National health expenditure trends

Key links

Snapshot: National health expenditure trends, 2024

Data tables: Health care spending (ZIP)

Summary: Health Expenditure Data in Brief (PDF)

Contact:

nhex@cihi.ca

November 7, 2024 — National health expenditure trends, 2024 — the 28th edition of the annual publication on health expenditure trends — provides detailed information on health care spending in Canada using the National Health Expenditure Database (NHEX).

This year’s release presents finalized 2022 actual health expenditures and preliminary estimates for 2023 and 2024. National health expenditure trends forecasts are based on main estimates and budgets for the public sector.
Note: Preliminary estimates are subject to revision when actual data becomes available in subsequent years.

Key findings

Total health care spending in Canada is expected to reach $372 billion in 2024, or $9,054 per Canadian.
It is anticipated that health expenditures will represent 12.4% of Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024. Excluding the 2020 and 2021 pandemic period, this is the highest ratio ever reached.
Total health care spending in Canada is expected to increase by 5.7% in 2024, after a rise of 4.5% in 2023 and 1.7% in 2022.
Hospital expenditures are projected to increase by 6.3% in 2023 and 6.1% in 2024. Physician expenditures are projected to increase by 7.5% in 2023 and 4.4% in 2024. Total drug expenditures are projected to increase by 5.6% in 2023 and 3.8% in 2024.
Total private-sector health expenditures are projected to increase by 6.2% in 2023 and 6.1% in 2024. Private-sector spending is composed mainly of out-of-pocket spending and private, voluntary health insurance payments.
Among 38 countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), in 2022 (the latest year for which comparable data is available), Canada had one of the highest amounts of per capita spending, at CA$8,119 — less than Sweden (CA$8,314) and France (CA$8,212), and more than Australia (CA$8,073) and New Zealand (CA$7,463).

Featured material

National health expenditure trends, 2024

National health expenditure trends, including share of total health expenditure by age group, health care spending category and more

View the trends

Data in brief

A summary of preliminary estimates of health expenditures for 2023 and 2024, and actual health spending figures for 2022

Download data in brief (PDF)

Additional material

Infographics

An overview of how health care money is spent and on whom, and where the money comes from, as well as comparative expenditure data at the provincial/territorial and Canada levels

View infographics

Methodology notes

NHEX definitions, data sources, limitations and revisions to help you understand the data and interpret the analysis in the report

View methodology notes (PDF)

Technical note

Public health, and community mental health and addictions services spending: Information on how public health, and community mental health and addictions services spending by governments and government agencies is captured

View technical note (PDF)

Chartbooks

Health Expenditures in the Provinces and Territories — Provincial and Territorial Chartbook, 2024
Health Expenditures in the Private Sector — Private-Sector Chartbook, 2024
How Canada Compares Internationally: A Health Care Spending Perspective — International Chartbook, 2024

nhex@cihi.ca

Media release

New data from CIHI estimates that in 2024, health care spending in Canada is expected to increase by 5.7%, after rising 4.5% in 2023 and 1.7% in 2022.

Read this media release