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Life expectancy at birth (years), 2021: 80.1 years
Maternal mortality ratio (per 100,000 live births), 2023: 8
Under-five mortality rate (per 1000 live births), 2023: 4.5
Neonatal mortality rate (per 1000 live births), 2023: 2.7
Tuberculosis incidence (per 100,000 population), 2023: 7.6
Probability of dying from any of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease between age 30 and exact age 70 (%), 2021: 11.0%
Suicide mortality rate (per 100,000 population), 2021: 9.5
Adolescent birth rate (per 1000 women aged 15-19 years), 2015-2024: 8.6
Adolescent birth rate (per 1000 women aged 10-14 years), 2015-2024: 0.0
Universal Health Coverage: Service coverage index, 2021: ≥80
Population with household expenditures on health > 10% of total household expenditure or income (%), 2015-2021: 2.36%
Population with household expenditures on health > 25% of total household expenditure or income (%), 2015-2021: 0.56%
Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP3) immunization coverage among 1-year-olds (%), 2023: 92%
Measles-containing-vaccine second-dose (MCV2) immunization coverage by the locally recommended age (%), 2023: 85%
Pneumococcal conjugate 3rd dose (PCV3) immunization coverage among 1-year olds (%), 2023: 89%
Human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization coverage estimates among 15 year-old girls (%), 2023: 68%
Density of medical doctors (per 10,000 population), 2015-2023: 33.01
Density of nursing and midwifery personnel (per 10,000 population), 2016-2023: 95.49
Density of dentists (per 10,000 population), 2016-2023: 4.93
Density of pharmacists (per 10,000 population), 2015-2023: 8.97
Domestic general government health expenditure (GGHE-D) as percentage of general government expenditure (GGE) (%), 2022: 20.67%
Prevalence of stunting in children under 5 (%), 2024: 3.5%
Prevalence of wasting in children under 5 (%), 2015-2024: 0.4%
Prevalence of overweight in children under 5 (%), 2024: 7.8%
Prevalence of anaemia in women aged 15-49 years (%), 2023: 13.6%

Source: World health statistics 2025: monitoring health for the SDGs, Sustainable Development Goals. Tables of health statistics by country and area, WHO region and globally. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2025. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.

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Population (in thousands), 2023: 68,683
Annual Population Growth Rate (%), 2023: 0.7%
Life Expectancy at Birth, 2023: 81 years
Share of Urban Population (%), 2023: 85%
Annual Growth Rate of Urban Population (%), 2020-2030: 0.5%
Net Migration Rate (per 1,000 population), 2023: 6.5
Under-Five Mortality Rate (per 1,000 live births), 2022: 4
Infant Mortality Rate (per 1,000 live births), 2022: 4
Neonatal Mortality Rate (per 1,000 live births), 2022: 3
Mortality Rate Among Children Aged 5-14 Years (per 1,000 children aged 5), 2022: 1
Maternal Mortality Ratio (per 100,000 live births), 2020: 10
Lifetime Risk of Maternal Death (1 in x), 2020: 1 in 5,847
Immunization for Vaccine Preventable Diseases (%), 2023:
– Percentage of surviving infants who received the first dose of diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccine: 97%
– Percentage of surviving infants who received three doses of diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccine: 92%
– Percentage of surviving infants who received three doses of the polio vaccine: 92%
– Percentage of surviving infants who received the first dose of the measles-containing vaccine: 90%
– Percentage of children who received the second dose of measles-containing vaccine as per national schedule: 85%
– Percentage of surviving infants who received three doses of hepatitis B vaccine: 92%
– Percentage of surviving infants who received three doses of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine: 92%
– Percentage of surviving infants who received the last dose of rotavirus vaccine as recommended: 90%
– Percentage of surviving infants who received three doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine: 89%
Adolescent Birth Rate (Births Per 1,000 Adolescent Girls and Young Women), 2017-2023:
– Aged 10-14: 0
– Aged 15-19: 8
Share of Household Income, 2015-2023:
– Bottom 40%: 20%
– Top 20%: 40%
– Bottom 20%: 7%
Gini Coefficient, 2015-2023: 32
Palma Index of Income Inequality, 2015-2023: 1.2
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Per Capita (Current US$), 2015-2023: $48,867
Government Expenditure on Health as % of GDP, 2015-2023: 10.3%
Government Expenditure on Health as % of Government Budget, 2015-2023: 22.4%

