Health Expenditure (% of GDP) 2011
Health Expenditure as a percentage of GDP reveals how countries invest in healthcare. Compare rankings and explore interactive maps.
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Complete Data Rankings
Rank | ||
|---|---|---|
1 |  Malta | 16.5 % of GDP |
2 |  United States | 16.2 % of GDP |
3 |  Mexico | 13.8 % of GDP |
4 |  Niue | 13.5 % of GDP |
5 |  Lesotho | 13.2 % of GDP |
6 |  Burundi | 13.1 % of GDP |
7 |  Sierra Leone | 13.1 % of GDP |
8 |  Timor-Leste | 12.3 % of GDP |
9 |  Kenya | 12.2 % of GDP |
10 |  Nauru | 12.1 % of GDP |
11 |  Republic of Moldova | 11.9 % of GDP |
12 |  Belgium | 11.8 % of GDP |
13 |  Cuba | 11.8 % of GDP |
14 |  Finland | 11.7 % of GDP |
15 |  Georgia | 11.3 % of GDP |
16 |  Portugal | 11.3 % of GDP |
17 |  Switzerland | 11.3 % of GDP |
18 |  Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 11.2 % of GDP |
19 |  Austria | 11 % of GDP |
20 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | 10.9 % of GDP |
21 |  Canada | 10.9 % of GDP |
22 |  Netherlands | 10.8 % of GDP |
23 |  Ghana | 10.6 % of GDP |
24 |  Costa Rica | 10.5 % of GDP |
25 |  Botswana | 10.3 % of GDP |
26 |  Gambia | 10.1 % of GDP |
27 |  Serbia | 9.9 % of GDP |
28 |  Sweden | 9.9 % of GDP |
29 |  Tuvalu | 9.9 % of GDP |
30 |  Fiji | 9.7 % of GDP |
31 |  Iraq | 9.7 % of GDP |
32 |  Norway | 9.7 % of GDP |
33 |  New Zealand | 9.7 % of GDP |
34 |  Spain | 9.7 % of GDP |
35 |  Argentina | 9.5 % of GDP |
36 |  Israel | 9.5 % of GDP |
37 |  Nicaragua | 9.5 % of GDP |
38 |  Japan | 9.3 % of GDP |
39 |  Mongolia | 9.3 % of GDP |
40 |  United Kingdom | 9.3 % of GDP |
41 |  Slovenia | 9.1 % of GDP |
42 |  Brazil | 9 % of GDP |
43 |  Rwanda | 9 % of GDP |
44 |  Australia | 8.5 % of GDP |
45 |  Slovakia | 8.5 % of GDP |
46 |  South Africa | 8.5 % of GDP |
47 |  Jamaica | 8.3 % of GDP |
48 |  Panama | 8.3 % of GDP |
49 |  Chile | 8.2 % of GDP |
50 |  Hungary | 8.2 % of GDP |
51 |  Lebanon | 8.2 % of GDP |
52 |  Uganda | 8.2 % of GDP |
53 |  Germany | 8.1 % of GDP |
54 |  Latvia | 8.1 % of GDP |
55 |  Guinea-Bissau | 8.1 % of GDP |
56 |  Saint Lucia | 8.1 % of GDP |
57 |  Malaysia | 8 % of GDP |
58 |  Croatia | 7.8 % of GDP |
59 |  Lithuania | 7.8 % of GDP |
60 |  Andorra | 7.7 % of GDP |
61 |  Ireland | 7.6 % of GDP |
62 |  Czech Republic | 7.6 % of GDP |
63 |  Suriname | 7.6 % of GDP |
64 |  Mali | 7.5 % of GDP |
65 |  Afghanistan | 7.4 % of GDP |
66 |  Bulgaria | 7.4 % of GDP |
67 |  Greece | 7.4 % of GDP |
68 |  Uruguay | 7.4 % of GDP |
69 |  Honduras | 7.3 % of GDP |
70 |  Bahamas | 7.2 % of GDP |
71 |  Vietnam | 7.2 % of GDP |
72 |  Grenada | 7.1 % of GDP |
73 |  Paraguay | 7.1 % of GDP |
74 |  Poland | 7.1 % of GDP |
75 |  San Marino | 7.1 % of GDP |
76 |  Sao Tome and Principe | 7.1 % of GDP |
77 |  Chad | 7 % of GDP |
78 |  Denmark | 7 % of GDP |
79 |  Eritrea | 7 % of GDP |
80 |  Ukraine | 7 % of GDP |
81 |  Samoa | 7 % of GDP |
82 |  Albania | 6.9 % of GDP |
83 |  North Macedonia | 6.9 % of GDP |
84 |  Barbados | 6.8 % of GDP |
85 |  Kuwait | 6.8 % of GDP |
86 |  Turkey | 6.7 % of GDP |
87 |  Libya | 6.6 % of GDP |
88 |  South Korea | 6.5 % of GDP |
89 |  Laos | 6.5 % of GDP |
90 |  Mauritius | 6.5 % of GDP |
