Among OECD member countries, the United States had the ******* percentage of gross domestic product spent on health care as of 2024. The U.S. spent nearly **** percent of its GDP on health care services. Germany, Austria, and Germany 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 more than ***** 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 compared 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 186 countries was 7.09 percent. The highest value was in Afghanistan: 21.51 percent and the lowest value was in Brunei: 2.15 percent. The indicator is available from 2000 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

In 2024, Germany spent the largest share of its GDP on healthcare at **** percent, followed by Austria at **** percent. In 2023, Switzerland was the European country with the highest health spending as a percentage of its GDP. This statistic depicts the total expenditure on health as a share of GDP (gross domestic product) in selected European countries in 2024.

The average for 2021 based on 53 countries was 5.56 percent. The highest value was in Liberia: 13.84 percent and the lowest value was in Somalia: 2.57 percent. The indicator is available from 2000 to 2023. 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.

Bangladesh BD: Health Expenditure: Public: % of GDP data was reported at 0.787 % in 2014. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.810 % for 2013. Bangladesh BD: Health Expenditure: Public: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 0.986 % from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2014, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.200 % in 1995 and a record low of 0.787 % in 2014. Bangladesh BD: 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 Bangladesh – Table BD.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;

United Kingdom UK: Current Health Expenditure: % of GDP data was reported at 9.877 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 9.799 % for 2014. United Kingdom UK: Current Health Expenditure: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 7.615 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2015, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.877 % in 2015 and a record low of 6.012 % in 2000. United Kingdom UK: 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 UK – Table UK.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;

In 2024, Mexico’s healthcare expenditure represented an estimated 5.9 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), an increase of 0.2 percentage points in comparison to 2023. 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 around 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 that same year. Health coverage in the North American countryIn 2023, 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.

The average for 2021 based on 19 countries was 7.86 percent. The highest value was in El Salvador: 10.13 percent and the lowest value was in Haiti: 3.44 percent. The indicator is available from 2000 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Dataset

This dataset was created by Cansin Acarer

Contents

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.

United Arab Emirates AE: Current Health Expenditure: % of GDP data was reported at 3.466 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.664 % for 2014. United Arab Emirates AE: Current Health Expenditure: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 3.182 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2015, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.050 % in 2009 and a record low of 2.320 % in 2005. United Arab Emirates AE: 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 United Arab Emirates – Table AE.World Bank.WDI: 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;

Lebanon LB: Current Health Expenditure: % of GDP data was reported at 7.431 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 7.358 % for 2014. Lebanon LB: Current Health Expenditure: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 8.016 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2015, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.675 % in 2000 and a record low of 7.059 % in 2009. Lebanon LB: 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 Lebanon – Table LB.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;

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;

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;

Health expenditure as a share of GDP of Japan climb by 2.07% from 11.2 % in 2021 to 11.4 % in 2022. Since the 0.02% decrease in 2017, health expenditure as a share of GDP jumped by 7.18% in 2022. 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.

Healthcare spending in the United Kingdom (UK) as a share of the gross domestic product (GDP) has increased since 1990, when it was 5.1 percent. By 2024, healthcare expenditure in the UK amounted to 11.1 percent of the GDP. Health expenditure in the UK compared to Europe  In comparison to other European countries in 2023, the UK ranked fifth highest in terms of healthcare spending as a share of the GDP. Top of the list was Germany, which spent 12.3 percent of its GDP on healthcare in this year. This was followed by Austria and Switzerland, which spent 11.8 percent and 11.7 percent on health, respectively. Performance of the NHS in the UK Waiting times have been getting worse in the A&E department over the years. The NHS has been falling behind the target that 95 percent of patients should be seen within four hours of arrival. As a result, the primary reasons for dissatisfaction with the NHS among the public are the length of time required to get a GP or hospital appointment and the lack of staff.   

The average for 2021 based on 12 countries was 7.74 percent. The highest value was in Argentina: 10.04 percent and the lowest value was in Venezuela: 4.1 percent. The indicator is available from 2000 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Health expenditure as a share of GDP of Spain dropped by 5.53% from 10.3 % in 2021 to 9.7 % in 2022. Since the 17.48% jump in 2020, health expenditure as a share of GDP slumped by 9.26% in 2022. 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.