Notes: Under-five mortality rate – Probability of dying between birth and exactly 5 years of age, expressed per 1,000 live births.
Infant mortality rate – Probability of dying between birth and exactly 1 year of age, expressed per 1,000 live births.
Neonatal mortality rate – Probability of dying during the first 28 days of life, expressed per 1,000 live births.
Mortality rate (children aged 5 to 14 years) – Probability of dying at age 5–14 years expressed per 1,000 children aged 5.
Maternal mortality ratio – Number of deaths of women from pregnancy-related causes per 100,000 live births during the same time period (modelled estimates).
Lifetime risk of maternal death – Lifetime risk of maternal death takes into account both the probability of becoming pregnant and the probability of dying as a result of that pregnancy, accumulated across a woman’s reproductive years (modelled estimates).
BCG – Percentage of live births who received bacilli Calmette-Guérin (vaccine against tuberculosis).
DTP1 – Percentage of surviving infants who received the first dose of diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccine.
DTP3 – Percentage of surviving infants who received three doses of diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccine.
Polio3 – Percentage of surviving infants who received three doses of the polio vaccine.
MCV1 – Percentage of surviving infants who received the first dose of the measles-containing vaccine.
MCV2 – Percentage of children who received the second dose of measles-containing vaccine as per national schedule.
HepB3 – Percentage of surviving infants who received three doses of hepatitis B vaccine.
Hib3 – Percentage of surviving infants who received three doses of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine.
Rota – Percentage of surviving infants who received the last dose of rotavirus vaccine as recommended.
PCV3 – Percentage of surviving infants who received three doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.
Protection at birth (PAB) – Percentage of newborns protected at birth against tetanus with tetanus toxoid.
Adolescent birth rate – Number of births per 1,000 adolescent girls and young women aged 10–14 and
15–19.
Share of household income – Percentage of income received by the 20 per cent of households with the highest income, by the 40 per cent of households with the lowest income and by the 20 per cent of households with the lowest income.
Gini Coefficient – Gini index measures the extent to which the distribution of income (or, in some cases, consumption expenditure) among individuals or households within an economy deviates from a perfectly equal distribution. A Lorenz curve plots the cumulative percentages of total income received against the cumulative number of recipients, starting with the poorest individual or household. The Gini index measures the area between the Lorenz curve and a hypothetical line of absolute equality, expressed as a percentage of the maximum area under the line. Thus a Gini index of 0 represents perfect equality, while an index of 100 implies perfect inequality.
Palma Index of income inequality – Palma index is defined as the ratio of the richest 10% of the population’s share of gross national income divided by the poorest 40%’s share.
GDP per capita (current US$) – GDP per capita is gross domestic product divided by midyear population. GDP is the sum of gross value added by all resident producers in the economy plus any product taxes and minus any subsidies not included in the value of the products. It is calculated without making deductions for depreciation of fabricated assets or for depletion and degradation of natural resources. Data are in current US dollars.
Government revenue as percentage of GDP – Revenue is cash receipts from taxes, social contributions, and other revenues such as fines, fees, rent, and income from property or sales. Grants are also considered as revenue but are excluded here.
Government expenditure – General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defence and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation.

Source: United Nations Children’s Fund, The State of the World’s Children 2024: The Future of Childhood in a Changing World – Statistical Compendium. UNICEF, Nov. 20, 2024.

