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International comparisons

International comparisons cyin_master

How do health systems in Canada measure up to those in other countries? Are Canadians getting good value for money from their health care systems? Are their health care needs being met effectively and efficiently? CIHI compares Canada and its provinces and territories with other countries to answer questions like these. Our reports examine how experiences vary across Canada and relative to those in other countries, as well as how they are changing over time.

Explore the reports and online tools below to learn more.

Featured materials

Commonwealth Fund survey, 2023

  • Release summary
  • March 21, 2024
The 2023 Commonwealth Fund survey looked at the views and health care experiences of the general population age 18+ in 10 high-income countries, including Canada.

Commonwealth Fund survey, 2022

  • Release summary
  • June 8, 2023
​The 2022 Commonwealth Fund survey polled family doctors in Canada and 9 other developed countries and provides insight into the current gaps and improvements in primary care.

Commonwealth Fund survey, 2021

  • Release summary
  • March 24, 2022
The Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy surveys fill important information gaps by polling patients and providers in a number of developed countries. CIHI's companion reports tell the Canadian story and highlight how experiences with health care vary across Canada and how they compare with those in other countries. The 2021 edition focuses on the views and experiences of adults age 65 and older.

Commonwealth Fund survey, 2020

  • Release summary
  • February 10, 2021
The 2020 Commonwealth Fund survey results focus on the views and experiences of the general population age 18 and older in 11 countries, including Canada.

Commonwealth Fund survey, 2019

  • Release summary
  • January 30, 2020
The 2019 Commonwealth Fund survey focuses on primary care physicians and provides an important perspective on how well primary care is operating in Canada and internationally.

Indicators

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Reports and releases

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International comparisons: Reports and releases

International comparisons: Reports and releases cyin_master

This page lists international comparisons reports, stories, infographics and release summaries.

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Mental health care

  • Report
  • Published
The 2023 Commonwealth Fund survey of the general population explores lifestyle and economic factors that affect the need for mental health care in 10 countries, including Canada.

Primary health care

  • Report
  • Published
The 2023 Commonwealth Fund survey of the general population explores equitable access to primary health care and experiences with primary care providers in 10 countries, including Canada.

Commonwealth Fund survey, 2023

  • Release summary
  • Published
The 2023 Commonwealth Fund survey looked at the views and health care experiences of the general population age 18+ in 10 high-income countries, including Canada.

Hospital spending

  • Release summary
  • Published
Take an in-depth look at hospital spending in Canada and discover emerging trends using data from the Canadian MIS Database (CMDB).

Commonwealth Fund survey, 2022

  • Release summary
  • Published
​The 2022 Commonwealth Fund survey polled family doctors in Canada and 9 other developed countries and provides insight into the current gaps and improvements in primary care.

Access to care remains challenging

  • Infographic
  • Published
This infographic highlights how Canada compares with 9 other countries on access to care in the 2022 Commonwealth Fund survey of primary care physicians.

International comparisons: Data tables

International comparisons: Data tables cyin_master

This page lists data tables that provide information about international comparisons.

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International comparisons: Indicators

International comparisons: Indicators cyin_master

This page lists CIHI’s indicators about international comparisons.

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Low Birth Weight Rate

  • Indicator
  • Published
This indicator provides the low birth weight rate (<2,500 grams, excluding <500 grams).

Obesity (Age 18 and Older)

  • Indicator
  • Published
This indicator measures the percentage of adults who are considered to be obese (body mass index higher than 30), based on self-reported height and weight.

Perceived Health

  • Indicator
  • Published
This indicator measures the percentage of the population age 12 and older who report their health to be excellent or very good. Self-rated health is measured on a scale from excellent to poor.

International comparisons: Tools

International comparisons: Tools cyin_master

This page lists CIHI’s tools that contain data on international comparisons.

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Quick Stats

  • Tool
  • Published
Quick Stats are a series of free, publicly available reports that provide aggregate-level data about health care in Canada.

International comparisons: Data holdings

International comparisons: Data holdings cyin_master

This page contains information about CIHI’s data holdings related to international comparisons.

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Commonwealth Fund metadata

  • Metadata
  • Published
Source, data coverage, data availability, data elements and data quality of The Commonwealth Fund (CMWF).

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) metadata

  • Metadata
  • Published
​​​Metadata information on the source, statement of purpose, data coverage, data availability, data elements and data quality of the Patient Reported-Outcome Measures (PROMs).

International comparisons: News and podcasts

International comparisons: News and podcasts cyin_master

This page contains media releases, bulletins and podcast episodes about international comparisons.

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Palliative Care in Canada — Dr. Naheed Dosani

  • Podcast episode
  • Published
In this episode of the CHIP, host Avis Favaro speaks with Dr. Naheed Dosani about the state of palliative care in Canada and why it is such a critical part of health care.

Virtual Care in Canada — Dr. Ewan Affleck

  • Podcast episode
  • Published
In this episode of the CHIP, host Avis Favaro speaks with Dr. Ewan Affleck about the future of virtual care in Canada and why he is so passionate about continuing its growth.

Virtual Care in Canada — Dr. Onil Bhattacharyya

  • Podcast episode
  • Published
In this episode of the CHIP, host Alya Niang speaks with Dr. Onil Bhattacharyya about the future of virtual care in Canada and why he is so passionate about continuing its growth.

Surgical Wait Times in Canada — Dr. Etienne Belzile

  • Podcast episode
  • Published
In this episode of the CHIP, host Alya Niang speaks with Dr. Etienne Belzile about the causes of surgical backlogs in Canada and what could be done to fix the problems for the long term.

Unintended harms: How CIHI is helping Canadians receive safer care

  • Bulletin
  • Published
Health systems across the country continuously strive to make Canadian health care safer. Learn how we help these efforts through an interview with Yana Gurevich, manager of Health Indicators and Client Support, and Mélanie Josée Davidson, director of…

International comparisons: Education resources

International comparisons: Education resources kathschach

Through our Learning Centre, CIHI provides opportunities for health professionals to understand our evolving reporting systems and the application of our standards, data and analytics. We offer many courses and resources for a variety of audiences, including clinicians, assessors, data submitters and analysts, decision-makers, policy planners and researchers.

Courses and resources are available in a variety of formats, including eLearning modules, PDF and page-based documents, live and recorded web conferences, and videos.

On this page:

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With 300 learning products in a variety of areas, we’re sure to have something that meets your needs — and our online courses will always fit your schedule.

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Other education resources

Resources offered through CIHI include the following:

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Canadian seniors and access to specialists

  • Video
  • Published
Tracy Johnson, CIHI's director of Health System Analysis and Emerging Issues, discusses the survey's key findings for access to specialist care for Canadian seniors in this video.

Canadian seniors and home care

  • Video
  • Published
Tracy Johnson, CIHI's director of Health System Analysis and Emerging Issues, discusses the survey's key findings  for the use of publicly-funded home care services by Canadian seniors.

Canadian seniors and medical assistance in dying

  • Video
  • Published
Tracy Johnson, CIHI's director of Health System Analysis and Emerging Issues, discusses the survey's findings for the views of Canadian seniors on medical assistance in dying in this video.

Canadian seniors and mental health

  • Video
  • Published
Tracy Johnson, CIHI's director of Health System Analysis and Emerging Issues, discusses the survey's key findings regarding the mental health of Canadian seniors in this video.