PARIS, November 15, 2025: Member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) spent an average of 9.3 percent of their gross domestic product on healthcare in 2024, according to new data from the OECD Health at a Glance 2025 report. The figure is below the levels reached during the COVID-19 pandemic but remains higher than before 2020, reflecting sustained healthcare demands across advanced economies.
The report showed that in 16 OECD countries, health expenditure accounted for at least 10 percent of GDP. Across the OECD, public spending on healthcare represented about 15 percent of total government expenditure, highlighting its significant share in national budgets. The organization said health spending is expected to grow further as ageing populations, medical advancements, and rising demand for high-quality care continue to shape expenditure trends across member states.
According to the OECD, managing the financial pressures of healthcare will require close attention to cost efficiency and preventive measures. The report noted that countries face challenges in maintaining fiscal balance while ensuring universal access to care and adapting to evolving health needs. It emphasized that preventive interventions, including early detection programs and public health initiatives, remain essential in containing future spending growth.
Public healthcare remains a major share of OECD budgets
Average life expectancy across OECD nations stood at 81.1 years in 2023. However, 13 countries have yet to return to pre-pandemic life expectancy levels. The data indicated that more than three million premature deaths occurred in 2023 among people under 75 years old that could have been avoided through improved prevention and healthcare services. Cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary heart disease, and various forms of cancer accounted for nearly half of all deaths across the organization’s member countries.
The report also found that obesity rates have continued to increase in more than four-fifths of OECD nations over the past decade. By 2023, 54 percent of adults were classified as overweight or obese on average. Harmful alcohol consumption and tobacco use remain significant health risks, with 27 percent of adults reporting binge drinking at least once a month and 15 percent smoking daily. The prevalence of vaping has grown, particularly among younger populations. Among 15-year-olds, 20 percent were overweight or obese, 15 percent smoked, and 20 percent vaped at least monthly.
Youth vaping and obesity rise in OECD member countries
Despite persistent risk factors, indicators of acute care quality have improved over the past ten years. The 30-day mortality rate following a heart attack averaged 6.5 percent in 2023, down from 8.2 percent in 2013. For ischaemic stroke, the 30-day mortality rate fell from 9.3 percent in 2013 to 7.7 percent in 2023. These improvements reflect advances in clinical treatment, emergency care systems, and hospital response capacities across OECD member countries.
The OECD report provided a detailed overview of how member economies continue to allocate resources to meet health system demands following the pandemic period. While overall expenditure growth has moderated, health remains one of the largest components of public spending among developed economies. The data underline ongoing progress in healthcare outcomes, alongside structural challenges driven by chronic disease, ageing populations, and lifestyle-related risks. – By EuroWire News Desk.