Does America have better healthcare than Britain?

Asked by: Ms. Summer Block  |  Last update: November 23, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (33 votes)

Conclusion. The simplest message that can be drawn from this brief overview is that the US and British systems of healthcare both have strengths and weaknesses. The USA achieves better outcomes than the UK among older people with cancer, although the differences may be smaller than is often reported.

Is US healthcare better than the UK?

The Commonwealth Fund conducts an analysis of the healthcare systems of 11 developed countries every few years. According to their latest report published in 2021 analyzing data primarily up to 2019, the US had an overall ranking of 11 out of 11 and the UK ranked 4 out of 11.

What country is #1 in healthcare?

The Legatum Prosperity Index 2023

According to the index, Singapore ranks first for healthcare, followed by Japan in second place and South Korea in third. In contrast, the United States ranks much lower, coming in at 69th place in this assessment.

Is the US the best healthcare in the world?

The U.S. ranks last on four of five health outcome measures. Life expectancy is more than four years below the 10-country average, and the U.S. has the highest rates of preventable and treatable deaths for all ages as well as excess deaths related to the pandemic for people under age 75.

Is healthcare better in the US or Europe?

However, despite higher healthcare spending, America's health outcomes are not any better than those in other developed countries. The United States actually performs worse in some common health metrics like life expectancy, infant mortality, unmanaged diabetes, and safety during childbirth.

What experts say about who has the world's best health-care system | Opinion

29 related questions found

Is healthcare free in the UK?

The UK has a publicly-funded healthcare system called the National Health System or NHS. Other countries or governments offer health insurance to their citizens. In contrast, the funding from UK's healthcare system comes from taxation. This system allows the NHS to provide “free” healthcare to UK residents.

Is America or Europe healthier?

Indeed, many studies have shown that the health of middle-aged Americans, and health behaviors such as smoking and obesity, are much worse than those of Western Europeans (Banks et al., 2006; Andreyeva et al., 2007; Thorpe et al., 2007).

Why does the US rank so low in healthcare?

Access to care was the US' weakest area, with the country placing last due to issues like high out-of-pocket costs and its 26 million uninsured individuals. In contrast, countries like the Netherlands and Germany excelled due to universal coverage and affordable care.

Which country has the most advanced medicine?

As the leading country in health-sciences output in the Nature Index, the United States' Share is almost 8,500, higher than the next 10 leading countries combined. As a result, US institutions feature prominently among the leading research organizations for the subject, with 30 of the top 50 being based there.

What state is #1 in healthcare?

Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Iowa, and Connecticut are the top-ranked states according to the 2020 Scorecard, which assesses all 50 states and the District of Columbia on more than 45 measures of access to health care, quality of care, service use and costs of care, health outcomes, and income-based health care ...

What country has the best quality of life?

  • Denmark. #1 in Quality of Life. #10 in Best Countries Overall. ...
  • Sweden. #2 in Quality of Life. #6 in Best Countries Overall. ...
  • Switzerland. #3 in Quality of Life. ...
  • Norway. #4 in Quality of Life. ...
  • Canada. #5 in Quality of Life. ...
  • Finland. #6 in Quality of Life. ...
  • Germany. #7 in Quality of Life. ...
  • Australia. #8 in Quality of Life.

What hospital is ranked 1 in US?

Mayo Clinic is top-ranked in more specialties than any other hospital and has been recognized as an Honor Roll member according to U.S. News & World Report's 2024-2025 "Best Hospitals" rankings.

Is the UK healthier than the US?

American adults have significantly worse health in midlife compared to their British peers, especially in markers of cardiovascular health, according to a new study involving researchers from Oxford's Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science, published in the International Journal of Epidemiology.

Why doesn't the US have free healthcare?

Groups with significant economic resources have long been opposed to universal health insurance. We have a political system so sophisticated about finding the middle ground that we have had long periods in which the parties have been essentially even in their control of power in the national government.

Why is British healthcare so good?

Even today, the basic design has much to admire. It features largely tax-based financing to fund universal health care services that are usually free at the point of service. About 60% of all institutional long-term care, pharmaceuticals, and vision care are also provided in the NHS.

Where does America rank in healthcare?

U.S. ranks last in health care compared with nine other high-income countries, report finds. People in the U.S. die the youngest and experience the most avoidable deaths, despite spending much more on health care.

Which country has the best doctors in the world?

Here are the top 10 countries known to have the best doctors according to the World Population Review 2024:
  • United Kingdom. ...
  • Germany. ...
  • France. ...
  • Switzerland. ...
  • Canada. ...
  • Italy. ...
  • Australia. ...
  • Austria. Often overshadowed by other countries, Austria has highly skilled doctors, particularly in rare diseases and palliative care.

What is the biggest problem with US healthcare?

(2024) Here Are 7 Big Issues Facing Healthcare Right Now
  • Rising Costs of Healthcare Services. ...
  • Financial Challenges for Providers. ...
  • Shortage of Healthcare Professionals. ...
  • The Need for Improved Mental Health Systems. ...
  • Increased Demand for Personalized Care. ...
  • Big Data and Cybersecurity Issues.

Where does America rank in education?

As of now, the United States education ranking is in the 13th place with a score of 0.883, trailing behind countries like Germany (2nd) and New Zealand (3rd). In the QS World University Rankings 2023, 11 out of the top 20 universities are American, including prestigious institutions like MIT, Stanford, and Harvard.

Which healthcare system is better, the US or the UK?

Is healthcare better in the UK or the US? According to the Commonwealth Fund's analysis, the UK healthcare system ranks better than the US system, with the US ranking 11th and the UK ranking 4th in their latest report. This suggests that healthcare in the UK is better overall.

Is living in America better than living in Europe?

The Bottom Line. Living in Europe can be less expensive than living in the U.S. and can offer a high quality of living. Before making a decision to move to a European country, however, it's important to see how your income fares against the costs you may incur.

What country eats the least processed food?

1/ Okinawan diet – Japan

So much so that Japan has the lowest obesity rates and third longest life expectancy of any developed country. The Okinawan diet is centred around fish, seafood, tofu, and other nutrient-rich ingredients. It's also extremely low in processed foods.

Why is American food so processed?

After all, they're cheap, high in calories, and easy to buy, store, and keep for a long time — whereas fresh fruits and vegetables may be more expensive, lower in calories, and harder to get. However, the main reason processed foods remain a staple in diets is because of marketing.