Hospital Beds per Capita 2021
Hospital beds per capita highlights healthcare infrastructure by showing available hospital beds per 1,000 people globally.
Interactive Map
Complete Data Rankings
Rank | Actions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
1 |  South Korea | 12.75 beds per 1,000 | |
2 |  Japan | 12.6 beds per 1,000 | |
3 |  Mongolia | 10.57 beds per 1,000 | |
4 |  Belarus | 10.02 beds per 1,000 | |
5 |  Bulgaria | 7.92 beds per 1,000 | |
6 |  Germany | 7.71 beds per 1,000 | |
7 |  Romania | 7.16 beds per 1,000 | |
8 |  Russia | 6.99 beds per 1,000 | |
9 |  Austria | 6.91 beds per 1,000 | |
10 |  Hungary | 6.79 beds per 1,000 | |
11 |  Czech Republic | 6.65 beds per 1,000 | |
12 |  Barbados | 6.42 beds per 1,000 | |
13 |  Poland | 6.22 beds per 1,000 | |
14 |  Lithuania | 6.07 beds per 1,000 | |
15 |  France | 5.77 beds per 1,000 | |
16 |  Serbia | 5.76 beds per 1,000 | |
17 |  Republic of Moldova | 5.73 beds per 1,000 | |
18 |  Croatia | 5.71 beds per 1,000 | |
19 |  Slovakia | 5.68 beds per 1,000 | |
20 |  Ukraine | 5.53 beds per 1,000 | |
21 |  Belgium | 5.5 beds per 1,000 | |
22 |  Georgia | 5.44 beds per 1,000 | |
23 |  China | 5.2 beds per 1,000 | |
24 |  Latvia | 5.16 beds per 1,000 | |
25 |  Uzbekistan | 4.83 beds per 1,000 | |
26 |  Haiti | 4.8 beds per 1,000 | |
27 |  North Macedonia | 4.74 beds per 1,000 | |
28 |  Maldives | 4.56 beds per 1,000 | |
29 |  Armenia | 4.43 beds per 1,000 | |
30 |  Switzerland | 4.43 beds per 1,000 | |
31 |  Saint Kitts and Nevis | 4.4 beds per 1,000 | |
32 |  Estonia | 4.39 beds per 1,000 | |
33 |  Azerbaijan | 4.35 beds per 1,000 | |
34 |  Cuba | 4.27 beds per 1,000 | |
35 |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 4.26 beds per 1,000 | |
36 |  Slovenia | 4.24 beds per 1,000 | |
37 |  Greece | 4.23 beds per 1,000 | |
38 |  Tajikistan | 4.22 beds per 1,000 | |
39 |  Luxembourg | 4.14 beds per 1,000 | |
40 |  Malta | 4.1 beds per 1,000 | |
41 |  Kyrgyzstan | 4.05 beds per 1,000 | |
42 |  Sri Lanka | 3.98 beds per 1,000 | |
43 |  Montenegro | 3.91 beds per 1,000 | |
44 |  Brunei Darussalam | 3.82 beds per 1,000 | |
45 |  Mauritius | 3.75 beds per 1,000 | |
46 |  Turkmenistan | 3.6 beds per 1,000 | |
47 |  Portugal | 3.49 beds per 1,000 | |
48 |  Norway | 3.4 beds per 1,000 | |
49 |  Argentina | 3.34 beds per 1,000 | |
50 |  Dominica | 3.21 beds per 1,000 | |
51 |  Libya | 3.2 beds per 1,000 | |
52 |  Antigua and Barbuda | 3.16 beds per 1,000 | |
53 |  Italy | 3.09 beds per 1,000 | |
54 |  Israel | 3.05 beds per 1,000 | |
55 |  Grenada | 3.02 beds per 1,000 | |
56 |  Spain | 2.94 beds per 1,000 | |
57 |  Turkey | 2.94 beds per 1,000 | |
58 |  Netherlands | 2.92 beds per 1,000 | |
59 |  Ireland | 2.9 beds per 1,000 | |
60 |  Singapore | 2.84 beds per 1,000 | |
