Per capita national health expenditures in the United States have increased significantly since 1960. In 2022, national health expenditures amounted to 13.4 thousand U.S. dollars per capita. For comparison, in 1960, per capital expenditures for health stood at 146 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.

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 13,432 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 16.5 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 four trillion dollars. Expenditure as a percentage of GDP is projected to increase to approximately 20 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 one third of all health spending. Hospital care was followed by spending on physician and clinical services which accounted for 20 percent of overall health expenditure.

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.

Current expenditures on health per capita in current US dollars. Estimates of current health expenditures include healthcare goods and services consumed during each year.

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 2023, around one third of all health expenditure is paid by private insurance. Public insurance programs Medicare and Medicaid accounted for 22 and 18 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 12 thousand U.S. dollars, a significant amount considering the average U.S. personal income is around 54 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 one thousand dollars. Physician services, dental services and prescription drugs account for the largest proportion of out-of-pocket expenditures for U.S. residents.

The average for 2021 based on 181 countries was 1402.97 U.S. dollars. The highest value was in the USA: 12012.24 U.S. dollars and the lowest value was in Madagascar: 17.64 U.S. dollars. The indicator is available from 2000 to 2022. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Current expenditures on health per capita in current US dollars. Estimates of current health expenditures include healthcare goods and services consumed during each year.

Graph and download economic data for Per Capita Personal Consumption Expenditures: Services: Health Care for United States (USPCEPCHLTHCARE) from 1997 to 2023 about healthcare, health, PCE, consumption expenditures, per capita, consumption, personal, services, and USA.

In 2022, U.S. out-of-pocket health care payments was reported to come to an average of 1,424.6 U.S. dollars per capita. In the U.S., especially out-of-pocket payments for prescribed drugs can be very high.This statistic depicts the per capita out-of-pocket health care payments in the United States from 1970 to 2022.

Current expenditures on health per capita in current US dollars. Estimates of current health expenditures include healthcare goods and services consumed during each year.

Current expenditures on health per capita in current US dollars. Estimates of current health expenditures include healthcare goods and services consumed during each year.

Graph and download economic data for Per Capita Personal Consumption Expenditures: Services: Health Care for Maine (MEPCEPCHLTHCARE) from 1997 to 2023 about healthcare, ME, health, PCE, consumption expenditures, per capita, consumption, personal, services, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Per Capita Personal Consumption Expenditures: Services: Health Care for New York (NYPCEPCHLTHCARE) from 1997 to 2023 about healthcare, health, PCE, NY, consumption expenditures, per capita, consumption, personal, services, and USA.

Current expenditures on health per capita in current US dollars. Estimates of current health expenditures include healthcare goods and services consumed during each year.

Canada has a system of health care that is financed through taxation and public funding. As of 2024, the total per capita expenditure in Canada for health care was estimated to be about 9,053.5 Canadian dollars. This is an increase from the previous years and a significant increase from the 1970s, just prior to the implementation of the 1984 Canadian Health Act. The Canadian health system Canada has one of the highest health expenditures as a percentage of GDP among developed countries. The Canadian health care system is funded and administered by the provinces and territories. There are several principles that the system is founded on: public administration of the system is non-profit, plans must be comprehensive, all residents must be able to access the public health care system, health care should be accessible to anyone anywhere in Canada, and there should be few barriers to accessing healthcare. Despite the attempts at making the system equal across Canada, there are still major differences. For example, Nunavut has some of the highest per capita provincial/territorial governmental health care spending in all of Canada. Health financing in Canada Between the public and private sectors of Canada’s health system, the public sector is responsible for a majority of the health expenditures. Provincial governments are responsible for most of the health care funding, followed by direct federal funds. Drug expenditures, however, are primarily financed through private sector resources.

Health Care Expenditure: per Capita: Urban: Guangdong data was reported at 2,350.288 RMB in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 2,019.246 RMB for 2022. Health Care Expenditure: per Capita: Urban: Guangdong data is updated yearly, averaging 1,018.310 RMB from Dec 2002 (Median) to 2023, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,350.288 RMB in 2023 and a record low of 500.900 RMB in 2002. Health Care Expenditure: per Capita: Urban: Guangdong data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Health Commission. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GN: Health Care Expenditure: per Capita: Urban.

Graph and download economic data for Per Capita Personal Consumption Expenditures: Services: Health Care for Massachusetts (MAPCEPCHLTHCARE) from 1997 to 2023 about healthcare, health, MA, PCE, consumption expenditures, per capita, consumption, personal, services, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Medical Services Expenditures per Capita by Disease: Mental Illness , MEPS Account Basis (MNINEIPCMEPS) from 2000 to 2021 about mental health, disease, physicians, healthcare, medical, health, expenditures, per capita, services, and USA.

Vietnam VN: Current Health Expenditure Per Capita: Current Price data was reported at 0.000 USD mn in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.000 USD mn for 2014. Vietnam VN: Current Health Expenditure Per Capita: Current Price data is updated yearly, averaging 0.000 USD mn from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2015, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.000 USD mn in 2013 and a record low of 0.000 USD mn in 2000. Vietnam VN: Current Health Expenditure Per Capita: Current Price data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Vietnam – Table VN.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Current expenditures on health per capita in current US dollars. Estimates of current health expenditures include healthcare goods and services consumed during each year.; ; World Health Organization Global Health Expenditure database (http://apps.who.int/nha/database).; Weighted average;

Per Capita Personal Consumption Expenditures: Services: Health Care for Texas was 7411.00000 $ in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Per Capita Personal Consumption Expenditures: Services: Health Care for Texas reached a record high of 7411.00000 in January of 2023 and a record low of 2577.00000 in January of 1997. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Per Capita Personal Consumption Expenditures: Services: Health Care for Texas - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on March of 2025.