A survey of people from 31 different countries around the world found that mental health was the biggest health problem respondents said was facing their country in 2024. Other health problems reported by respondents included cancer, stress, and obesity. The COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic impacted almost every country in the world and was the biggest global health crisis in recent history. It resulted in hundreds of millions of cases and millions of deaths, causing unprecedented disruption in health care systems. Lockdowns imposed in many countries to halt the spread of the virus also resulted in a rise of mental health issues as feelings of stress, isolation, and hopelessness arose. However, vaccines to combat the virus were developed at record speed, and many countries have now vaccinated large shares of their population. Nevertheless, in 2024, 11 percent of respondents still stated that COVID-19 was the biggest health problem facing their country. Mental health issues One side effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a focus on mental health around the world. The two most common mental health issues worldwide are anxiety disorders and depression. In 2021, it was estimated that around 4.4 percent of the global population had an anxiety disorder, while four percent suffered from depression. Rates of depression are higher among females than males, with some 4.3 percent of females suffering from depression, compared to 2.9 percent of men. However, rates of suicide in most countries are higher among men than women. One positive outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic and the spotlight it shined on mental health may be a decrease in stigma surrounding mental health issues and seeking help for such issues. This would be a positive development as many people around the world do not or cannot receive the necessary treatment they need for their mental health.

According to the data from January 2024, 22 percent of respondents said that rising health care costs were the most important health issue facing the United States. Mental health ranked second on the list with 15 percent. Issues with healthcare costsCurrently, the most urgent problem facing American healthcare is the high costs of care. The high expense of healthcare may deter people from getting the appropriate treatment when they need medical care or cause them to completely forego preventative care visits. Many Americans reported that they may skip prescription doses or refrain from taking medication as prescribed due to financial concerns. Such health-related behavior can result in major health problems, which may raise the long-term cost of care. Inflation, medical debt, and unforeseen medical expenses have all added to the burden that health costs are placing on household income. Gun violence issueThe gun violence epidemic has plagued the United States over the past few years, yet very little has been done to address the issue. In recent years, gun violence has become the leading cause of death among American children and teens. Even though more than half of Americans are in favor of tougher gun control regulations, there is little political will to strongly reform the current gun law. Gun violence has a deep traumatic impact on survivors and society, it is developing into a major public health crisis in the United States.

A survey of adults in the United States found that around 44 percent of respondents identified mobility issues, cancer, and cognitive decline as their top aging-related health concerns. This statistic depicts the percentage of adults in the United States who had select health concerns related to the aging process as of 2024.

A survey conducted in 2023 showed that almost half of the predominantly young respondents experienced emotional issues such as anxiety and depression in the past year. Unsatisfactory skin conditions, undesirable body shapes, and poor sleep quality were also prominent health issues. One in eight respondents also reported fears of cancer, while heart problems or gout were less common.

A survey of men from 31 different countries around the world found that mental health was the biggest health problem respondents from all generations except boomers said was facing their country in 2024. Approximately 44 percent of male boomers surveyed felt cancer was the biggest health problem facing their country, as opposed to only 28 percent of male Gen Z respondents.

A survey conducted in Brazil found that mental health was ranked as the biggest health care concern facing people in the country among selected issues, with around 54 percent of respondents considering it the main sanitary problem as of August 2024. Moreover, cancer and drug abuse ranked second and third among the leading health concerns that year, as indicated by 34 and 32 percent of interviewees, respectively. As of 2023, Brazil was among the countries with the highest share of people considering mental health as one of the biggest health problems in their country within a selection of 34 nations.

Among all health risks, high blood pressure posed the biggest threat: In 2004, about 7.5 million people died due to high blood pressure.

A survey determined that mental health was ranked as the biggest health care concern facing people in Chile among selected issues, with around 69 percent of respondents considering it the main sanitary problem as of August 2024. Moreover, obesity and cancer ranked second and third among the leading health concerns that year, as indicated by 43 and 39 percent of interviewees, respectively. As of 2023, Chile was among the countries with the highest share of people considering mental health as one of the biggest health problems in their country within a selection of 34 nations.

A 2024 survey found that over half of U.S. individuals indicated the cost of accessing treatment was the biggest problem facing the national healthcare system. This is much higher than the global average of 32 percent and is in line with the high cost of health care in the U.S. compared to other high-income countries. Bureaucracy along with a lack of staff were also considered to be pressing issues. This statistic reveals the share of individuals who said select problems were the biggest facing the health care system in the United States in 2024.

According to a survey conducted in China in 2023, emotional problems remained to be the major health concern of Chinese citizens, with around 43 percent of respondents stating they had experienced it in the past one year. Besides that, skin-related issues and sleep problem also troubled more than 40 percent of respondents.

