The first chart shows U.S. health care expenditures as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) compared to seven other developed nations. The second chart shows historical and projected U.S. health care expenditures as a percentage of GDP. If you also read the prior two posts, you can see that a lack of spending is not an issue with U.S. health care. On a per person basis and as a percentage of GDP the U.S. dramatically outspends other nations. The next two posts will show if we are healthier because of it.
Data Source:
> World Health Organization. World Health Statistics 2008, Part 2: Global health indicators.
> Note: The first chart represents 2006 spending (the latest World Health Organization data). WHO also has a slightly lower number for U.S. expenditures on health care as a % of GDP than does the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
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Why do your numbers for France and the UK, for example, not align with the OECD per capita PPP health care spending (you have them higher)? I didn’t check all, just noticed those two… I have the ‘06 OECD chart if you want it.
Wonderful service, thank you.
Damien
Comment by Damien Fallon — May 7, 2009 @ 7:31 pm
Thanks for the comment. A very good question. I think it’s because I was using numbers based on average exchange rates and not on PPP.
Comment by admin — May 7, 2009 @ 9:12 pm