Health Expenditure Often Does Not Match Life Expectancy

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Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 26 Sep 2006 - 0:00 PDT


As you can see in the list below, the USA spends more than any other country, per head, on health. However, life expectancy is sixth from the bottom. Japan has the highest life expectancy, and spends 60% less than the USA per head on health.

Life Expectancy (men and women, average) and Expenditure Per Head Per Year on Health

United States
Expenditure per head $6102 - Life expectancy 76.8
Luxembourg
Expenditure per head $5089 - Life expectancy 78
Switzerland
Expenditure per head $4077 - Life expectancy 81.2
Norway
Expenditure per head $3966 - Life expectancy 79.9
Iceland
Expenditure per head $3331 - Life expectancy 81
Canada
Expenditure per head $3165 - Life expectancy 79.3
France
Expenditure per head $3159 - Life expectancy 80.3
Austria
Expenditure per head $3124 - Life expectancy 79.3
Belgium
Expenditure per head $3044 - Life expectancy 78.3
Netherlands
Expenditure per head $3041 - Life expectancy 79.2
Germany
Expenditure per head $3005 - Life expectancy 78.6
Denmark
Expenditure per head $2881 - Life expectancy 77.6
Australia
Expenditure per head $2876 - Life expectancy 80.6
Sweden
Expenditure per head $2825 - Life expectancy 80.6
Ireland
Expenditure per head $2596 - Life expectancy 76.5
United Kingdom
Expenditure per head $2546 - Life expectancy 78
Italy
Expenditure per head $2392 - Life expectancy 79.6
Japan
Expenditure per head $2249 - Life expectancy 82.1
Finland
Expenditure per head $2235 - Life expectancy 78.8
Greece
Expenditure per head $2162 - Life expectancy 79
Spain
Expenditure per head $2094 - Life expectancy 80.5
New Zealand
Expenditure per head $2083 - Life expectancy 79.2
Portugal
Expenditure per head $1813 - Life expectancy 76.6
Czech Republic
Expenditure per head $1361 - Life expectancy 75.8
Hungary
Expenditure per head $1323 - Life expectancy 72.8
Korea
Expenditure per head $1149 - Life expectancy 75.5
Poland
Expenditure per head $805 - Life expectancy 75
Slovak Republic
Expenditure per head $777 - Life expectancy 74.1
Mexico
Expenditure per head $662 - Life expectancy 75.2
Turkey
Expenditure per head $580 - Life expectancy 71.2
Source OECD Health Data, 2006

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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