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Health expenditure per capita, USD PPP, 2022
– Government/compulsory: $4,479
– Voluntary/Out-of-pocket: $1,014
– Total: $5,493
Health expenditure as a share of GDP, 2022
– Government/compulsory: 9.3%
– Voluntary/out-of-pocket: 2.1%
Health expenditure by type of financing, 2021
– Government schemes: 83%
– Compulsory health insurance: 0%
– Voluntary health insurance: 2%
– Out-of-pocket: 13%
– Other: 2%
Out-of-pocket spending on health as share of final household consumption, 2021: 2.7%
Price levels in the healthcare sector, 2021 (OECD average = 100): 101
Population coverage for a core set of services, 2021
– Total public coverage: 100%
– Primary private health coverage: 0%
Population aged 15 years and over rating their own health as bad or very bad, 2021: 7.4%
Population aged 15 years and over rating their own health as good or very good, by income quintile, 2021
– Highest quintile: 82.9%
– Lowest quintile: 62.5%
– Total: 72.9%
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 80.4 years
Infant mortality, deaths per 1,000 live births, 2021: 4.0
Maternal mortality rate, deaths per 100,000 live births, 2020: 9.8
Congestive heart failure hospital admission in adults, age-sex standardized rate per 100,000 population, 2021: 113
Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease hospital admissions in adults, age-sex standardized rate per 100,000 population, 2021: 211
Hospital workforce per 1,000 population, 2021
– Physicians: 2.35
– Nurses and midwives: 8.03
– Healthcare assistants: 1.5
– Other health service providers: 8.32
– Other staff: 4.51
Practicing doctors per 1,000 population, 2021: 3.2
Share of different categories of doctors, 2021
– General practitioners: 25.5%
– Specialists: 74.3%
Share of foreign-trained doctors, 2021: 31.9%
Medical graduates per 100,000 population, 2021: 13.1
Practicing nurses per 1,000 population, 2021: 8.7
Share of foreign-trained nurses, 2021: 17.9%
Nursing graduates per 100,000 population, 2021: 41.9
Ratio of nurses to doctors, 2021: 2.7
Practicing pharmacists per 100,000 population, 2021: 84
Community pharmacies per 100,000 population, 2021: 21
Remuneration of doctors, ratio to average wage, 2021 (England)
– General Practitioners
– Salaried: 1.8
– Self-employed: 3.4
– Specialists
– Salaried: 3.3
Remuneration of hospital nurses, ratio to average wage, 2021: 0.9
Remuneration of hospital nurses, USD PPP, 2021: $46,000
Hospital beds per 1,000 population, 2021: 2.4
Average length of stay in hospital, 2021: 6.9 days
CT scanners per million population, 2021: 10
CT exams per 1,000 population, 2021: 94
MRI units per million population, 2021: 9
MRI exams per 1,000 population, 2021: 51
PET scanners per million population, 2021: 1
PET exams per 1,000 population, 2021: 3
Proportion of primary care practices using electronic medical records, 2021: 100%
Expenditure on retail pharmaceuticals per capita, USD PPP, 2021
– Prescription medicines: $314
– Over-the-counter medicines: $152
– Total: $466
Expenditure on retail pharmaceuticals by type of financing, 2021:
– Government/compulsory schemes: 65%
– Voluntary health insurance schemes: 0%
– Out-of-pocket spending: 35%
– Other: 0%
Share of the population aged 65 and over, 2021: 18.8%
Share of the population aged 65 and over, 2050: 25.1%
Share of the population aged 80 and over, 2021: 5.1%
Share of the population aged 80 and over, 2050: 9.4%
Adults aged 65 and over rating their own health as good or very good, 2019: 56%
Adults aged 65 and over rating their own health as poor or very poor, by income, 2018
– Lowest quintile: 13%
– Highest quintile: 6%
– Total: 12%
Limitations in daily activities in adults aged 65 and over, 2018
– Severe limitations: 21%
– Some limitations: 24%
Estimated prevalence of dementia per 1,000 population, 2021: 12.7
Estimated prevalence of dementia per 1,000 population, 2040: 16.2
Total long-term care spending as a share of GDP, 2021: 2.6%
Share of long-term care workers who work part time or on fixed contracts, 2019
– Part-time: 37.2%
– Fixed-term contract: 5.1%
Average hourly wages of personal care workers, as a share of economy-wide average wage, 2018
– Residential (facility-based) care: 56%
– Home-based care: 57%
Long-term care beds in institutions and hospitals per 1,000 population aged 65 years and over, 2021
– Institutions: 41.3

Source: OECD (2023), Health at a Glance 2023: OECD Indicators, OECD Publishing, Paris, doi.org/10.1787/7a7afb35-en.

