Global status, trends, and cross-country inequality of total health spending, 1995–2021
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This study describes global, regional, and national health spending in 2021 and its trends and inequality during 1995–2021. Data were extracted from the Global Health Data Exchange. Estimates and 95% uncertainty intervals (UI) are reported in constant 2022 United States Dollars, constant 2022 purchasing power parity adjusted dollars, and as a percent of gross domestic product. The temporal trends were examined using Joinpoint analysis and average annual percentage changes (AAPC). To assess the cross-country inequality, the slope index of inequality (SII) was used. In 2021, global THS across all countries/territories was $14.01 (95% UI: 13.89 to 14.16) trillion, and global THS per person was $1778 (95% UI: 1762 to 1796), meanwhile, health spending accounted for 10.4% (10.3% to 10.5%) of total gross domestic product(GDP). Between 1995 and 2021, the global THS, THS per person, and THS per GDP exhibited a consistent increase. Among 204 countries/territories, lower-income countries showed remarkable increasing rates. Liberia had the highest AAPC of THS (12.15 [95% CI: 7.28 to 17.25]). Similar increasing trends in lower-income countries could be found at THS per person and THS per GDP. Global THS increased continuously from 1995 to 2021, while the absolute spending gap between high- and low-income countries continued to widen. Persistent cross-country inequality in health spending highlights the need for sustained attention to the equity of global health financing.
Source: BMC Health Services Research
Institution: Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
Language: English
Topic: Global Health Care Issues
Subfield: Economics and Econometrics
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,290
OpenAlex ID: W7225820088
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