Singapore healthcare spending compared with other countries

Singapore healthcare spending compared with other countries

Singapore's total health expenditure amounts to just 3.4 percent of its gross domestic product. That's not only a fraction of what Western nations spend; even Malaysia, China and India spend more.

Malaysia spends 4.3 percent of its GDP on health care, China 4.5 percent and India 4.9 percent.

But Singapore spends more per head in dollars -- $1,228 -- than Malaysia, China and India. (All figures here date back to 2006 and are taken from World Health Statistics 2008.)

Life expectancy in Singapore is as high as in America, Britain and other Western nations and Japan and South Korea. So though Singapore spends far less than those countries on health care, it is getting good results.

America spends as much as 15.3 percent of its GDP on health care, Switzerland 11.3 percent, France 11.1 percent, Germany 10.4 percent, Canada 10 percent, Portugal 10 percent, Denmark 9.5 percent, New Zealand 9.4 percent, the Netherlands 9.3 percent, Italy 9 percent, Sweden 8.9 percent, Norway 8.7 percent, Australia 8.7 percent, Britain 8.4 percent, Spain 8.1 percent, Japan 7.9 percent, Israel 7.8 percent, Ireland 7.5 percent, South Korea 6.5 percent.

I came across these figures on the World Health Organization website today while checking on its swine flu updates.

Singapore will lower the swine flu alert level from orange to yellow next Monday, reported the Straits Times today. That's why I visited the WHO website to get more information. The Singapore newspaper's website seldom carries much detail.

These WHO country profiles, for example, I haven't seen in the Straits Times. If you want to know about any country, visit WHO and check Countries.

Singapore

Total population: 4,382,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 43,300

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 78/83

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 69/71

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 3

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 83/50

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 1,228

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 3.4

USA

Total population: 302,841,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 44,070

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 75/80

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 67/71

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 8

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 137/80

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 6,714

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 15.3

UK

Statistics:

Total population: 60,512,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 33,650

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 77/81

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 69/72

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 6

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 98/61

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 2,784

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 8.4

Australia

Total population: 20,530,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 33,940

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 79/84

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 71/74

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 6

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 82/47

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 3,122

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 8.7

Austria

Total population: 8,327,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 36,040

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 77/83

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 69/74

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 4

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 105/51

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 3,545

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 9.9

Belgium

Total population: 10,430,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 33,860

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 77/82

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 69/73

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 5

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 111/61

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 3,183

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 9.5

Canada

Total population: 32,577,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 36,280

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 78/83

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 70/74

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 6

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 89/55

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 3,672

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 10.0

Denmark

Total population: 5,430,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 36,190

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 76/81

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 69/71

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 4

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 111/65

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 3,349

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 9.5

France

Total population: 61,330,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 32,240

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 77/84

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 69/75

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 5

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 124/57

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 3,554

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 11.1

Germany

Total population: 82,641,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 32,680

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 77/82

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 70/74

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 5

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 106/55

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 3,328

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 10.4

Ireland

Total population: 4,221,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 34,730

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 77/82

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 68/72

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 4

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 88/56

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 3,082

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 7.5

Italy

Total population: 58,779,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 28,970

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 78/84

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 71/75

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 4

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 83/44

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 2,623

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 9.0

Netherlands

Total population: 16,379,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 37,940

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 78/82

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 70/73

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 5

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 81/59

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 3,383

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 9.3

New Zealand

Total population: 4,140,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 25,750

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 78/82

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 69/72

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 6

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 91/59

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 2,447

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 9.4

Norway

Total population: 4,669,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 50,070

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 78/83

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 70/74

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 4

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 86/53

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 4,521

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 8.7

Portugal

Total population: 10,579,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 19,960

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 75/82

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 67/72

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 4

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 133/53

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 2,080

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 10.0

Spain

Total population: 43,887,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 28,200

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 78/84

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 70/75

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 4

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 105/44

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 2,388

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 8.1

Sweden

Total population: 9,078,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 34,310

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 79/83

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 72/75

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 4

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 78/49

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 3,119

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 8.9

Switzerland

Total population: 7,455,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 40,840

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 79/84

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 71/75

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 5

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 80/47

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 4,312

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 11.3

Japan

Total population: 127,953,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 32,840

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 79/86

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 72/78

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 4

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 89/44

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 2,514

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 7.9

South Korea

Total population: 48,050,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 22,990

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 75/82

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 65/71

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 5

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 119/47

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 1,487

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 6.5

Malaysia

Total population: 26,114,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 12,160

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 69/74

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 62/65

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 12

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 197/109

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 500

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 4.3

Brunei

Total population: 382,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 49,900

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 76/79

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 65/66

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 9

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 100/74

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 394

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 1.8

Indonesia

Total population: 228,864,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 3,310

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 66/69

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 57/59

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 34

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 231/192

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 87

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 2.2

Philippines

Total population: 86,264,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 3,430

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 64/71

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 57/62

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 32

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 277/157

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 223

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 3.3

Thailand

Total population: 63,444,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 7,440

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 69/75

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 58/62

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 8

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 264/155

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 346

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 3.5

India

Total population: 1,151,751,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 2,460

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 62/64

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 53/54

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 76

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 276/203

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 109

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 4.9

China

Total population: 1,328,474,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 4,660

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 72/75

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 63/65

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 24

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 143/87

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 342

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 4.5

Israel

Total population: 6,810,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 23,840

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 79/82

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 70/72

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 5

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 89/48

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 2,263

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 7.8

UAE

Total population: 4,248,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 31,190

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 77/80

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 64/64

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 8

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 84/62

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 673

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 2.6

Qatar

Total population: 821,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): not available

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 77/77

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 67/64

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 11

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 72/64

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 1,426

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 4.3

Bahrain

Total population: 739,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 34,310

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 74/76

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 64/64

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 10

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 116/84

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 1,008

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 3.8

Saudi Arabia

Total population: 24,175,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 22,300

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 68/73

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 60/63

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 26

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 205/136

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 607

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 3.4

Kuwait

Total population: 2,779,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 48,310

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 77/79

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 67/67

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 11

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 68/52

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 535

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 2.2

Mexico

Total population: 105,342,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 11,990

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 72/77

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 63/68

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 35

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 155/89

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 756

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 6.2

South Africa

Total population: 48,282,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 8,900

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 50/53

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 43/45

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 69

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 598/531

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 869

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 8.6

Mauritius

Total population: 1,252,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 10,640

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 69/76

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 60/65

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 15

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 212/108

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 581

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 4.3

Lebanon

Total population: 4,055,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 9,600

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 68/72

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 59/62

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 31

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 193/133

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 608

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 8.9
















Figures are for 2006 unless indicated. Source: World Health Statistics 2008



Jamaica

Statistics:

Total population: 2,699,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 7,050

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 69/75

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 64/66

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 32

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 224/130

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 240

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 5.1

Figures are for 2006 unless indicated. Source: World Health Statistics 2008