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 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 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.

According to a 2023 survey conducted in Southeast Asia, approximately 44.2 percent of Vietnamese respondents expressed a desire to address their overall health and wellness concerns. In Indonesia, weight concerns were the most common health challenge among respondents, at over 35.3 percent.

According to a survey, mental health was ranked as the biggest health care concern facing people in Colombia among selected issues, with around 54 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 40 and 36 percent of interviewees, respectively. As of 2023, Colombia was among the countries with the highest share of people considering mental health one of the biggest health problems in their country within a selection of 34 nations.

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 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 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.

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.

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

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.

According to the survey conducted by Ipsos in 2024, 48 percent of the respondents considered that cancer was the biggest health problem facing people in Turkey. A further 40 percent stated that stress was the most pressing health problem.

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.

In 2021, there were over 19 million deaths from all types of cardiovascular diseases all over the world. This statistic describes the number of deaths caused by selected chronic diseases worldwide in 2021. Chronic disease has widespread consequences on both individuals, impacting both quality and length of life, as well as on societies and governments worldwide. Chronic disease The burden of chronic diseases, which is made up of the resulting disabilities and deaths, is increasing all over the globe. In 2022, lung cancer caused over 1.8 million deaths worldwide, accounting for the highest number of cancer deaths. Furthermore, it is estimated that by 2045, there will be 783 million people living with diabetes all over the globe. Although chronic diseases are not curable, their risk factors are highly preventable, usually through individual lifestyle and behavioral modifications. Public policies have been put into place in many countries worldwide to promote healthier lifestyles, for example by limiting the consumption of tobacco and alcohol. Impact on societies Chronic diseases can result in a heavy economic burden due to related health care costs and through the loss of workforce. Countries of all income statuses are affected by chronic diseases, with the leading causes of death in high-income countries from chronic disease. Moreover, the rising impact of chronic disease in low-income countries leads to a double burden, as they are forced to deal with both infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases. Weak health systems and poor economies often pose limits to these countries’ abilities to cope as well.

In 2023, Singapore dominated the ranking of the world's health and health systems, followed by Japan and South Korea. The health index score is calculated by evaluating various indicators that assess the health of the population, and access to the services required to sustain good health, including health outcomes, health systems, sickness and risk factors, and mortality rates. The health and health system index score of the top ten countries with the best healthcare system in the world ranged between 82 and 86.9, measured on a scale of zero to 100.

Global Health Security Index  Numerous health and health system indexes have been developed to assess various attributes and aspects of a nation's healthcare system. One such measure is the Global Health Security (GHS) index. This index evaluates the ability of 195 nations to identify, assess, and mitigate biological hazards in addition to political and socioeconomic concerns, the quality of their healthcare systems, and their compliance with international finance and standards. In 2021, the United States was ranked at the top of the GHS index, but due to multiple reasons, the U.S. government failed to effectively manage the COVID-19 pandemic. The GHS Index evaluates capability and identifies preparation gaps; nevertheless, it cannot predict a nation's resource allocation in case of a public health emergency.

Universal Health Coverage Index  Another health index that is used globally by the members of the United Nations (UN) is the universal health care (UHC) service coverage index. The UHC index monitors the country's progress related to the sustainable developmental goal (SDG) number three. The UHC service coverage index tracks 14 indicators related to reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health, infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, service capacity, and access to care. The main target of universal health coverage is to ensure that no one is denied access to essential medical services due to financial hardships. In 2021, the UHC index scores ranged from as low as 21 to a high score of 91 across 194 countries. 

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.

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.

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.