National health expenditure trends

November 2, 2023 — National health expenditure trends, 2023 — the 27th edition of the annual publication on health expenditure trends — provides detailed information on health spending in Canada using the National Health Expenditure Database (NHEX).

This year’s release presents finalized 2021 actual health expenditures and preliminary estimates for 2022 and 2023. 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. This year’s spending estimates may experience larger revisions than usual due to the uncertainty around the allocation of COVID-19 pandemic spending in expenditure categories.

 

Key findings

  • Total health spending in Canada is expected to reach $344 billion in 2023, or $8,740 per Canadian. It is anticipated that health expenditures will represent 12.1% of Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023.
  • Total health spending in Canada is expected to increase by 2.8% in 2023, after a mere 1.5% growth in 2022.
  • Lingering effects of the pandemic contributed to growth in the Hospitals and Physicians categories. Hospital expenditures are projected to increase by 11.1% in 2022 and 4.1% in 2023. Physician spending growth is estimated to be 9.5% in 2022 and 6.9% in 2023.

 

Report and companion materials

National health expenditure trends, 2023

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

View the trends

Data in brief

A summary of preliminary estimates of health expenditures for 2022 and 2023, and actual health spending figures for 2021

View data in brief (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

Contact us to request our chartbooks:

  • Health Expenditures in the Provinces and Territories — Provincial and Territorial Chartbook, 2023
  • Health Expenditures in the Private Sector — Private-Sector Chartbook, 2023
  • How Canada Compares Internationally: A Health Spending Perspective — International Chartbook, 2023

nhex@cihi.ca

 

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)

 

Infographics

Where is most of the money being spent?

View infographic 

Who is paying for these services?

View infographic 

Has health spending on seniors changed?

View infographic 

How do the provinces and territories compare?

View infographic 

 

Health spending data tables

Full data tables

Macro-level health expenditure data tables, by province and territory and by year

Download data tables(ZIP)

List of data tables (PDF)

Quick Stats

Interactive tool to visually compare health spending data

Go to Quick Stats

Individual data tables

Open data on health spending

Modifiable data set that can be freely used

View open data (XLSX)

 

 

How to cite:

Canadian Institute for Health Information. National health expenditure trends. Accessed March 19, 2024.

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