91 |  Colombia | 6.4 % of GDP |
92 |  Djibouti | 6.4 % of GDP |
93 |  Egypt | 6.4 % of GDP |
94 |  Burkina Faso | 6.4 % of GDP |
95 |  Eswatini | 6.3 % of GDP |
96 |  Madagascar | 6.2 % of GDP |
97 |  Tonga | 6.2 % of GDP |
98 |  Tunisia | 6.2 % of GDP |
99 |  Dominican Republic | 6.1 % of GDP |
100 |  Guinea | 6.1 % of GDP |
101 |  Guyana | 6.1 % of GDP |
102 |  Niger | 6.1 % of GDP |
103 |  Cyprus | 6 % of GDP |
104 |  Gabon | 6 % of GDP |
105 |  Haiti | 6 % of GDP |
106 |  Saint Kitts and Nevis | 6 % of GDP |
107 |  Dominica | 5.9 % of GDP |
108 |  Togo | 5.9 % of GDP |
109 |  Namibia | 5.9 % of GDP |
110 |  Algeria | 5.8 % of GDP |
111 |  Azerbaijan | 5.8 % of GDP |
112 |  Belarus | 5.8 % of GDP |
113 |  Cambodia | 5.8 % of GDP |
114 |  Nigeria | 5.8 % of GDP |
115 |  Nepal | 5.8 % of GDP |
116 |  Guatemala | 5.7 % of GDP |
117 |  Mauritania | 5.7 % of GDP |
118 |  Mozambique | 5.7 % of GDP |
119 |  Senegal | 5.7 % of GDP |
120 |  Cameroon | 5.6 % of GDP |
121 |  Maldives | 5.6 % of GDP |
122 |  Trinidad and Tobago | 5.6 % of GDP |
123 |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 5.6 % of GDP |
124 |  Yemen | 5.6 % of GDP |
125 |  Bhutan | 5.5 % of GDP |
126 |  Indonesia | 5.5 % of GDP |
127 |  Morocco | 5.5 % of GDP |
128 |  Solomon Islands | 5.4 % of GDP |
129 |  Romania | 5.4 % of GDP |
130 |  Russia | 5.4 % of GDP |
131 |  Tajikistan | 5.3 % of GDP |
132 |  Uzbekistan | 5.2 % of GDP |
133 |  Antigua and Barbuda | 5.1 % of GDP |
134 |  Italy | 5.1 % of GDP |
135 |  Côte d'Ivoire | 5.1 % of GDP |
136 |  Tanzania | 5.1 % of GDP |
137 |  Ecuador | 5 % of GDP |
138 |  Saudi Arabia | 5 % of GDP |
139 |  Bolivia | 4.8 % of GDP |
140 |  Malawi | 4.8 % of GDP |
141 |  Zambia | 4.8 % of GDP |
142 |  Monaco | 4.7 % of GDP |
143 |  Angola | 4.6 % of GDP |
144 |  China | 4.6 % of GDP |
145 |  Peru | 4.6 % of GDP |
146 |  Bahrain | 4.5 % of GDP |
147 |  Jordan | 4.5 % of GDP |
148 |  Cook Islands | 4.4 % of GDP |
149 |  Central African Republic | 4.3 % of GDP |
150 |  Estonia | 4.3 % of GDP |
151 |  Kazakhstan | 4.3 % of GDP |
152 |  Thailand | 4.3 % of GDP |
153 |  Benin | 4.2 % of GDP |
154 |  Iceland | 4.2 % of GDP |
155 |  Kyrgyzstan | 4.1 % of GDP |
156 |  Luxembourg | 4.1 % of GDP |
157 |  Sri Lanka | 4 % of GDP |
158 |  Vanuatu | 4 % of GDP |
159 |  Seychelles | 4 % of GDP |
160 |  Cabo Verde | 3.9 % of GDP |
161 |  El Salvador | 3.9 % of GDP |
162 |  Iran | 3.9 % of GDP |
163 |  Liberia | 3.9 % of GDP |
164 |  Singapore | 3.9 % of GDP |
165 |  Philippines | 3.8 % of GDP |
166 |  Ethiopia | 3.6 % of GDP |
167 |  France | 3.5 % of GDP |
168 |  Bangladesh | 3.4 % of GDP |
169 |  Comoros | 3.4 % of GDP |
170 |  Belize | 3.3 % of GDP |
171 |  Kiribati | 3.3 % of GDP |
172 |  Papua New Guinea | 3.1 % of GDP |
173 |  Brunei Darussalam | 3 % of GDP |
174 |  Congo | 3 % of GDP |
175 |  Oman | 3 % of GDP |
176 |  Syrian Arab Republic | 2.9 % of GDP |
177 |  United Arab Emirates | 2.8 % of GDP |
178 |  Pakistan | 2.6 % of GDP |
179 |  Qatar | 2.5 % of GDP |
180 |  India | 2.4 % of GDP |
181 |  Turkmenistan | 2.3 % of GDP |
182 |  Equatorial Guinea | 2.2 % of GDP |
183 |  Myanmar | 2 % of GDP |
184 |  North Korea | 2 % of GDP |
Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.
