Healthcare has changed tremendously in the past year. Recent healthcare statistics show that both healthcare consumers and healthcare providers faced various challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There’s a crying need to improve communication and the quality of service while the healthcare industry is struggling with financial loss and deteriorating patient care.
We focused on the most valuable latest information and statistics about the present status of the healthcare sector to keep you up to date with the current situation.
Top 10 Healthcare Statistics for 2021
- The global life expectancy rose from 69.8 to 72.2 years.
- The predicted cost of pharmaceutical products for this year is $1.59 billion.
- Life expectancy for black individuals is 3.5 years lower than for white individuals.
- The US infant mortality rate was 5.8 deaths per 1000 births in 2017.
- An estimated 222 out of 10,000 US children have autism spectrum disorder.
- Nearly 17% of the US GDP was spent on healthcare in 2018.
- 40% of Americans forewent an examination or procedure in 2018 due to cost.
- The US healthcare spent nearly $143 billion on OTC and supplements in 2018.
- By 2021, 11.5% of the world’s population will be above 65.
- Unexpected medical bills accounted for 66.5% of bankruptcies in the US.
Current Global Health Care Facts
Collecting and comparing health data from around the world helps with understanding health issues better, identifying existing patterns, educating healthcare workers, and setting goals for policymakers.
1. The global life expectancy rose from 69.8 to 72.2 years.
(Statista)
Although life expectancy saw a continuous rise from 2007 to 2017, there are still variations among different nations. Namely, the countries with the lowest life expectancy are the Central African Republic, Lesotho, and Chad. In contrast, Japan, Switzerland, Spain, and Singapore have the highest life expectancy.
2. The countries with the lowest life expectancy lack access to health services and treatment.
(Statista)
Healthcare statistics for 2019 confirmed that low-income and developing countries struggle to control diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and early birth complications.
3. The predicted cost of pharmaceutical products for this year is $1.59 billion.
(Statista)
Healthcare statistics show that global medical expenditure keeps increasing. It grew from $887 billion in 2010 to about $1.26 billion in 2020. The US currently tops the list of global healthcare spending and is forecast to remain in the lead until 2024.
4. The use of artificial intelligence in the healthcare industry will increase in the future.
(NCBI)
The use of AI could soon increase due to the complexity and the amount of data accumulating in healthcare. AI could be involved in diagnostics and treatment, as well as in patient adherence and engagement. Additionally, it could greatly help with tedious, time-consuming administrative activities like medical record management.
Healthcare in America – Facts
Most Americans believe their healthcare system is insanely expensive compared to what they get out of it. Here are some of the most interesting facts about ”the most expensive healthcare system in the world.”
5. Life expectancy at birth for Americans was 77.8 years in 2020.
(CDC)
The National Center for Health Statistics revealed that life expectancy for the total US population decreased by one year in 2020. Namely, male life expectancy declined by 1.2 years (from 76.3 to 75.1), and female life expectancy lowered by 0.9 years (from 81.4 to 80.5 years).
6. Life expectancy for black individuals is 3.5 years lower than for white individuals.
(Meritage Medical Network)
Black Americans in the US have a life expectancy of 75.3 years, while white Americans have a life expectancy of 78.8 years.
7. The US infant mortality rate was 5.8 deaths per 1000 births in 2017.
(Meritage Medical Network)
The United States healthcare system recorded over 22,000 child deaths in 2017 alone. States like Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee were the leaders in infant mortality. It’s important to mention that infant mortality rates vary between ethnic and racial groups, much like life expectancies.
8. The US held first place for the highest rate of chronic diseases and obesity in 2020.
(Meritage Medical Network)
Preventable chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, heart, and lung diseases are prevalent in the US. Moreover, the US healthcare statistics show that the US also has one of the world’s highest diabetes and hypertension hospitalization rates.
9. An estimated 222 out of 10,0000 children in the US have autism spectrum disorder.
(Statista)
The US ranks third when it comes to the global autism incidence rates. The autism spectrum includes a wide variety of symptoms such as speech impairment, difficulties with interaction and social contact, repetitive behavior, sensory disorders, and stimulation hypersensitivity.
