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Home Global Executive Dashboard International Comparison U.S. Health Care From a Global Prospective

U.S. Health Care From a Global Prospective

Percent of GDP spent on health, 1980–2021*

The U.S. is a world outlier when it comes to health care spending.

Notes: * 2020 data. Current expenditures on health for all functions by all providers for all financing schemes. Data points reflect share of gross domestic product. Based on System of Health Accounts methodology, with some differences between country methodologies. GDP = gross domestic product. OECD average reflects the average of 38 OECD member countries, including ones not shown here.

Data: OECD Health Statistics 2022.

Health consumption expenditures per capita, U.S dollars, PPP adjusted, 2021 or nearest year

On average, other large, wealthy countries spend about half as much per person on health as the U.S.

  • Health spending per person in the U.S. was $12,914 in 2021, which was over $5,000 more than any other high-income nation. The average amount spent on health per person in comparable countries ($6,125) is less than half of what the U.S. spends per person.

Notes: U.S. value obtained from National Health Expenditure data. Data from Australia, Belgium, Japan and Switzerland are from 2020. Data for Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom are provisional. Data from Canada represents a difference in methodology from the prior year. Health consumption does not include investments in structures, equipment, or research.

Source: KFF analysis of National Health Expenditure (NHE) data

Per capita health consumption expenditures, U.S dollars, PPP adjusted, 2020 and 2021

Per capita health spending increased in every nation in 2021

  • In all nations with available data, health spending per capita increased between 2020 and 2021. In the U.S., per capita health spending saw a 2.6% increase, a smaller increase than in Austria, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Austria had the largest increase in per capita health spending among countries with available data between 2020 and 2021, at 13.8%.
  • This 2.6% increase in per capita health spending is down from a 9.9% increase from 2019 to 2020. This is likely due in part to a 3.5% decline in Federal government health spending in 2021 over the previous year compared to a 36.8% increase in 2020.

Note: U.S. values obtained from National Health Expenditure data. 2020 data for Canada and Sweden is provisional. 2021 data for all other countries but the United States are provisional. 2021 data for Canada represents a difference in methodology from the prior year.

Source: KFF analysis of National Health Expenditure (NHE) data

Percent of total population with health insurance coverage

The U.S. is the only high-income country that does not guarantee health coverage.

Notes: Government/compulsory health insurance data: 2021 data for AUS, CAN, FRA, NZ, and NOR; 2020 data for GER, KOR, NETH, SWE, SWIZ, UK, and US; 2019 data for JPN. Voluntary health insurance coverage data: 2021 data for AUS, CAN, and NZ; 2020 data for GER, KOR, NETH, and US; 2019 data for UK; 2017 data for FRA and SWIZ. Government health insurance refers to public benefit basket covering a minimum set of health services. Voluntary health insurance refers to payments for private insurance premiums, which grant coverage for services from private providers. See more information on definitions here: https://www.oecd.org/health/Spending-on-private-health-insurance-Brief-March-2022.pdf.

Data: OECD Health Statistics 2022.

Years expected to live, 1980–2021*

U.S. life expectancy at birth is three years lower than the OECD average.

Note: * 2020 data. Total population at birth. OECD average reflects the average of 38 OECD member countries, including ones not shown here. Because of methodological differences, JPN and UK data points are estimates.

Data: OECD Health Statistics 2022.

Avoidable deaths per 100,000 population (standardized rates), 2000–2020*

Avoidable deaths per 100,000 population in the U.S. are higher than the OECD average.

Notes: Rates reflect age-standardized rates. Avoidable mortality includes deaths which are preventable and treatable. * 2019 data for CAN, JPN, KOR, and UK; 2018 data for SWE and SWIZ; 2016 data for FRA, NZ, and NOR.

Data: OECD Health Statistics 2022.

The U.S. has the highest rate of infant and maternal deaths.

Infant mortality, deaths per 1,000 live births

Maternal mortality, deaths per 100,000 live births

Notes: Infant mortality rates reflect no minimum threshold or gestation period or birthweight. Infant mortality 2021 data for FRA and SWIZ; 2020 data for AUS, CAN, GER, JPN, KOR, NETH, NOR, SWE, UK, and US; 2018 data for NZ. Maternal mortality 2020 data for AUS, CAN, GER, JPN, KOR, NETH, NOR, SWE, and US; 2019 data for SWIZ; 2018 data for NZ, 2017 data for UK; 2015 data for FRA. OECD average reflects the average of 38 OECD member countries.

Data: OECD Health Statistics 2022.

Intentional self-harm deaths per 100,000 population (standardized rates)

Rates of suicide were highest in the U.S., Japan, and South Korea.

Notes: Rates reflect age-standardized rates. Intentional self-harm death rates 2020 data for AUS, GER, KOR, NETH, UK, and US; 2019 data for CAN, JPN, and SWIZ; 2018 data for SWE; 2017 data for FRA; 2016 data for NZ and NOR. OECD average reflects the average of 38 OECD member countries, including ones not shown here.

Data: OECD Health Statistics 2022.

Mortality from assault, deaths per 100,000 population (standardized rates)

Deaths from assault are highest in the U.S. compare to other nations

Notes: Rates reflect age-standardized rates. Mortality from assault rates 2020 data for AUS, GER, KOR, NETH, UK, and US; 2019 data for CAN, JPN, and SWIZ; 2018 data for SWE; 2017 data for FRA; 2016 data for NZ, and NOR. OECD average reflects the average of 38 OECD member countries, including ones not shown here. Definition of what includes “assault” can be found here: https://icd.who.int/browse10/2019/en#/X85-Y09.

Data: OECD Health Statistics 2022.

Percent of total population that is obese

The U.S. obesity rate is nearly double the OECD average.