61 |  Suriname | 2.82 beds per 1,000 | |
62 |  Finland | 2.76 beds per 1,000 | |
63 |  Bahamas | 2.75 beds per 1,000 | |
64 |  Seychelles | 2.74 beds per 1,000 | |
65 |  Lebanon | 2.73 beds per 1,000 | |
66 |  United States | 2.7 beds per 1,000 | |
67 |  New Zealand | 2.67 beds per 1,000 | |
68 |  Canada | 2.57 beds per 1,000 | |
69 |  Guyana | 2.55 beds per 1,000 | |
70 |  Brazil | 2.52 beds per 1,000 | |
71 |  Denmark | 2.51 beds per 1,000 | |
72 |  Uruguay | 2.5 beds per 1,000 | |
73 |  Saudi Arabia | 2.46 beds per 1,000 | |
74 |  Tunisia | 2.46 beds per 1,000 | |
75 |  United Kingdom | 2.41 beds per 1,000 | |
76 |  Botswana | 2.39 beds per 1,000 | |
77 |  Thailand | 2.34 beds per 1,000 | |
78 |  Bhutan | 2.21 beds per 1,000 | |
79 |  Panama | 2.18 beds per 1,000 | |
80 |  Bahrain | 2.13 beds per 1,000 | |
81 |  Cyprus | 2.13 beds per 1,000 | |
82 |  Sweden | 2 beds per 1,000 | |
83 |  Chile | 1.98 beds per 1,000 | |
84 |  Saint Lucia | 1.98 beds per 1,000 | |
85 |  Malaysia | 1.97 beds per 1,000 | |
86 |  United Arab Emirates | 1.88 beds per 1,000 | |
87 |  Jamaica | 1.67 beds per 1,000 | |
88 |  Trinidad and Tobago | 1.65 beds per 1,000 | |
89 |  Peru | 1.63 beds per 1,000 | |
90 |  India | 1.59 beds per 1,000 | |
91 |  Liberia | 1.59 beds per 1,000 | |
92 |  Dominican Republic | 1.51 beds per 1,000 | |
93 |  State of Palestine | 1.49 beds per 1,000 | |
94 |  Syrian Arab Republic | 1.43 beds per 1,000 | |
95 |  Jordan | 1.39 beds per 1,000 | |
96 |  Bolivia | 1.37 beds per 1,000 | |
97 |  Indonesia | 1.34 beds per 1,000 | |
98 |  Ecuador | 1.31 beds per 1,000 | |
99 |  Laos | 1.31 beds per 1,000 | |
100 |  Qatar | 1.3 beds per 1,000 | |
101 |  Costa Rica | 1.2 beds per 1,000 | |
102 |  Gambia | 1.18 beds per 1,000 | |
103 |  El Salvador | 1.17 beds per 1,000 | |
104 |  Oman | 1.15 beds per 1,000 | |
105 |  Paraguay | 1.13 beds per 1,000 | |
106 |  Belize | 1.09 beds per 1,000 | |
107 |  Egypt | 1.06 beds per 1,000 | |
108 |  Eritrea | 1.06 beds per 1,000 | |
109 |  Mexico | 1.01 beds per 1,000 | |
110 |  Philippines | 0.97 beds per 1,000 | |
111 |  Bangladesh | 0.94 beds per 1,000 | |
112 |  Nicaragua | 0.92 beds per 1,000 | |
113 |  Mozambique | 0.74 beds per 1,000 | |
114 |  Rwanda | 0.74 beds per 1,000 | |
115 |  Morocco | 0.72 beds per 1,000 | |
116 |  Honduras | 0.66 beds per 1,000 | |
117 |  Sudan | 0.66 beds per 1,000 | |
118 |  Tanzania | 0.64 beds per 1,000 | |
119 |  Guatemala | 0.44 beds per 1,000 | |
120 |  Benin | 0.43 beds per 1,000 | |
121 |  Togo | 0.41 beds per 1,000 | |
122 |  Yemen | 0.41 beds per 1,000 | |
123 |  Timor-Leste | 0.39 beds per 1,000 | |
124 |  Nepal | 0.39 beds per 1,000 | |
125 |  Afghanistan | 0.36 beds per 1,000 |
Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.
