1. How Canada Compares Internationally
International Chartbook
How Canada Compares Internationally
A Health Spending Perspective, 2017

2. The following slides are provided for reuse in your own presentations.
Please cite as follows: Canadian Institute for Health Information. How Canada Compares Internationally: A Health Spending Perspective — International Chartbook, Ottawa, ON: CIHI; 2017.
Additional resources
The following companion products are available on CIHI’s website:
Report
Data tables
Methodology notes
Infographics
Briefing deck
Provincial/territorial chartbook
For data-specific information:
cihi.ca

3. Canada’s health spending as share of GDP and life expectancy higher than OECD average
In 2015, total health spending as percentage of GDP was 10.4% in Canada and 8.9% in 35 selected OECD countries (average).
Life expectancy at birth was 81.7 years for Canada (2013 data) and 80.6 years for the 35 OECD countries (average).
Here is the data for all 35 countries in order of highest total health spending as percentage of GDP to lowest, followed by life expectancy at birth:
United States: 16.9%; 78.8 years
Switzerland: 12.1%; 83 years
Germany: 11.2%; 80.7 years
France: 11.1%; 82.4 years
Sweden: 11.0%; 82.3 years
Japan (provisional total health spending per person): 10.9%; 83.9 years
Netherlands: 10.7%; 81.6 years
Belgium: 10.5%; 81.1 years
Canada (provisional total health spending per person, 2013 life expectancy data): 10.4%; 81.7 years
Denmark: 10.3%; 80.8 years
Austria: 10.3%; 81.3 years
Norway: 10.0%; 82.4 years
United Kingdom: 9.9%; 81 years
Finland: 9.4%; 81.6 years
Australia (difference in methodology, and estimated total health spending per person): 9.4%; 82.5 years
New Zealand (estimated total health spending per person): 9.3%; 81.7 years
Spain: 9.2%; 83 years
Italy: 9.0%; 82.6 years
Portugal: 9.0%; 81.2 years
Iceland (difference in methodology for total health spending per person): 8.6%; 82.5 years
Slovenia: 8.5%; 80.9 years
Greece: 8.4%; 81.1 years
Chile: 8.1%; 79.1 years
Ireland: 7.8%; 81.5 years
Israel (difference in methodology, and provisional total health spending per person): 7.4%; 82.1 years
Korea: 7.4%; 82.1 years
Hungary: 7.2%; 75.7 years
Czech Republic: 7.2%; 78.7 years
Slovak Republic: 6.9%; 76.7 years
Estonia: 6.5%; 77.7 years
Poland: 6.3%; 77.6 years
Luxembourg (provisional total health spending per person): 6.0%; 82.4 years
Mexico: 5.9%; 75 years
Latvia: 5.8%; 74.6 years
Turkey: 4.1%; 78 years
© Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2017
Notes
* Canada 2013 data for life expectancy at birth.
Total health spending as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP): † Provisional (Japan, Canada, Israel, Luxembourg); ‡ Difference in methodology (Australia, Iceland, Israel); § Estimated (Australia, New Zealand).
Total current expenditure (capital excluded).
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. OECD Health Statistics

