U.S. health expenditures total 4.5 trillion dollars. Per capita spending exceeds twelve thousand dollars, more than double the average among comparable nations. These figures coincide with a maternal mortality ratio that leads all high-income countries.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, U.S. national health expenditures totaled $4.5 trillion, representing 17.3 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
- Cardiovascular disease prevalence 48% among adults 18+ in 2023
- Life expectancy at birth was 77.5 years in 2023, up from 76.4 in 2021 but below 78.9 pre-pandemic
- Active physicians numbered 1,077,794 in 2023, 33.8 per 10,000 population
- In 2023, 8.6% of Americans under 65 were uninsured, down from 9.2% pre-ACA
American healthcare costs keep rising, putting increasing strain on patients, providers, and budgets nationwide.
Related reading
01 · Category
Costs and Spending30 stats
01
In 2022, U.S. national health expenditures totaled $4.5 trillion, representing 17.3 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
02
Per capita health spending in the U.S. reached $12,914in 2022, more than double the average of comparable OECD countries
03
Prescription drug spending accounted for 9% of total national health expenditures in 2022, totaling $405.5 billion
04
Hospital care expenditures grew 6.5% to $1.4 trillion in 2022, driven by increased utilization post-COVID
05
Medicare spending increased 6.7% to $944.3 billion in 2022, representing 21% of total NHE
06
Private health insurance spending rose 6.4% to $1.3 trillion in 2022, covering 28% of NHE
07
Out-of-pocket spending by Americans was $505.7 billion in 2022, 11% of total health expenditures
08
U.S. health spending per capita was $12,555in 2021, highest among OECD nations at 16.6% of GDP
09
Administrative costs in U.S. healthcare consumed $496 billion in 2019, or 12% of total spending
10
Physician and clinical services spending hit $834.5 billion in 2022, up 5.8% from prior year
11
Nursing care facilities spending grew 5.2% to $204.4 billion in 2022 amid aging population
12
Home health care expenditures reached $133.0 billion in 2022, increasing 7.9% year-over-year
13
Durable medical equipment spending was $65.0 billion in 2022, up 4.5%
14
Average family health insurance premium was $22,463in 2022, up 3% from 2021
15
Single coverage premium averaged $8,435in 2022, with workers paying 18% of family premiums
16
U.S. spent $449 billion on hospital care in 2019, 31% of total health spending
17
Health spending growth averaged 5.1% annually from 2018-2022
18
Government health spending was 37% of total NHE in 2022 at $1.7 trillion
19
Retail prescription drugs cost $359 billion in 2019
20
High-deductible plans covered 29% of workers in 2022, averaging $2,000 deductible
21
In 2021, 66% of Americans delayed care due to costs
22
Medical debt affected 41% of U.S. adults in 2022, totaling over $88 billion
23
Average cost of childbirth in U.S. was $13,024in 2022 without complications
24
Cancer treatment costs averaged $83,000per patient annually in 2020
25
Dialysis costs $90,000per patient per year for end-stage renal disease
26
Emergency room visit average cost was $2,356in 2021
27
Hip replacement surgery costs averaged $28,054in 2022
28
MRI scan national average cost was $1,325in 2022, varying by location
29
In 2023, employer-sponsored insurance premiums rose 7% to $25,572 for families
30
Uninsured adults under 65 faced average medical bills of $1,500+ in 2022
Interpretation
Costs and Spending Interpretation
We've built the world's most expensive healthcare machine, but a distressingly large number of Americans are left standing outside, holding the bill and wondering if the astronomical cost of entry is actually buying them a ticket to better health.