- #125Afghanistan
- #124Nepal
- #123Timor-Leste
- #122Yemen
- #121Togo
- #120Benin
- #119Guatemala
- #118Tanzania
- #117Sudan
- #116Honduras
Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.
Analysis & Context
South Korea led the world in Hospital Beds per Capita in 2021 with a value of 12.75 beds per 1,000 people, while the global range spanned from 0.36 to 12.75 beds per 1,000 people. The global average for that year was 3.28 beds per 1,000, providing a benchmark for evaluating national healthcare infrastructure.
Economic Prosperity and Healthcare Infrastructure
The disparity in Hospital Beds per Capita often correlates with a country's economic development and healthcare investment. South Korea and Japan, with bed counts of 12.75 and 12.6 respectively, exemplify how affluent nations can afford extensive healthcare infrastructure. These countries prioritize public health, ensuring sufficient hospital capacity to meet population needs.
In contrast, countries like Afghanistan and Nepal, with only 0.36 and 0.39 beds per 1,000 people, reflect economic constraints that limit healthcare investment. Limited resources often necessitate prioritizing immediate health services over infrastructure, resulting in fewer hospital beds per capita.
Geopolitical Factors and Health Policy
Government policy and geopolitical stability also significantly impact hospital bed availability. Germany and Austria, with 7.71 and 6.91 beds per 1,000 people respectively, benefit from stable governance that supports robust healthcare systems. These countries emphasize health as a public good, influencing their higher per capita hospital bed counts.
Conversely, countries like Yemen and Sudan, with 0.41 and 0.66 beds per 1,000, face challenges due to ongoing conflicts and political instability. These conditions disrupt healthcare delivery and infrastructure development, reducing the availability of hospital beds.
Urbanization and Resource Allocation
Urbanization trends further affect hospital bed distribution. Nations with high urban populations, such as Russia and Hungary (with 6.99 and 6.79 beds per 1,000, respectively), often centralize healthcare facilities in cities, optimizing resource allocation and access. This urban focus can lead to disparities in rural healthcare access, though it boosts national averages.
In countries like Tanzania and Honduras, where urbanization is less pronounced, bed availability remains low at 0.64 and 0.66 beds per 1,000. These nations face challenges in extending healthcare infrastructure to rural areas, often constrained by logistical and financial limitations.
Year-over-Year Trends and Healthcare Improvements
Analyzing year-over-year changes reveals significant shifts in healthcare infrastructure. Mongolia experienced the largest increase, with a jump of +2.34 beds per 1,000 people, marking a 28.4% increase. This can be attributed to government initiatives focused on expanding healthcare access and improving hospital facilities.
In contrast, Ukraine saw a decrease of -0.62 beds per 1,000, a 10.1% decline, likely influenced by economic challenges and reforms affecting healthcare funding. Similarly, Trinidad and Tobago experienced a significant reduction of -0.32 beds per 1,000, reflecting a 16.2% decrease, possibly due to resource reallocation or budget cuts in health sectors.
These fluctuations highlight the dynamic nature of healthcare systems and the impact of policy decisions on infrastructure metrics like hospital beds per capita. They underscore the importance of sustained investment and strategic planning in maintaining and improving healthcare services.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hospital Beds per Capita in 2021
Which country had the highest number of hospital beds per capita in 2021?
South Korea had the highest number of hospital beds per capita in 2021, with 12.75 beds per 1,000 people.
What was the average number of hospital beds per capita across all countries in 2021?
The average number of hospital beds per capita across all countries in 2021 was 3.28 beds per 1,000 people.
Which country had the lowest number of hospital beds per capita in 2021?
Afghanistan had the lowest number of hospital beds per capita in 2021, with 0.36 beds per 1,000 people.
What was the median number of hospital beds per capita in 2021?
The median number of hospital beds per capita in 2021 was 2.75 beds per 1,000 people.
How many countries were included in the dataset for hospital beds per capita in 2021?
The dataset for hospital beds per capita in 2021 included 125 countries.
Which countries were in the top 3 for hospital beds per capita in 2021?