10. Obamacare statistics show that 15 million uninsured Americans are eligible for Affordable Care Act policies.
(CNN)
Individuals earning up to about $51,000 and families of four earning up to $104,800 are eligible for financial assistance.
Healthcare Statistics by Country
Detailed comparisons of healthcare systems in different regions and countries offer a powerful tool for carrying out analyses and drawing conclusions.
11. The US has significantly higher private health spending than other developed countries.
(Statista)
In 2018, the US spent the highest percentage of GDP on healthcare in the world. Switzerland, France, and Germany followed the US with slightly lower figures. It’s worth mentioning that public health spending in the US is similar to other developed countries.
12. Spain is the healthiest country in the world.
(Statista)
According to healthcare statistics, Spain possesses the highest health grade of 92.75. Italy, Iceland, and Japan closely follow it with 91.59, 91.44, and 91.38, respectively.
13. Mozambique has the highest teen birth rate in the world.
(Statista)
Statistics show that there were 180 births per 1,000 women aged 15–19 in Mozambique between 2010 and 2018.
14. The US expects to invest between $605 and $635 billion in medicine in 2025.
(Statista)
The US ranks first in the world in terms of projected medicine expenditures. In contrast, Germany’s projected spending for the same year ranges from $65 to $85 billion.
Health Insurance Statistics
There are many concerns related to health insurance. However, the coverage for medical expenses due to diseases, accidents, disability, etc., is undoubtedly an essential privilege today. Furthermore, access to health insurance may cause a divide among people in different socioeconomic groups, contributing to social inequality.
15. 40% of Americans forewent a required examination or procedure in 2018 due to cost.
(Meritage Medical Network)
Health insurance statistics show that 30% of Americans claim they would have to decide between buying essentials and paying an unexpected medical bill.
16. The number of uninsured US adults increased by half a million from 2017 to 2018.
(Meritage Medical Network)
There was also a significant increase in the number of uninsured or underinsured Americans between 2016 and 2018.
17. One in three US families can’t afford to seek medical help.
(Bankrate)
According to US healthcare statistics for 2019, about 32% of the US population opted not to pursue medical treatment due to high prices.
18. People of color are often at a higher risk of lacking health insurance.
(Meritage Medical Network)
The bulk of uninsured individuals are low-income citizens, who usually have to decide between refraining from essential treatment or risking debt due to unaffordable medical bills.
Healthcare Industry Statistics
The healthcare industry sustains the health of the nations. This section will elaborate on exciting stats and facts concerning this dynamic industry that has recorded tremendous development in the past decades.
19. The US healthcare spent nearly $143 billion on over-the-counter medication and supplements in 2018.
(Statista)
The numbers have increased over the past three years. According to healthcare statistics for 2021, the overall revenue for this category in the US is currently 163 million.
20. The revenue of the world’s healthcare sector increased by 4.5% on a year-on-year basis.
(Policy Advice)
The global revenue was $1.853 trillion in 2018. When it comes to spending, an increase in healthcare expenditure of 5.4% a year was projected for the period between 2017 and 2022.
21. Nearly 17.8% of the US GDP was spent on healthcare in 2018.
(Policy Advice)
According to healthcare statistics from 2020, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, and Austria closely follow the US.
22. By 2021, 11.5% of the world’s population will be above 65.
(Policy Advice)
Life expectancy continues to rise, and chronic conditions such as diabetes will become more common due to unfavorable nutritional habits.
Rising Healthcare Costs Statistics
It’s not surprising that the cost of healthcare increases each year. High-quality medicine comes at a price. However, even though new healthcare technology seems unaffordable, the medical benefits it provides outweigh the economic aspects.
23. The US spends over $10,000 per person on healthcare annually.
(Meritage Medical Network)
The average spending of $10,224 per person is double the amount spent on healthcare in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, France, and Canada.
24. Private employers pay $4,092 on healthcare per capita in the US.
(Meritage Medical Network)
The medical costs in the USA are five times higher than in Canada.
25. Unexpected medical bills accounted for 66.5% of bankruptcies in the US in 2019.
(AJPH, Investopedia)
Moreover, medical costs account for over half of bankruptcies in the world.
