In 2022, U.S. national health expenditure as a share of its gross domestic product (GDP) reached 17.3 percent, this was a decrease 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.

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.

United States US: Health Expenditure: Private: % of GDP data was reported at 8.862 % in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 8.853 % for 2013. United States US: Health Expenditure: Private: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 8.434 % from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2014, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.985 % in 2009 and a record low of 7.132 % in 1997. United States US: Health Expenditure: Private: % of GDP data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Private health expenditure includes direct household (out-of-pocket) spending, private insurance, charitable donations, and direct service payments by private corporations.; ; World Health Organization Global Health Expenditure database (see http://apps.who.int/nha/database for the most recent updates).; Weighted average;

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.

Graph and download economic data for Government current expenditures: Health (G160271A027NBEA) from 1959 to 2023 about health, expenditures, government, GDP, and USA.

U.S. healthcare spending per capita for 2022 was $12,434, a 3.63% increase from 2021.

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<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.

This statistic shows a forecast of the U.S. national health expenditure as a percentage of GDP from 2023 to 2032. By 2032, this share is expected to increase up to nearly one-fifth of the national gross domestic product.

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.

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.

The average for 2021 based on 19 countries was 7.85 percent. The highest value was in Brazil: 9.89 percent and the lowest value was in Haiti: 3.48 percent. The indicator is available from 2000 to 2022. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

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

The global current health expenditure as a share of the GDP in was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total 0.2 percentage points. After the seventh consecutive increasing year, the share is estimated to reach 6.31 percent and therefore a new peak in 2029. According to Worldbank health spending includes expenditures with regards to healthcare services and goods. It is depicted here in relation to the total gross domestic product (GDP) of the country or region at hand.The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in up to 150 countries and regions worldwide. All indicators are sourced from international and national statistical offices, trade associations and the trade press and they are processed to generate comparable data sets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).Find more key insights for the current health expenditure as a share of the GDP in countries like North America and the Americas.

Graph and download economic data for Personal consumption expenditures: Health (DHLTRC1A027NBEA) from 1929 to 2024 about health, PCE, consumption expenditures, consumption, personal, GDP, and USA.

Health expenditure in the U.S. has been a hotly debated topic among political parties, especially on the verge of presidential elections. Health expenditures in the U.S. have been increasing over time and are projected to keep increasing. As of 2022, the U.S. spent a total of 4.4 trillion U.S. dollars on healthcare.

U.S. health expenditure in comparison

The U.S has some of the highest expenditures for health care in the world. With a total health spending of roughly 17 percent of the country’s GDP, the U.S. has far surpassed the country with the second highest health expenditure as a share of GDP, Germany. The United States, despite having a mixed method of healthcare financing and insurances, also has one of the highest shares of domestic governmental health expenditures.

U.S. health care payers

There are several different governmental and non-governmental agencies that are responsible for health care funding and payments in the United States. Currently, private insurance and Medicare are the two largest payers of U.S. health care. Direct health care costs are not the only things that these payers are responsible for. They may also be partly responsible for prescription drug costs. Again, private insurance and Medicare are the two largest payers of prescription drug costs in the U.S. Among all the payers of health care costs in the U.S., Medicare has experienced the highest level of health spending increases in recent years.

Graph and download economic data for Personal consumption expenditures: Services: Health care (DHLCRC1Q027SBEA) from Q1 1959 to Q1 2025 about health, PCE, consumption expenditures, consumption, personal, services, GDP, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Personal consumption expenditures: Home health care (DHHCRC1A027NBEA) from 1987 to 2024 about health, PCE, consumption expenditures, consumption, personal, GDP, and USA.

World healthcare spending per capita for 2021 was $1,266, a 7.29% increase from 2020.

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<li>World healthcare spending per capita for 2020 was <strong>$1,180</strong>, a <strong>6.81% increase</strong> from 2019.</li>
<li>World healthcare spending per capita for 2019 was <strong>$1,104</strong>, a <strong>1.64% increase</strong> from 2018.</li>
<li>World healthcare spending per capita for 2018 was <strong>$1,087</strong>, a <strong>4.09% increase</strong> from 2017.</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.

France healthcare spending per capita for 2022 was $4,865, a 9.51% decline from 2021.

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<li>France healthcare spending per capita for 2021 was <strong>$5,377</strong>, a <strong>13.25% increase</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>France healthcare spending per capita for 2020 was <strong>$4,748</strong>, a <strong>5.3% increase</strong> from 2019.</li>
<li>France healthcare spending per capita for 2019 was <strong>$4,509</strong>, a <strong>3.41% decline</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.

Poland healthcare spending per capita for 2023 was $1,544, a 29.38% increase from 2022.

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<li>Poland healthcare spending per capita for 2022 was <strong>$1,193</strong>, a <strong>0.83% increase</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>Poland healthcare spending per capita for 2021 was <strong>$1,183</strong>, a <strong>15.33% increase</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>Poland healthcare spending per capita for 2020 was <strong>$1,026</strong>, a <strong>1.18% increase</strong> from 2019.</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.

In 2021, spending on health represented approximately six percent of Peru's gross domestic product (GDP). During the decade analyzed, healthcare expenditure as share of GDP in the South American country remained relatively stable, ranging from five to six percent. In comparison, that year Cuba's healthcare spending corresponded to 14 percent of its GDP, the highest value reported among Latin American and Caribbean countries.