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Population, Midyear 2022: 67,508,936
Population Density (Number of Persons per Square Kilometer): 278.11
Life Expectancy at Birth, 2022: 82.16
Infant Mortality Rate, 2022 (per 1,000 live births): 3.21
Under-Five Mortality Rate, 2022 (per 1,000 live births): 3.74
Projected Population, Midyear 2030: 69,175,770
Percentage of Total Population Aged 65 and Older, Midyear 2022: 19.17%
Projected Percentage of Total Population Aged 65 and Older, Midyear 2030: 22.02%
Projected Percentage of Total Population Aged 65 and Older, Midyear 2050: 26.15%

Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2023). Data Portal, custom data acquired via website. United Nations: New York. Accessed 12 May 2023.

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Current health expenditure (CHE) per capita in US$, 2022: $5,035.62

Source: Global Health Observatory. Current health expenditure (CHE) per capita in US$. Geneva: World Health Organization. Last accessed Jan. 23, 2025.

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Out-of-pocket expenditure (OOP) per capita in US$, 2022: $669.17

Source: Global Health Observatory. Out-of-pocket expenditure (OOP) per capita in US$. Geneva: World Health Organization. Last accessed Jan. 23, 2025.

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Out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure (CHE) (%), 2022: 13.29%

Source: Global Health Observatory. Out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure (CHE) (%). Geneva: World Health Organization. Last accessed Jan. 23, 2025.

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Domestic private health expenditure (PVT-D) as percentage of current health expenditure (CHE) (%), 2022: 16.92%

Source: Global Health Observatory. Domestic private health expenditure (PVT-D) as percentage of current health expenditure (CHE) (%). Geneva: World Health Organization. Last accessed Jan. 23, 2025.

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Domestic private health expenditure (PVT-D) per capita in US$, 2022: $852.21

Source: Global Health Observatory. Domestic private health expenditure (PVT-D) per capita in US$. Geneva: World Health Organization. Last accessed Jan. 23, 2025.

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Domestic general government health expenditure (GGHE-D) as percentage of current health expenditure (CHE) (%), 2022: 83.07%

Source: Global Health Observatory. Domestic general government health expenditure (GGHE-D) as percentage of current health expenditure (CHE) (%). Geneva: World Health Organization. Last accessed Jan. 23, 2025.

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Domestic general government health expenditure (GGHE-D) as percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) (%), 2022: 9.18%

Source: Global Health Observatory. Domestic general government health expenditure (GGHE-D) as percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) (%). Geneva: World Health Organization. Last accessed Jan. 23, 2025.

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Domestic general government health expenditure (GGHE-D) per capita in US$, 2022: $4,182.90

Source: Global Health Observatory. Domestic general government health expenditure (GGHE-D) per capita in US$. Geneva: World Health Organization. Last accessed Jan. 23, 2025.

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“Historically, the U.K. has not systematically excluded benefits (it rather provides services to such extent as [considered] necessary to meet all reasonable requirements [14]. This means that the relatively high growth in OOP [Out-Of-Pocket spending] (2nd after the Netherlands) in 2004–2014 must be mostly ascribed to increased cost sharing requirements. Still, per capita OOP spending has been very low by international standards, with only those in France spending less. Inpatient and outpatient services are received free at point of service in most cases, but there are co-payments for prescription drugs that have been growing and amounted to £8.40 per prescription in 2016. These co-payments were capped at £104 annually in 2009 and remain the same today. Furthermore, although the co-payment maximum was lowered in 2006 (from £384 to £189), there have been regular increases since then. Similarly, there are co-payments for dental services (the amount of which varies by service). Both drug and dental co-payments have risen by 2% per year since 2005. Children and students, those age 60 and above, people with specific medical conditions and those on low-income schemes are exempted from co-payments for drugs and dental services, and are covered for vision services (which is normally not covered). Unsurprisingly, the market for VHI [Voluntary Health Insurance] is rather small. Individuals buy VHI to avoid waiting lists, have some choice over the physician they visit, and for more comfortable rooms [15]. “

Source: Rice, Thomas et al. “Revisiting out-of-pocket requirements: trends in spending, financial access barriers, and policy in ten high-income countries.” BMC health services research vol. 18,1 371. 18 May. 2018, doi:10.1186/s12913-018-3185-8.