4. Some OECD countries spend less on health and have higher life expectancy than Canada
In 2015, 8 of 35 selected OECD countries had lower health spending per person and higher life expectancy at birth than Canada: France, Australia, Japan, Iceland, Italy, Spain, Israel and Korea.
In 2015, total health spending per person (in Canadian dollars) was $5,782 in Canada and $4,826 in the 35 OECD countries (average).
Life expectancy at birth was 81.7 years for Canada (2013 data) and 80.6 years for the 35 OECD countries (average).
Here is the data for all 35 countries in order of highest health spending per person to lowest, followed by life expectancy at birth:
United States: $11,916; 78.8 years
Switzerland: $9,445; 83 years
Luxembourg (provisional total health spending per person): $8,545; 82.4 years
Norway: $7,759; 82.4 years
Germany: $6,709; 80.7 years
Netherlands: $6,639; 81.6 years
Ireland: $6,612; 81.5 years
Sweden: $6,601; 82.3 years
Austria: $6,392; 81.3 years
Denmark: $6,339; 80.8 years
Belgium: $5,989; 81.1 years
Canada (provisional total health spending per person): $5,782; 81.7 years
France: $5,677; 82.4 years
Australia (difference in methodology, and estimated total health spending per person): $5,631; 82.5 years
Japan (provisional total health spending per person): $5,559; 83.9 years
United Kingdom; $5,170; 81 years
Iceland (difference in methodology for total health spending per person): $5,146; 82.5 years
Finland: $5,005; 81.6 years
New Zealand (estimated total health spending per person): $4,443; 81.7 years
Italy: $4,201; 82.6 years
Spain: $3,986; 83 years
Slovenia: $3,423; 80.9 years
Israel (difference in methodology, and provisional total health spending per person): $3,400; 82.1 years
Portugal: $3,339; 81.2 years
Korea: $3,177; 82.1 years
Czech Republic: $3,051; 78.7 years
Greece: $2,770; 81.1 years
Slovak Republic: $2,581; 76.7 years
Hungary: $2,398; 75.7 years
Estonia: $2,363; 77.7 years
Chile: $2,353; 79.1 years
Poland: $2,135; 77.6 years
Latvia: $1,798; 74.6 years
Mexico: $1,322; 75 years
Turkey: $1,249; 78 years
© Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2017
Notes
* Canada 2013 data for life expectancy at birth.
$CA PPP: Purchasing power parity in Canadian currency.
Total health spending per person: † Provisional (Luxembourg, Canada, Japan, Israel); ‡ Difference in methodology (Australia, Iceland, Israel); § Estimated (Australia, New Zealand).
8 countries spent less but had higher life expectancy at birth than Canada: France, Australia, Japan, Iceland, Italy, Spain, Israel, Korea.
Total current expenditure (capital excluded).
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. OECD Health Statistics

5. Some OECD countries such as France and Japan spend less on health and have a larger share of seniors than Canada
In 2015, total health spending per person (in Canadian dollars) was $5,782 in Canada and $4,826 in the 35 selected OECD countries (average).
The population age 65 and older accounted for 16.1% of Canada’s population and 16.6% of the average OECD population (35 selected countries).
Here is the data for all 35 countries in order of highest health spending per person to lowest, followed by the percentage of seniors in the total population:
United States: $11,916; 14.9%
Switzerland: $9,445; 17.7%:
Luxembourg (provisional total health spending per person): $8,545; 14.0%
Norway: $7,759; 16.1%
Germany: $6,709; 20.9%
Netherlands: $6,639; 17.8%
Ireland: $6,612; 12.8%
Sweden: $6,601; 19.5%
Austria: $6,392; 18.3%
Denmark: $6,339; 18.5%
Belgium: $5,989; 18.0%
Canada (provisional total health spending per person): $5,782; 16.1%
France: $5,677; 18.4%
Australia (difference in methodology, and estimated total health spending per person): $5,631; 15.0%
Japan (provisional total health spending per person): $5,559; 26.6%
United Kingdom: $5,170; 17.7%
Iceland (difference in methodology for total health spending per person): $5,146; 13.5%
Finland: $5,005; 19.9%
New Zealand (estimated total health spending per person): $4,443; 14.7%
Italy: $4,201; 21.8%
Spain: $3,986; 18.5%
Slovenia: $3,423; 17.9%
Israel (difference in methodology, and provisional total health spending per person): $3,400; 11.0%
Portugal: $3,339; 20.3%
Korea: $3,177; 12.8%
Czech Republic: $3,051; 17.8%
Greece: $2,770; 21.0%
Slovak Republic: $2,581; 14.0%
Hungary: $2,398; 17.9%
Estonia: $2,363; 18.8%
Chile: $2,353; 10.3%
Poland: $2,135; 15.4%
Latvia: $1,798; 19.5%
Mexico: $1,322; 6.8%
Turkey: $1,249; 7.9%
© Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2017
Notes
$CA PPP: Purchasing power parity in Canadian currency.
Total health spending per person: † Provisional (Luxembourg, Canada, Japan, Israel); ‡ Difference in methodology (Australia, Iceland, Israel); § Estimated (Australia, New Zealand).
Total current expenditure (capital excluded).
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. OECD Health Statistics

