How does Canada’s hospital spending compare internationally?

Text version of infographic

  • While Canada is among the highest spenders on overall health care in the OECD, we spend less than most other countries on hospital services, at $1,858 per person, compared with the OECD average of $2,080. When limited to government/compulsory spending, Canada spends $1,694, compared with the OECD average of $1,877. For voluntary/household out-of-pocket hospital spending, Canada ($164) spends less than the OECD average of $203.
  • Of 34 selected OECD countries, 20 spent more on hospitals than Canada on a per person basis.
 
Selected OECD countries, 2020 Voluntary/household
out-of-pocket (in Canadian currency)
Government/compulsory (in Canadian currency)
OECD average 203 1,877
Canada 164 1,694
Australia (2019) 613 2,114
France 103 2,549
Germany 72 2,418
Netherlands 179 2,386
Sweden 34 2,811
United Kingdom 132 2,447
United States 437 4,336

Notes

OECD: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Per capita figures are expressed in current Canadian dollars using OECD purchasing power parity data.

Source

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD Health Statistics 2022 (data retrieved July 13, 2022).

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