Does the US government spend more on healthcare than other countries?

Asked by: Prof. Henriette Erdman V  |  Last update: December 21, 2025
Score: 5/5 (29 votes)

U.S. healthcare spending per capita is almost twice the average of other wealthy countries. Notes: Data are for 2022.

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.

Which country's government spends the most on healthcare?

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 four trillion dollars. Expenditure as a percentage of GDP is projected to increase to approximately 20 percent by the year 2031.

What is the US healthcare system ranked compared to other countries?

The US health care system ranked last overall among 10 other high-income countries on key issues such as equity, access to care, and outcome measures, according to a new report, Mirror, Mirror 2024: A Portrait of the Failing US Health System, by The Commonwealth Fund.

How much does the US government spend on healthcare?

NHE grew 7.5% to $4.9 trillion in 2023, or $14,570 per person, and accounted for 17.6% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Medicare spending grew 8.1% to $1,029.8 billion in 2023, or 21 percent of total NHE. Medicaid spending grew 7.9% to $871.7 billion in 2023, or 18 percent of total NHE.

The real reason American health care is so expensive

41 related questions found

What is the biggest expense of the US government?

In FY 2023, about 58% of federal spending, or $3.6 trillion, went to Social Security, defense, and payments to states. Social Security and Medicare are two of the largest individual programs funded by the federal government. In FY 2023, 22% of the federal budget went to Social Security and 14% went to Medicare.

Why is healthcare so expensive in the US?

There are many possible reasons for that increase in healthcare prices: The introduction of new, innovative healthcare technology can lead to better, more expensive procedures and products. The complexity of the U.S. healthcare system can lead to administrative waste in the insurance and provider payment systems.

What country is #1 in healthcare who?

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. The full rankings are listed below.

Why does the US rank so low in healthcare?

Advanced medical care out of reach for many

Many of America's most vulnerable, including racial minorities and people with low incomes, are uninsured or underinsured, Gostin noted. Given the high cost of medical services, many people delay or avoid care.

What happens in America if you can't afford healthcare?

Americans are no longer taxed for not carrying health insurance. Medical debt contributes to a large number of bankruptcies in America. Access to quality primary care is critical, but doctors have the right to refuse patients without insurance or who are able to pay out-of-pocket expenses.

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.

What country spends the least on healthcare?

The countries with the lowest governmental health expenditure include South Sudan, Eritrea and Bangladesh. In 2021 the U.S. national health expenditure was at an all-time high. However, the projections indicate that total health expenditures will increase even more.

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.

What country spends the most on healthcare in the world?

  • The United States currently ranks highest in healthcare spending among the developed nations of the world. ...
  • Switzerland had the second-highest healthcare budget in 2022, with expenditures of $8,049 per capita. ...
  • The following 2022 list ranks the top 20 in terms of spending on healthcare per capita according to the OECD.

Why is the US still in such poor health despite its wealth?

Almost 30 million people in the US are without health insurance, and for millions of others, quality, affordable, accessible healthcare is simply out of reach or effectively unavailable. A final feature of the US landscape is one of the most important contributing factors: systemic racism and its attendant injustices.

Does the US spend more on healthcare than defense?

The US government spends more money on healthcare than the on military. Its roughly 18% on healthcare and 3.5% on military of its GDP. This doesn't seem that out of ordinary when people talk about the military budget and how big it is. For reference the UK spends 12% on healthcare and 2% on military of tis GDP.

Where is US ranked in healthcare?

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.

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.

Who 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. A stay in hospital can result in bills amounting to tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

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 free healthcare?

All but 43 countries in the world have free healthcare or access to universal healthcare for at least 90% of their citizens according to Hudson's Global Residence Index. However, Brazil is the only country in the world that offers free healthcare for all its citizens.

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.

Why do Americans pay more for healthcare than any other nation?

There are many possible factors for why healthcare prices in the United States are higher than other countries, ranging from the consolidation of hospitals — leading to a lack of competition — to the inefficiencies and administrative waste that derive from the complexity of the U.S. healthcare system.

Is healthcare free in Canada?

In Canada's health care system, some services are free at the point of service while others require the patient to pay a fee. Roughly 70% of health care spending in Canada is covered by the government, paid for with tax dollars. (Some of those services may still require some payment from the patient.)