenditures on the total national economic output was over 2.2 trillion U.S. dollars.

Hospitals and the U.S. economy

Hospital expenditures in the United States have risen from about 680 billion U.S. dollars in 2009 to over 800 billion U.S. dollars in 2014. During this time, hospital payrolls and benefits have also increased from 337 billion U.S. dollars to 392 billion U.S. dollars. In 2014, the effect of hospital expenditures from the hospitals in Michigan totaled 57.7 billion U.S. dollar in outputs for the state’s economy.

Community hospitals are not part of a university, health systems, or chains within private hospitals. Larger hospital systems and medical centers are becoming more common as they tend to generate larger revenues and offer a broader spectrum of services. However, community hospitals have the advantage of developing more effective care models that are centralized around the community that they serve. Their small sizes also allows for easier and quicker redesigns when necessary to meet patient needs.

Community hospitals in the country have seen an increase in the total number of admissions from 31.6 million people in 1997 to 33.1 million people in 2014. In the same year, the average stay at a community hospital cost about 12,000 U.S. dollars.

United States CES: AAE: Healthcare: Health Insurance data was reported at 3,160.000 USD in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 2,977.000 USD for 2015. United States CES: AAE: Healthcare: Health Insurance data is updated yearly, averaging 983.000 USD from Dec 1984 (Median) to 2016, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,160.000 USD in 2016 and a record low of 370.000 USD in 1984. United States CES: AAE: Healthcare: Health Insurance data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.H039: Consumer Expenditure Survey.