6. Canada spends more on health and has a lower publicly funded share than the OECD average
In 2015, total health spending per person (in Canadian dollars) was $5,782 in Canada and $4,826 in the 35 selected OECD countries (average).
The public sector accounted for 70.4% of total health spending in Canada and 72.5% in the OECD (average).
Here is the data for all 35 countries in order of highest health spending per person to lowest, followed by the public sector’s share of total health spending:
United States: $11,916; 49.4%
Switzerland: $9,445; 64.0%
Luxembourg (provisional total health spending per person): $8,545; 82.0%
Norway: $7,759; 85.4%
Germany: $6,709; 84.5%
Netherlands: $6,639; 80.7%
Ireland: $6,612; 70.0%
Sweden: $6,601; 83.7%
Austria: $6,392; 75.6%
Denmark: $6,339; 84.1%
Belgium: $5,989; 77.5%
Canada (provisional total health spending per person): $5,782; 70.4%
France: $5,677; 78.9%
Australia (difference in methodology, and estimated total health spending per person): $5,631; 67.3%
Japan (provisional total health spending per person): $5,559; 84.0%
United Kingdom: $5,170; 79.7%
Iceland (difference in methodology for total health spending per person): $5,146; 81.5%
Finland: $5,005; 74.4%
New Zealand (estimated total health spending per person): $4,443; 80.3%
Italy: $4,201; 74.9%
Spain: $3,986; 71.0%
Slovenia: $3,423; 71.7%
Israel (difference in methodology, and provisional total health spending per person): $3,400; 60.7%
Portugal: $3,339; 66.2%
Korea: $3,177; 56.4%
Czech Republic: $3,051; 83.5%
Greece: $2,770; 59.1%
Slovak Republic: $2,581; 79.7%
Hungary: $2,398; 66.7%
Estonia: $2,363; 75.7%
Chile: $2,353; 60.8%
Poland: $2,135; 70.0%
Latvia: $1,798; 57.5%
Mexico: $1,322; 52.2%
Turkey: $1,249; 78.1%
© Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2017
Notes
$CA PPP: Purchasing power parity in Canadian currency.
Total health spending per person: † Provisional (Luxembourg, Canada, Japan, Israel); ‡ Difference in methodology (Australia, Iceland, Israel); § Estimated (Australia, New Zealand).
Total current expenditure (capital excluded).
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. OECD Health Statistics

7. How does Canada compare internationally?
Canada is among the highest spenders on health care in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), at $5,782 per person in 2015.
That year, among 35 selected OECD countries, spending per person remained the highest in the United States, at $11,916.
Although Canada was above the OECD average in terms of per-person spending on health care, our public-sector share of total health expenditure (70%) was below the OECD average (72%).
Here are the numbers for 2015 per-person spending in Canadian dollars, health spending as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) and the public/private split for the OECD as a whole and 9 selected OECD countries, including Canada:
OECD: $4,826 per person; 8.9% of GDP; 72% public/28% private
Canada: $5,782 per person; 10.4% of GDP; 70% public/30% private
United States: $11,916 per person; 16.9% of GDP; 49% public/51% private
France: $5,677 per person; 11.1% of GDP; 79% public/21% private
Germany: $6,709 per person; 11.2% of GDP; 84% public/16% private
Sweden: $6,601 per person; 11.0% of GDP; 84% public/16% private
Netherlands: $6,639 per person; 10.7% of GDP; 81% public/19% private
Australia: $5,631 per person; 9.4% of GDP; 67% public/33% private
New Zealand: $4,443 per person; 9.3% of GDP; 80% public/20% private
United Kingdom: $5,170 per person; 9.9% of GDP; 80% public/20% private
Note that these numbers reflect total current expenditure, excluding capital. Spending data is based on the System of Health Accounts.
© Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2017
Notes
$CA PPP: Purchasing power parity in Canadian currency.
Total current expenditure (capital excluded).
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. OECD Health Statistics

