Where Data Tells the Story
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Countries pay for health care in different ways. In some, the government pays most of the bill. In others, patients pay a large share out of their own pockets.
The chart splits each country's 2023 health spending into three parts: government, out-of-pocket payments by patients, and private insurance and other private sources.
Key Takeaways
- Sweden and Japan had the highest government shares, at 86% and 85%.
- In the U.S., government sources, including programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, funded 54%. That is more than in Switzerland, Brazil or India.
- U.S. patients paid 11% out of pocket, about the same as Germany and above only France (9%). Because U.S. spending is so high, that 11% still came to about $1,470 per person. Private insurance and other private sources paid about 35%.
- In India and Mexico, patients paid more than 40% out of pocket.
Note: Government includes social health insurance. Insurance that people are required to buy from private insurers, as in Switzerland, is counted as private in this data. Out-of-pocket means payments made directly by patients, such as copays and uncovered care; insurance premiums are not included. A small share in some countries comes from outside aid.