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“The archetypal Beveridge model is the traditional system of the United Kingdom, of a single payer, financed by national taxation, with a National Health Service in which providers of publicly financed services are owned publicly, and access to hospital specialists is typically by referral via a general practitioner (GP).”

Source: Bevan G, Helderman JK, Wilsford D: Changing choices in health care: implications for equity, efficiency and cost. Health Econ Policy Law. 2010, 5 (3): 251-67. 10.1017/S1744133110000022.

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“Ordinarily resident citizens in the United Kingdom enjoy access to a National Health Service (NHS) based on clinical need, and not ability to pay. In contrast, free access to social care services is means-tested, with different eligibility criteria across the United Kingdom. Since devolution in the late 1990s, the respective governments in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have been responsible for organising and delivering health care services. The United Kingdom Government allocates a set budget for health care in England, whereas Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland receive a general block grant for public spending that is distributed according to funding priorities decided by each devolved government. At the local level, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in England (to be replaced by integrated care systems by July 2022), health boards in Scotland and Wales, and the health and social care board in Northern Ireland are responsible for commissioning or planning health and care services in their respective areas. These local organisations are expected to implement priorities outlined with national plans or strategies, such as the NHS Long-Term Plan in England, the National Performance Framework in Scotland, A Healthier Wales: long-term plan for health and social care in Wales, and Commissioning Plan Directions in Northern Ireland. There is a complex landscape of health care regulators across the United Kingdom, with some such as General Medical Council, and Nursing and Midwifery Council having a United Kingdom-wide remit, and others specific to individual countries such as the Care Quality Commission in England. For health technology assessment, the United Kingdom has developed a rigorous and transparent system through the efforts of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in England, Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) in Scotland, and All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG) in Wales, using the cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) and the threshold approach.”

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“The NHS provides cover for a wide range of benefits to individuals ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom – overseas visitors and illegal immigrants are not normally entitled to receive NHS care, with some exceptions (emergency care, care to children and treatment for infectious diseases). The publicly financed benefits package, while comprehensive, is not clearly defined and there is a degree of variation across regions. User charges are applied to ophthalmic care, most dental care and outpatient prescriptions, as well as to certain products. There is a system of exemption from prescription charges for children, people aged 65 years and older, pregnant women, people with chronic illnesses and some lower-income groups. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have abolished the prescription charge for medicines, but in England it remains in place, at pound sterling (GBP)
8.20 per prescription in 2015.”

Source: Thomas Foubister and Erica Richardson. “United Kingdom.” In Voluntary health insurance in Europe: Country experience [Internet]. Sagan A, Thomson S, editors. Copenhagen (Denmark): European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies; 2016. Observatory Studies Series, No. 42.

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“Patients in the United Kingdom cannot opt out of coverage by the NHS, irrespective of whether they may choose to access services in the independent sector through out-of-pocket payments or through supplementary private medical insurance (Table 2.5). The relevant commissioning body in England, health board in Scotland or Wales, and health and social care trust in Northern Ireland, is based upon their geographical location and can be only changed if they move. Patients can register with any GP surgery, irrespective of location, and many choose to do so; however, GP surgeries can refuse registration if they are not taking new patients or it is too far away to undertake home visits. It is also technically feasible for patients to choose any NHS hospital as long as their GP is willing to refer them. Patient choice has been promoted as a lever to facilitate competition and improve quality of care in England (Brekke et al., 2021), however, patient choice has not been promoted in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland (although these countries are substantially smaller than England and there are a smaller number of providers, particularly for specialist services).

“Shared decision-making is now being actively encouraged by policymakers in all four United Kingdom constituent countries, including through initiatives such as the Evidence Based Interventions Programme in England (NHS England, 2020c), Realistic Medicine in Scotland (NHS Scotland, 2018), and Prudent Healthcare in Wales (Addis et al., 2019). The General Medical Council (GMC) has long recommended this approach in its guidance for doctors, and shared decision-making gained legal support in 2015 when the United Kingdom Supreme Court decided that patients with adequate mental capacity must be properly advised about their treatment options and the risks associated with each so they can make more informed decisions (Chan et al., 2017). Patients can request a second opinion if their GP is willing to refer them to an alternative specialist; however, patients do not have a legal right to a second opinion.”