The top 3 countries for hospital beds per capita in 2021 were South Korea with 12.75, Japan with 12.6, and Mongolia with 10.57 beds per 1,000 people.
Insights by country
Brunei Darussalam
In 2021, Brunei Darussalam ranked #44 globally with 3.82 beds per 1,000 people for Hospital Beds per Capita. This figure is notably higher than the global average, reflecting Brunei's commitment to healthcare infrastructure. The country's wealth from oil and gas resources enables significant investment in health services, ensuring access to quality medical care for its population.
Indonesia
In 2021, Indonesia ranked #97 globally with 1.34 beds per 1,000 people for Hospital Beds per Capita. This figure is below the global average, indicating challenges in healthcare accessibility compared to more developed nations. Contributing factors include Indonesia's vast archipelago geography, which complicates healthcare infrastructure development, and a growing population that strains existing resources.
Timor-Leste
In 2021, Timor-Leste ranked #124 globally with 0.39 beds per 1,000 people for Hospital Beds per Capita. This figure is significantly lower than the global average, indicating a critical shortage in healthcare infrastructure. Contributing factors include the country's limited economic resources and ongoing recovery from past conflicts, which have hindered investment in health services and facilities.
Belize
In 2021, Belize ranked #106 globally with 1.09 beds per 1,000 people for Hospital Beds per Capita. This figure is significantly lower than the global average, indicating challenges in healthcare accessibility compared to more developed nations. Contributing factors include Belize's limited economic resources and a relatively small population, which can strain healthcare infrastructure and investment.
Maldives
In 2021, the Maldives ranked #28 globally for Hospital Beds per Capita, with a value of 4.56 beds per 1,000. This figure is notably higher than the global average, reflecting the country's commitment to enhancing its healthcare infrastructure. The relatively high number of hospital beds can be attributed to the Maldives' focus on tourism and healthcare as key sectors, alongside a growing population that necessitates improved medical services.
Afghanistan
In 2021, Afghanistan ranked #125 globally for Hospital Beds per Capita, with a value of 0.36 beds per 1,000. This figure is significantly lower than the global average, reflecting a dire healthcare infrastructure. Contributing factors include prolonged conflict, limited government resources, and a lack of investment in health services, which have severely hindered the development of medical facilities across the country.
Liberia
In 2021, Liberia ranked #91 globally with 1.59 beds per 1,000 population for Hospital Beds per Capita. This figure is significantly lower than the global average, reflecting challenges in the healthcare infrastructure. Key factors contributing to this low number include a history of civil conflict, which has severely impacted health services, and ongoing economic constraints that limit investment in healthcare facilities.
Malaysia
In 2021, Malaysia ranked #85 globally with 1.97 beds per 1,000 people for Hospital Beds per Capita. This figure is below the regional average for Southeast Asia, indicating potential challenges in healthcare accessibility compared to its neighbors. Contributing factors include Malaysia's ongoing efforts to balance healthcare funding with economic growth and a growing population that places additional demands on healthcare infrastructure.
Thailand
In 2021, Thailand ranked #77 globally for Hospital Beds per Capita, with 2.34 beds per 1,000 people. This figure is lower than the global average, indicating challenges in healthcare accessibility compared to more developed nations. Contributing factors include Thailand's economic status and a focus on primary healthcare, which may limit investment in hospital infrastructure relative to population needs.
Brazil
In 2021, Brazil ranked #70 globally with 2.52 beds per 1,000 people for Hospital Beds per Capita. This figure is below the global average, indicating challenges in healthcare accessibility compared to higher-ranking countries. Contributing factors include Brazil's diverse geography, which complicates healthcare delivery, and a public health system that faces financial constraints and regional disparities in resource allocation.
Data Source
Hospital beds per 1,000 people | Our World in Data
Our World in Data is a research organization that provides comprehensive data and visualizations on global development issues. The dataset on hospital beds per 1,000 people offers country-level statistics on healthcare infrastructure, facilitating comparisons across nations.
Visit Data SourceHistorical Data by Year
Explore Hospital Beds per Capita data across different years. Compare trends and see how statistics have changed over time.