- #184North Korea
- #183Myanmar
- #182Equatorial Guinea
- #181Turkmenistan
- #180India
- #179Qatar
- #178Pakistan
- #177United Arab Emirates
- #176Syrian Arab Republic
- #175Oman
Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.
Analysis & Context
In 2011, Malta led the world in Health Expenditure (% of GDP) with a remarkable 16.5%, while the global range varied from 2.00% to 16.50%. The average health expenditure across 184 countries was 6.91%, providing a benchmark for understanding healthcare investment worldwide.
Understanding High Health Expenditure: Policy and Economic Drivers
The significant health expenditure in countries like Malta (16.5%), the United States (16.2%), and Mexico (13.8%) can often be attributed to comprehensive healthcare policies and robust economic structures. For instance, the United States is known for its advanced medical technology and extensive healthcare services, which contribute to higher spending. Similarly, Malta's investment reflects its commitment to providing universal healthcare coverage. These countries often prioritize healthcare, allocating substantial portions of their GDP to ensure high-quality medical services and public health initiatives.
In contrast, countries with lower health expenditure percentages, such as Myanmar and North Korea (both at 2.0%), might allocate their resources differently due to economic constraints or differing policy priorities. These nations may face challenges such as limited healthcare infrastructure or economic instability, which can restrict their ability to invest heavily in health services.
Geographic and Demographic Influences on Health Spending
Geographic and demographic factors play a crucial role in shaping health expenditure patterns. For example, Lesotho (13.2%) and Burundi (13.1%) exhibit high health spending relative to their GDPs, which can be attributed to their focus on combating prevalent health issues such as HIV/AIDS and malaria. These expenditures are often necessary to address public health crises and improve overall life expectancy.
In contrast, countries like Qatar (2.5%) and the United Arab Emirates (2.8%) have lower health expenditure percentages, which could be influenced by their smaller populations and the presence of expatriate workers who might not fully utilize public health services. Additionally, these nations benefit from high GDPs, allowing them to maintain healthcare quality without a proportional increase in spending.
Economic Development and Health Expenditure Disparities
Economic development levels significantly impact health expenditure as a percentage of GDP. Countries with larger economies, such as the United States and Mexico, often have the financial capacity to allocate more resources to healthcare. These nations tend to have well-established healthcare systems that require continuous investment to maintain and improve.
Conversely, developing countries like India (2.4%) and Pakistan (2.6%) exhibit lower health expenditure percentages, reflecting broader economic challenges and competing developmental priorities. These countries may prioritize other areas of development, such as infrastructure and education, before significantly increasing healthcare spending.
Implications of Health Expenditure Trends
The disparities in health expenditure across countries in 2011 highlight the diverse approaches nations take in addressing healthcare needs. High expenditure levels in some countries indicate a strong commitment to public health, potentially leading to better health outcomes and longer life expectancies. However, the efficiency of spending is equally important; countries must ensure that their investments translate into improved healthcare access and quality.
For nations with lower health expenditure, the challenge lies in finding innovative ways to enhance healthcare quality without dramatically increasing spending. This might involve adopting technology, optimizing resource allocation, and implementing cost-effective health interventions.
Ultimately, the data on Health Expenditure (% of GDP) in 2011 underscores the complex interplay between economic capacity, policy decisions, and healthcare needs. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for policymakers aiming to optimize health outcomes while managing fiscal constraints.
Data Source
CIA World Factbook
The World Factbook, also known as the CIA World Factbook, was a reference resource produced by the US Central Intelligence Agency between 1962 and 2026 with almanac-style information about the countries of the world. From 1971 it was not classified, and available to the public in print since 1975, initially by the CIA, and later the Government Publishing Office.
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