Health Expenditure as a Share of GDP by Country, 2000-2023

About This Dataset

Total health spending as a percentage of GDP in twelve countries, at seven points between 2000 and 2023, using World Bank data. Because it is measured against GDP, the 2021 spike reflects both higher pandemic spending and the economic contraction of 2020-21.

✨ AI Insight

The United States spends a far larger share of its economy on health than any other country here, rising from 12.5 percent of GDP in 2000 to 16.7 percent in 2023 and peaking at 17.4 percent in 2021. All six high-income countries here - the United States, Germany, France, Japan, the United Kingdom and Canada - recorded their highest figure of the series in 2021 and a lower one in 2023, as economies recovered and pandemic spending fell away. South Korea shows the steepest long-run climb, from 3.7 to 8.6 percent, more than doubling its share. India is the lowest in every year from 2005 onwards and is the only country here spending a smaller share in 2023 than in 2000, at 3.3 against 4.1 percent.

Source: World Bank Open Data

Key Findings

Auto-computed highlights from this dataset

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United States leads with 17 in 2023.

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South Korea grew fastest: +132.4% from 2000 to 2023 (3.70 → 8.60).

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India declined most: -19.5% from 2000 to 2023 (4.10 → 3.30).

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Average value in 2023: 10 · median: 10.

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2021 recorded the highest combined total across all categories.

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Gap in 2023: United States is 5.1× larger than India.