Health expenditure in the world and the Balkans, 2022

The share of GDP that goes to health remains above the pre-pandemic level of 8.8%, even if in 11 OECD countries, in 2022 it is expected to have fallen below pre-pandemic levels in 2019. According to the OECD Statistics database Health 2023, looking at country-level data, the ratio of health spending to GDP remained much higher in the US at 16.6% in 2022, followed by Germany at 12.7% and France at 12.1%.

Based on the latest estimates, the OECD’s average ratio of health spending to GDP fell from 9.7% at the peak of the pandemic in 2021 to 9.2% in 2022.

Meanwhile, in Europe, on average, about 11% of gross domestic product (GDP) is spent on health care.

According to the health statistics for the countries of the Western Balkans for 2022, based on the statistical data of the countries of the region, it seems that the expenses are higher than before the pandemic, where some countries maintain levels close to the EU countries.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has a health expenditure ratio of 9% of GDP, similar to neighboring Italy.

Serbia and Montenegro, which have a health expenditure ratio of 8.5% of the GDP of each country. Likewise, North Macedonia has a health expenditure ratio of 7.8% of GDP.

Meanwhile, Albania and Kosovo have a health expenditure ratio of 5.3% of GDP and 4.5% of GDP, respectively.

Health statistics cover key indicators for the functioning of health care systems and occupational health and safety. Statistics on health care spending and financing can be used to assess how a health care system is responding to the challenge of universal access to quality health care.