Notes: Rates reflect age-standardized rates. Mortality from assault rates 2020 data for AUS, GER, KOR, NETH, UK, and US; 2019 data for CAN, JPN, and SWIZ; 2018 data for SWE; 2017 data for FRA; 2016 data for NZ, and NOR. OECD average reflects the average of 38 OECD member countries, including ones not shown here. Definition of what includes “assault” can be found here: https://icd.who.int/browse10/2019/en#/X85-Y09.

Data: OECD Health Statistics 2022.

Percent of adults age 18 and older who have multiple chronic conditions.

Adults in the U.S. are the most likely to have multiple chronic conditions.

Notes: Chronic disease burden defined as adults age 18 years and older who have ever been told by a doctor that they have two or more of the following chronic conditions: asthma or chronic lung disease; cancer; depression, anxiety or other mental health condition; diabetes; heart disease, including heart attack; or hypertension/high blood pressure. Data reflect 11 countries which take part in the Commonwealth Fund’s International Health Policy Survey.

* Statistically significant differences compared to US or comparator bar at p<.05 level.

Data: Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey, 2020.

Deaths per 1 million because of COVID-19

The U.S. has the highest rate of death because of COVID-19.

Notes: Rate per 1 million people who have died from COVID-19 since January 22, 2020. Available data as of January 18, 2023.

Data: Our World in Data.

The U.S. has among the lowest rates of physician visits and practicing physicians.

Physician consultations in all settings per capita

Notes: Data for UK not available. 2021 data for AUS and NOR; 2020 data for FRA, GER, KOR, NETH, and SWE; 2019 data for CAN and JPN; 2017 for NZ and SWIZ; 2011 data for US. OECD average reflects the average of 37 OECD member countries, including ones not shown here.

Data: OECD Health Statistics 2022.

Practicing physicians per 1,000 population

Notes: 2021 data for CAN, GER, NZ, NOR, SWIZ, and UK; 2020 data for AUS, FRA, JPN, KOR, and NETH; 2019 data for SWE and US. OECD average reflects the average of 31 OECD member countries, including ones not shown here.

Data: OECD Health Statistics 2022.

Hospital stays are shortest in the Netherlands and the U.S. The U.S. has among the lowest number of hospital beds.

Average length of stay for inpatient care (days)

Notes: Data reflect average length of stay for inpatient care for all hospitals. 2021 data for NOR; 2020 data for CAN, FRA, GER, KOR, NETH, SWE, and SWIZ. 2019 data for AUS and NZ; 2018 data for UK; 2010 data for US. Data for JPN not available. OECD average reflects the average of 36 OECD member countries, including ones not shown here, where data are available. 

Data: OECD Health Statistics 2022.

Number of total hospital beds per 1,000 population

Notes: 2021 data for NZ and UK; 2020 data for CAN, FRA, GER, JPN, KOR, NETH, NOR, SWE, and SWIZ; 2019 data for US; 2016 data for AUS. OECD average reflects the average of 38 OECD member countries, including ones not shown here, with available data.

Data: OECD Health Statistics 2022.

The U.S. has a higher influenza vaccination rate compared to the OECD average, but its COVID-19 vaccination rate is still lower than that of many peer nations.

Percent of adults age 65 and older immunized for influenza.

Notes: Flu immunization rates reflect age-standardized rates. 2021 data for AUS, NZ, and NOR; 2020 data for CAN, FRA, GER, JPN, KOR, NETH, SWE, UK, and US; 2010 data for SWIZ. OECD average reflects the average of 37 OECD member countries, including ones not shown here, where data are available.

Data: OECD Health Statistics 2022.

Percent of population fully vaccinated for COVID-19

Notes: Total number of people who are fully vaccinated, relative to the total population. Available data as of January 18, 2023.

Data: Our World in Data 2023.

The U.S. has among the highest rates of screening for breast and colorectal cancers.

Percent of females ages 50–69 screened for breast cancer

Notes: Data reflect average length of stay for inpatient care for all hospitals. 2021 data for NOR; 2020 data for CAN, FRA, GER, KOR, NETH, SWE, and SWIZ. 2019 data for AUS and NZ; 2018 data for UK; 2010 data for US. Data for JPN not available. OECD average reflects the average of 36 OECD member countries, including ones not shown here, where data are available. 

Data: OECD Health Statistics 2022.

Percent of females ages 50–69 screened for colorectal cancer

Notes: 2021 data for NZ and UK; 2020 data for CAN, FRA, GER, JPN, KOR, NETH, NOR, SWE, and SWIZ; 2019 data for US; 2016 data for AUS. OECD average reflects the average of 38 OECD member countries, including ones not shown here, with available data.

Data: OECD Health Statistics 2022.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans per 1,000 population

MRIs are most common in Norway and Germany; the U.S. performs MRIs more frequently compared to the OECD average.

Notes: 2021 data for AUS, NOR, and US; 2020 data for GER, KOR, and NETH; 2019 data for CAN and FRA; 2014 data for JPN. OECD average reflects the average of 28 OECD member countries, including ones not shown here, which provide data on MRI exam scans. Data not available for NZ, SWE, SWIZ, and UK.

Data: OECD Health Statistics 2022.

Inpatient hip replacement procedures per 1,000 population age 65 and older

The U.S. has among the highest rates of hip replacements, right behind Switzerland.

Notes: 2021 data for NOR. 2020 data for CAN, FRA, GER, KOR,  SWE, SWIZ, and UK; 2019 data for NETH and NZ; 2010 data for US. OECD average reflects the average of 32 OECD member countries, including ones not shown here, which provide data on hip replacement procedures. Data not available for AUS and JPN.

Data: OECD Health Statistics 2022.

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