Health Care Facts and Statistics in Light of Covid-19 Pandemic
Diagnosing and treating many conditions have been seriously impacted since the onset of the pandemic. The impact became apparent on the global scale, and the ones who felt it the most were the low-income countries.
26. Only 69.2% of predicted hospital admissions were realized in April 2020.
(KFF)
According to recent healthcare statistics, April was the month with the lowest admissions level. By the end of December 2020, 94.2% of forecasted hospital admissions were accomplished.
27. About 80% of planned non-COVID-19 hospitalizations were realized in November 2020.
(KFF)
As the number of COVID-19 cases rose in November 2020, non-COVID-19 hospitalizations began to decrease again. Consequently, patients likely postponed or refrained from treatments due to the ongoing pandemic and hospital capacity limitations.
28. Almost one-third of Americans were concerned about their mental health during the pandemic.
(Statista)
Healthcare statistics show that 28% of US citizens were worried about their mental state in 2020. The reasons for the emergence of mental health problems include detrimental effects of COVID-19 and the collateral consequences such as isolation, restrictions, financial crisis, etc.
29. The pandemic cost hospitals approximately $50 billion a month from March to June 2020.
(Health Affairs)
Additionally, there was a significant drop in admissions and procedures in this period.
30. 95% of large US employers cover telehealth.
(PWC)
In 2016 the number was much lower (56%). The use of telemedicine and remote surveillance is likely to continue throughout 2021 in hopes of providing patients with the best healthcare in the world possible, despite the circumstances. This transformation will probably support the transition towards future home health care and greater self-management.
31. 98% of pharmaceutical and life sciences executives expect increased digital investments in clinical trials next year.
(PWC)
Furthermore, almost 38% of executives anticipate performing more than a quarter of their clinical trials online by 2025.
FAQ
What are the sources of health statistics?
Healthcare statistics should rely on reliable and confirmed medical information. The main sources for statistics are:
- administrative and medical records
- surveys
- claims records
- disease registries
- peer-reviewed articles
- vital records
- clinical trials
- surveillance.
Since many recommendations are based on these statistics, preparing them is substantial.
Why are statistics important in the healthcare field?
By analyzing statistics, healthcare providers can observe and monitor local trends and compare them to regional, national, and global patterns. Furthermore, health statistics also offer empirical evidence that may help with scientific research and adequate distributing public and private funding.
It’s essential for statistics to appear in government data, international health organizations, professional medical associations, etc. Credibility is critical, therefore, only confirmed and authoritative data should be cited.
How is statistics used in medicine?
Statistics is vital for medicine—for both probabilistic statistics and scientific research. After confirming statistical data’s validity and credibility, the experts interpret the figures to obtain illustrative patterns and trends. After that, the statistics can be employed in practice for making prognoses and decisions regarding dosing, treatment methods, and adequate therapy.
What percentage of GDP is healthcare?
The Gross Domestic Product percentage spent on healthcare in the US was 17.7% in 2019. Healthcare spending in the US grew by 4.6% in 2019, reaching $11,582 per person and a total of $3.8 trillion.
What is the United States healthcare system?
The US doesn’t have a universal healthcare program, despite being a developed country. Many different agencies and organizations offer health care in the US. Furthermore, private sector companies own and run the majority of healthcare facilities. According to statistics, 58% of community hospitals are non-profit, 21% are owned by the government, and 21% are for-profit facilities.
Why is it important to have health care?
Having a healthcare system is essential. Access to health care, including hospital treatment, outpatient visits, etc., offers the opportunity for patients to maintain their health and properly recover after an illness or accident. Access to general and preventative healthcare improves the overall quality of life, therefore increasing life expectancy.
Conclusion
Healthcare problems in the US and worldwide are a cause of considerable concern. Healthcare statistics show that other than the increase of non-commutable diseases such as diabetes and cancer, the increasing cost of healthcare and the pandemic also pose serious problems in this field. However, the hope is that with certain changes and the use of state-of-the-art technology, it will be possible to achieve improvements in this field.
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