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“A founding principle of the NHS is that health care is accessible to all legal United Kingdom residents, based on clinical need, regardless of their ability to pay. This major strength of the NHS means that United Kingdom residents enjoy one of the highest levels of protection against the financial consequences of ill-health in the world (see Section 7.3, Financial protection) Any resident can use NHS health care services, usually without paying at the point of access. Rules vary slightly across the United Kingdom in the definitions, but generally, ‘ordinarily’ resident people can access health care anywhere in the United Kingdom. ‘Ordinarily’ means that the residence is not temporary and that the individual is in the country legally. ‘Overseas visitors’ can receive emergency medical treatment for free, but subsequent care is usually charged. Other services provided free of charge irrespective of residence status include primary care services, family planning services, treatment for some infectious diseases and compulsory psychiatric treatment (UK Government, 2021e). Despite lobbying by the Royal College of Midwives (Wise, 2019), maternity care results in charges for non-ordinarily residents, creating barriers for many vulnerable and pregnant women to access cost-effective and preventive care.”

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“The NHS does not have an explicit list of benefits; instead there is legislation that outlines broad categories of health care services that should or could be provided in the NHS (Mason, 2005). As discussed, there are benefits that are explicitly excluded, including prescription charges in England, dental care and optometry (NHS England, 2021p). However, exemptions exist for young and older people, and for those on low incomes. The NHS Constitution for England in 2009 established a set of rights for people working for and using the NHS, but this constitution mostly pulled together laws and rights that were already established (see Section 2.8.3, Patient rights). Similar constitutions do not exist in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Instead, a set of published core principles and values are intended to guide governance and service delivery in these countries. Increasingly as ICSs and sustainability transformation partnerships have been developed across England, there have been calls to clarify and strengthen legislation regarding their responsibilities and patient rights.

“Through delegation, the various health boards in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland decide what treatments will be funded when commissioning (purchasing) and delivering (providing) services. At the local level, commissioning bodies or health boards also have some autonomy in making decisions about what services they will provide to their populations, given budgetary constraints. This has led to complaints of postcode lotteries, wherein some areas will cover certain services or treatments that are not available in a neighbouring region. This is the case for services such as fertility treatment (Fertility Fairness, 2021), and some elective surgical procedures (Royal College of Surgeons of England, 2014). Several initiatives have been developed, which aim to even out postcode lotteries, address unwarranted clinical variation and improve equity between regions. From the health technology assessment perspective, NICE provides NHS organisations in England, Northern Ireland and Wales with cost-effectiveness analyses that can serve as guidance on how to allocate resources most efficiently (see Section 2.7.2, Regulation and governance of provision). Scotland refers to the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network for such guidance. Initiatives to address unwarranted clinical variation and reduce provision of low-value care, include the Getting it Right the First Time (NHS England, 2021h) and the Evidence-Based Interventions programme in England (NHS England, 2020c), Realistic Medicine in Scotland (NHS Scotland, 2018) and Prudent Healthcare in Wales (NHS Wales, 2019b).”

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“Out-of-pocket payments do exist and include co-payments, and costs shared with the NHS for dental care and, in England, outpatient prescription charges (Table 3.4). Direct payments can include private treatment, social care, general ophthalmic services and over-the-counter medicines. In total, out-of-pocket payments account for 16.7% of health expenditure in the United Kingdom (Table 3.3). It should be noted that the largest component is on long-term care, which is likely to reflect out-of-pocket payments to access adult social care, accounting for 5.3% of total health expenditure in the United Kingdom. For these reasons, out-of-pocket payments to access NHS services are likely to reflect a much lower percentage of total health expenditure. Broadly, the NHS provides a high level of protection from the financial consequences of ill-health, but important exceptions do contribute to inequity of access (Box 3.1).”

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World Health Systems Facts is a project of the Real Reporting Foundation. We provide reliable statistics and other data from authoritative sources regarding health systems and policies in the US and sixteen other nations.

Page last updated September 26, 2025 by Doug McVay, Editor.