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.

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.

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.

This statistic depicts the total expenditure on health as a share of GDP (gross domestic product) in selected European countries in 2022. In that year, Switzerland spent the largest share of GDP on healthcare at ** percent, followed by Germany at **** percent.

Jordan JO: Current Health Expenditure: % of GDP data was reported at 6.284 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7.414 % for 2014. Jordan JO: Current Health Expenditure: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 8.547 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2015, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.884 % in 2001 and a record low of 6.284 % in 2015. Jordan JO: Current Health Expenditure: % of GDP data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Jordan – Table JO.World Bank: Health Statistics. Level of current health expenditure expressed as a percentage of GDP. Estimates of current health expenditures include healthcare goods and services consumed during each year. This indicator does not include capital health expenditures such as buildings, machinery, IT and stocks of vaccines for emergency or outbreaks.; ; World Health Organization Global Health Expenditure database (http://apps.who.int/nha/database).; Weighted Average;

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.

The average for 2021 based on 51 countries was 5.65 percent. The highest value was in Liberia: 16.62 percent and the lowest value was in Benin: 2.58 percent. The indicator is available from 2000 to 2022. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

In 2023, Germany spent an equivalent to **** percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on healthcare. The total expenditure on health as a percentage of GDP has increased since 1980.

Venezuela VE: Current Health Expenditure: % of GDP data was reported at 3.161 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.629 % for 2014. Venezuela VE: Current Health Expenditure: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 4.399 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2015, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.124 % in 2009 and a record low of 3.161 % in 2015. Venezuela VE: Current Health Expenditure: % of GDP data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Venezuela – Table VE.World Bank: Health Statistics. Level of current health expenditure expressed as a percentage of GDP. Estimates of current health expenditures include healthcare goods and services consumed during each year. This indicator does not include capital health expenditures such as buildings, machinery, IT and stocks of vaccines for emergency or outbreaks.; ; World Health Organization Global Health Expenditure database (http://apps.who.int/nha/database).; Weighted Average;

India: Health spending as percent of GDP: The latest value from 2021 is 3.28 percent, a decline from 3.34 percent in 2020. In comparison, the world average is 7.21 percent, based on data from 181 countries. Historically, the average for India from 2000 to 2021 is 3.55 percent. The minimum value, 2.86 percent, was reached in 2018 while the maximum of 4.26 percent was recorded in 2001.

Iran: Health spending as percent of GDP: The latest value from 2021 is 5.77 percent, an increase from 5.4 percent in 2020. In comparison, the world average is 7.21 percent, based on data from 181 countries. Historically, the average for Iran from 2000 to 2021 is 5.91 percent. The minimum value, 4.65 percent, was reached in 2002 while the maximum of 7.99 percent was recorded in 2016.

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

Monaco MC: Current Health Expenditure: % of GDP data was reported at 3.398 % in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.673 % for 2021. Monaco MC: Current Health Expenditure: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 4.279 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2022, with 23 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.958 % in 2010 and a record low of 3.398 % in 2022. Monaco MC: Current Health Expenditure: % of GDP data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Monaco – Table MC.World Bank.WDI: Social: Health Statistics. Level of current health expenditure expressed as a percentage of GDP. Estimates of current health expenditures include healthcare goods and services consumed during each year. This indicator does not include capital health expenditures such as buildings, machinery, IT and stocks of vaccines for emergency or outbreaks.;World Health Organization Global Health Expenditure database (http://apps.who.int/nha/database). The data was retrieved on April 4, 2025.;Weighted average;

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.

In 2023, Mexico’s healthcare expenditure represented an estimated 5.7 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), a decrease of 0.4 percentage points in comparison to 2020. This figure had remained relatively stable in previous years. In that year, Mexico's GDP amounted to approximately 1.8 trillion U.S. dollars. Mexico in a global contextHealthcare expenditure is comprised of insurance, research, facility provision, and all other expenses associated with public health. Mexico's spending on healthcare in relation to its GDP is staggeringly low compared to most OECD countries. The United States, for instance, allocated approximately 17 percent of its GDP to healthcare in 2023. Furthermore, Mexico had one of the lowest levels of per capita health expenditures worldwide that year, at 1,500 U.S dollars. This figure was equivalent to less than half of that reported by Chile, which spent 3,350 U.S. dollars per citizen on health. Health coverage in the North American countryIn 2021, around 56 percent of the Mexican population was covered under one of the country’s public health care programs. Another 46 percent was affiliated to public healthcare insurance. However, despite Mexico’s efforts and investment in healthcare, a significant share of their population is still considered vulnerable due to inadequate access to health services. According to a survey carried out in Mexico in 2020, around 43 percent of respondents in whose households there was at least one member that presented symptoms of an illness did not attend a medical consultation because there were no available appointments.

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.

Portugal PT: Current Health Expenditure: % of GDP data was reported at 8.972 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 9.022 % for 2014. Portugal PT: Current Health Expenditure: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 9.113 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2015, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.879 % in 2009 and a record low of 8.375 % in 2000. Portugal PT: Current Health Expenditure: % of GDP data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Portugal – Table PT.World Bank: Health Statistics. Level of current health expenditure expressed as a percentage of GDP. Estimates of current health expenditures include healthcare goods and services consumed during each year. This indicator does not include capital health expenditures such as buildings, machinery, IT and stocks of vaccines for emergency or outbreaks.; ; World Health Organization Global Health Expenditure database (http://apps.who.int/nha/database).; Weighted Average;

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

Thailand TH: Current Health Expenditure: % of GDP data was reported at 3.771 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.712 % for 2014. Thailand TH: Current Health Expenditure: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 3.491 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2015, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.866 % in 2009 and a record low of 3.151 % in 2001. Thailand TH: Current Health Expenditure: % of GDP data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Thailand – Table TH.World Bank: Health Statistics. Level of current health expenditure expressed as a percentage of GDP. Estimates of current health expenditures include healthcare goods and services consumed during each year. This indicator does not include capital health expenditures such as buildings, machinery, IT and stocks of vaccines for emergency or outbreaks.; ; World Health Organization Global Health Expenditure database (http://apps.who.int/nha/database).; Weighted Average;

The average for 2021 based on 12 countries was 7.72 percent. The highest value was in Brazil: 9.89 percent and the lowest value was in Venezuela: 4.04 percent. The indicator is available from 2000 to 2022. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.