8. Lower growth seen in health spending and GDP since global economic recession in 2008
For both Canada and the OECD on average, annual growth in current health spending per person and GDP trended downward from 2001 to Growth rates since 2008, when the global economic recession began, have been generally lower than in previous decades. Nominal growth in GDP was negative for both Canada and the OECD on average in 2009, and for Canada only in 2015.
Here is the data for all 35 countries from 2001 to 2016, in order of growth in OECD average GDP per person. Data includes growth in OECD average GDP per person, growth in Canada GDP per person, growth in OECD average total health spending per person and growth in Canada total health spending per person:
2001: OECD average GDP per person, 6.8%; Canada GDP per person, 2.3%; OECD average total health spending per person, 10.7%; Canada total health spending per person, 7.0%
2002: OECD average GDP per person, 6.1%; Canada GDP per person, 3.2%; OECD average total health spending per person, 9.4%; Canada total health spending per person, 5.9%
2003: OECD average GDP per person, 5.4%; Canada GDP per person, 4.2%; OECD average total health spending per person, 8.9%; Canada total health spending per person, 6.0%
2004: OECD average GDP per person, 7.1%; Canada GDP per person, 5.5%; OECD average total health spending per person, 8.2%; Canada total health spending per person, 6.1%
2005: OECD average GDP per person, 6.4%; Canada GDP per person, 5.4%; OECD average total health spending per person, 7.1%; Canada total health spending per person, 5.1%
2006: OECD average GDP per person, 7.9%; Canada GDP per person, 4.2%; OECD average total health spending per person, 7.0%; Canada total health spending per person, 5.9%
2007: OECD average GDP per person, 7.5%; Canada GDP per person, 4.4%; OECD average total health spending per person, 7.4%; Canada total health spending per person, 5.5%
2008: OECD average GDP per person, 3.7%; Canada GDP per person, 3.9%; OECD average total health spending per person, 7.3%; Canada total health spending per person, 5.8%
2009: OECD average GDP per person, -3.6%; Canada GDP per person, -6.3%; OECD average total health spending per person, 4.1%; Canada total health spending per person, 4.7%
2010: OECD average GDP per person, 3.8%; Canada GDP per person, 4.9%; OECD average total health spending per person, 2.6%; Canada total health spending per person, 4.8%
2011: OECD average GDP per person, 4.3%; Canada GDP per person, 5.4%; OECD average total health spending per person, 3.2%; Canada total health spending per person, 2.0%
2012: OECD average GDP per person, 1.9%; Canada GDP per person, 1.8%; OECD average total health spending per person, 3.0%; Canada total health spending per person, 1.8%
2013: OECD average GDP per person, 2.5%; Canada GDP per person, 2.9%; OECD average total health spending per person, 3.6%; Canada total health spending per person, 1.8%
2014: OECD average GDP per person, 3.2%; Canada GDP per person, 3.4%; OECD average total health spending per person, 3.2%; Canada total health spending per person, 2.1%
2015: OECD average GDP per person, 3.9%; Canada GDP per person, -0.7%; OECD average total health spending per person, 4.2%; Canada total health spending per person, 3.8%
2016: OECD average GDP per person, 3.0%; Canada GDP per person, 0.8%; OECD average total health spending per person, 3.8%; Canada total health spending per person, 2.3%
© Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2017
Notes
Current price used in the calculation of growth rates of GDP and health spending per person.
Total current expenditure (capital excluded).
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. OECD Health Statistics