A survey determined that mental health was ranked as the biggest health care concern facing people in Spain among selected issues, with around 59 percent of respondents considering it the main sanitary problem as of August 2024. Moreover, cancer and stress ranked second and third among the leading health concerns that year, as indicated by 51 and 36 percent of interviewees, respectively. As of 2023, Spain was among the countries with the highest share of people considering mental health as one of the biggest health problems in their country within a selection of 34 nations.

According to the 2024 survey, 46 percent of adults worldwide stated access to treatment and/or long waiting times was the biggest problem facing the healthcare system in their country. Another 45 percent of adults mentioned that lack of staff was the biggest issue. This statistic shows the percentage of adults worldwide who stated select issues were the biggest problems facing the healthcare system in their country as of 2024.

A survey conducted in Argentina found that mental health was ranked as the biggest health care concern facing people in the country among selected issues, with around 49 percent of respondents considering it the main sanitary problem as of August 2024. Moreover, stress and drug abuse ranked second and third among the leading health concerns that year, as indicated by 43 and 37 percent of interviewees, respectively. As of 2024, Argentina was among the countries with the highest share of people considering mental health as one of the biggest health problems in their country within a selection of 31 nations.

In a survey conducted in 2020, 53 percent of respondents across the Asia Pacific region stated that bone and joint-related issues were their biggest age-related health concerns. Comparatively, for the same survey 26 percent of respondents in the Asia Pacific region stated that their biggest age-related health concerns were digestion-related issues.

As per the results of a large scale survey conducted across India in 2020, a majority of women respondents reported that they had menstrual problems. Menstrual problems such as pain, irregularities and heavy flow reduced with progressing age among the respondents.

As of August 2024, some 20 percent of Americans surveyed were of the opinion that opioids and fentanyl addiction is the number one public health threat in the U.S., a significant decrease from 24 percent in June 2024. Furthermore, obesity was viewed as a top public health issue by 19 percent of Americans in August 2024.
U.S. healthcare issues The United States has the highest healthcare spending globally. The majority of Americans considered rising healthcare costs as the most important healthcare problem facing the U.S. in January 2023. While COVID-19 and cancer were ranked second on the list. Due to unfortunate mass shooting incidents in the country, gun violence is typically related to homicide and is not considered a healthcare issue. Although the most popular method of suicide among Americans who attempted it was a gun or firearm, the link between gun access and suicide is frequently ignored as a public health crisis.

This statistic displays common health conditions prevalent in Ireland in the past 12 months as of 2023/24. The most prevalent health complaint was high blood pressure, with eight percent reporting this condition.

As of August 2024, 45 percent of adults surveyed worldwide believed that mental health was the biggest health problem in their country, the highest in the provided time interval. This statistic illustrates the share of adults worldwide who believed that mental health was the biggest health concern in their country from 2018 to 2024.

According to the data from January 2023, 12 percent of respondents said that rising health care costs were the most important health issue facing the United States. While COVID-19 and cancer each with 11 percent ranked second on the list. Health issues like alcoholism, stroke, and rare diseases were considered important issues by only one percent of respondents.

Issues with healthcare costs

Currently, the most urgent problem facing American healthcare is the high costs of care. The high expense of healthcare may deter people from getting the appropriate treatment when they need medical care or cause them to completely forego preventative care visits. Many Americans reported that they may skip prescription doses or refrain from taking medication as prescribed due to financial concerns. Such health-related behavior can result in major health problems, which may raise the long-term cost of care. Inflation, medical debt, and unforeseen medical expenses have all added to the burden that health costs are placing on household income.

Gun violence issue

The gun violence epidemic has plagued the United States over the past few years, yet very little has been done to address the issue. In recent years, gun violence has become the leading cause of death among American children and teens. By early May 2023, the U.S. has witnessed more than 200 mass shootings, the surge in the frequency of firearm attacks is alarming. Even though more than half of Americans are in favor of tougher gun control regulations, there is little political will to strongly reform the current gun law. Gun violence has a deep traumatic impact on survivors and society, it is developing into a major public health crisis in the United States.

This statistic shows the amount funded by the top public funders for research and development on neglected diseases worldwide in 2023. The United States is constantly the biggest public funder. In that specific year, the U.S. was responsible for around 1.96 billion U.S. dollars in public funding for R&D on neglected diseases. Public funding for neglected diseases R&DThe United States contributes a large portion of global public funding for research and development on neglected diseases, totaling around two billion U.S. dollars out of a total 2.6 billion in 2023. The European Union contributed a total of 187 million U.S. dollars. Many people in the world’s low-income countries suffer from neglected diseases. These diseases are a significant source of disability and mortality in these regions, and many suffer from more than one disease simultaneously. The Gates Foundation is the largest philanthropic funder of R&D for neglected diseases worldwide, funding 775 million U.S. dollars in 2023. This foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the world and was launched in 2000. Its headquarter is located in Seattle, Washington. As for neglected diseases, the foundation aims to reduce the burden of disease through effective control, elimination, and eradication efforts.