In 2022, 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 to 12,555 U.S. dollars, significantly higher than in Switzerland, the country with the second highest per capita health expenditure. Germany, Norway, and the Netherlands 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 almost 16.6 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 2021, total health expenditure in the U.S. exceeded four trillion dollars. Expenditure as a percentage of GDP is projected to increase to approximately 20 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 2021, the majority of health expenditure in the United States was spent on hospital care, accounting for a bit less than one third of all health spending. Hospital care was followed by spending on physician and clinical services which accounted for 20 percent of overall health expenditure.
FAQs
In 2022, the United States spent an estimated $12,742 per person on healthcare — the highest healthcare costs per capita across similar countries.
Which country spends the most on healthcare 2022? ›
In 2022, the United States spent an estimated $12,742 per person on healthcare — the highest healthcare costs per capita across similar countries.
Which countries spend the most per capita on healthcare? ›
The United States is the highest spending country worldwide when it comes to health care.
Where does Canada rank in the world in terms of health spending per capita? ›
Canada's per capita spending on health care was among the highest internationally, at CA$7,507 — less than in Germany (CA$8,938) and the Netherlands (CA$7,973), and more than in Sweden (CA$7,416) and Australia (CA$7,248).
How much does the US spend on healthcare in terms of GDP and per capita costs? ›
Historical NHE, 2022:
NHE grew 4.1% to $4.5 trillion in 2022, or $13,493 per person, and accounted for 17.3% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Where does America rank in healthcare? ›
United States: #11 in the 2022 World Index of Healthcare Innovation.
Does the US spend more on healthcare than other countries? ›
Health care spending, both per person and as a share of GDP, continues to be far higher in the United States than in other high-income countries.
Why are US medical bills so high? ›
There are many factors that contribute to the high cost of healthcare in the country. These include wasteful systems, rising drug costs, medical professional salaries, profit-driven healthcare centers, the type of medical practices, and health-related pricing.
What country has the lowest healthcare spending? ›
This statistic depicts the countries with the lowest share of government health expenditure in 2020. In that year, South Sudan had the lowest health expenditure worldwide, measured by the percentage of total governmental expenditures. Only 2.1 percent of all expenditures went to health-related issues.
Why does the UK spend less on healthcare than the US? ›
The UK spends less on healthcare than the US because it has a public health system that is funded through taxation and is mostly free at the point of use, while in the US, private insurance is more commonly relied upon, and access to public healthcare is income-dependent.
Canada spends far less of its GDP on health care (10.4 percent, ver-sus 16 percent in the U.S.) yet performs better than the U.S. on two commonly cited health outcome measures, the infant mortality rate and life expectancy.
Who pays more for healthcare, the UK or the US? ›
The USA spends three times as much per person on healthcare than does the UK.
Why is Canada healthier than America? ›
Canadians have a universal healthcare service, which is free at the point of care, whereas Americans' access to health insurance is usually based on employment, income through Medicaid, or age through Medicare, and not universal, according to the study.
What country spends the most per capita on healthcare? ›
The U.S. continues to spend the most on healthcare per person, even though outcomes and quality of care are not often ranked highest.
Which country has the best healthcare? ›
The Best Healthcare Systems in the World in 2024
According to this assessment, what country has the best healthcare? Singapore comes in at No. 1! Japan and South Korea came in 2nd and 3rd.
What country has the most expensive health care? ›
The United States: the world's highest medical expenses
The United States has the most expensive healthcare system of any country. A medical consultation with a general practitioner costs, on average, $190 or around €170.
Which country has the highest paying healthcare? ›
1. Luxembourg. Topping our list is Luxembourg, a small yet prosperous country known for its thriving economy and high standard of living. Doctors in Luxembourg enjoy some of the highest salaries in the world, along with excellent working conditions and ample opportunities for professional growth.
Which country has the most expensive healthcare in the world? ›
The United States: the world's highest medical expenses
The United States has the most expensive healthcare system of any country. A medical consultation with a general practitioner costs, on average, $190 or around €170.
How much does the US government spend on healthcare 2022? ›
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U.S. health care spending grew 4.1 percent in 2022, reaching $4.5 trillion or $13,493 per person. As a share of the nation's Gross Domestic Product, health spending accounted for 17.3 percent.
How much does Canada spend on healthcare compared to the United States? ›
The healthcare system in the United States is more expensive than the healthcare system in Canada. Health expenditures in the United States average out at $12,914 per person, nearly double the $6,500 spent per person in Canada.
