The United States had the highest healthcare spending of any country in 2011, spending more than $2.7 trillion US Dollars (USD). That's almost 18% of its gross domestic product (GDP) and more than the entire GDP of Great Britain. The United States' healthcare spending is equal to roughly $8,223 USD per person, which is more than two-and-a-half times the average of $3,200 USD per person in developed countries. Other countries that have the highest healthcare spending per person include Norway, Switzerland and the Netherlands. The Netherlands, France, Germany, Switzerland and Canada followed the US in terms of healthcare spending as a percentage of GDP, with each country spending 11-12% of its GDP on healthcare.
More about healthcare spending :
- Among developed countries, Mexico and Turkey spend the least on healthcare per person, with each spending a little more than $900 USD per person in 2011.
- Germany has the highest prices for coronary bypasses — about double the cost in the US and quadruple the cost in Australia, Canada or France.
- The average cost for a hospital stay in developed countries in 2011 was about $6,000 USD, with the highest average cost being $18,000 USD in the United States.
- Though the US spends more on healthcare than any other country of the 34 OECD countries, it has the eighth lowest life expectancy. Japan has the highest life expectancy among developed nations.