02 · Category
Disease and Chronic Conditions28 stats
01
Cardiovascular disease prevalence 48% among adults 18+ in 2023
02
Hypertension affected 119.9 million adults (47%) in 2020
03
Arthritis impacts 53 million adults (23%) annually
04
Chronic kidney disease in 37 million (15%) adults
05
Depression diagnosed in 21% of adults in 2022
06
COPD prevalence 6.5% or 16 million adults in 2023
07
HIV prevalence 1.2 million living with in 2021
08
Osteoporosis 12.6% women over 50, 4% men in 2022
09
Autism spectrum disorder 1 in 36 children aged 8 in 2020
10
Alzheimer's affects 6.7 million Americans 65+ in 2023
11
Multiple sclerosis 1 million adults diagnosed
12
Parkinson's disease 1 million living with, 90,000 new cases yearly
13
Sickle cell disease 100,000 Americans, mostly Black
14
Cystic fibrosis 39,000 diagnosed in 2023
15
Rheumatoid arthritis 1.5 million adults
16
Hepatitis C chronic 2.4 million in 2022
17
Endometriosis 11% reproductive-age women, 6.5 million
18
Fibromyalgia 4 million adults (2%)
19
Lupus 1.5 million Americans, 90% women
20
Glaucoma 3 million diagnosed, 80 million global risk
21
Macular degeneration 20 million over 50
22
Chronic back pain 39% adults yearly
23
Migraine 1 in 6 Americans
24
PTSD 6% adults lifetime prevalence
25
Bipolar disorder 2.8% adults
26
Schizophrenia 1.5 million adults
27
Epilepsy 3.4 million, 1 in 26 lifetime risk
28
ALS 30,000 living with
Interpretation
Disease and Chronic Conditions Interpretation
America's health landscape is a sprawling, morbid theme park where the most popular attractions are chronic conditions, and the only fast pass is to be outrageously lucky.
03 · Category
Health Outcomes and Mortality24 stats
01
Life expectancy at birth was 77.5 years in 2023, up from 76.4 in 2021 but below 78.9 pre-pandemic
02
Infant mortality rate was 5.44 per 1,000 live births in 2022
03
Maternal mortality ratio reached 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2021, highest among high-income nations
04
Age-adjusted cancer death rate fell to 144.2 per 100,000 in 2022 from 203.1 in 2000
05
Heart disease remained leading cause of death, 695,000 deaths or 1 in 5 in 2022
06
Drug overdose deaths hit record 107,941 in 2022, 80% involving opioids
07
Obesity prevalence 42.4% among adults in 2017-2020
08
Diabetes affected 38.4 million (11.6%) in 2021
09
Suicide rate 14.2 per 100,000 in 2022, 49,369 deaths
10
COVID-19 caused 1.1 million deaths since 2020 through 2023
11
Avoidable deaths under 75 per 100,000 was 88 in U.S. vs 65 OECD average in 2020
12
Breast cancer mortality declined 43% since 1989, to 19.7 per 100,000 in 2022
13
Stroke death rate dropped to 40.4 per 100,000 in 2022
14
Alzheimer's disease deaths 119,399 in 2021, 4th leading cause for women
15
Gun violence caused 48,830 deaths in 2021, 54% suicides
16
Premature birth rate 10.41% in 2022
17
Life expectancy gap Black-White 3.6 years in 2022
18
Colorectal cancer screening 67.3% among adults 45-75 in 2021
19
Chronic lower respiratory diseases killed 147,382 in 2022
20
Homicide rate 7.8 per 100,000 in 2022, highest in decades
21
Kidney disease death rate 14.5 per 100,000 in 2022
22
U.S. ranked 45th globally in life expectancy at 76.1 years in 2021
23
Pediatric cancer survival rate 85% for 5-year post-diagnosis in 2023
24
Sepsis hospitalization mortality 15.9% in 2019
Interpretation
Health Outcomes and Mortality Interpretation
The American healthcare story is one of remarkable medical triumphs battling against a tide of preventable crises, where we excel at saving lives from cancer yet falter at keeping them safe from despair, drugs, and our own systemic failures.
More related reading
04 · Category
Healthcare Workforce26 stats
01
Active physicians numbered 1,077,794 in 2023, 33.8 per 10,000 population
02
Nurse practitioners totaled 355,000 in 2022, up 9% from 2019
03
Registered nurses workforce 3.3 million in 2022, shortage projected 200,000 by 2030
04
Primary care physicians 93.9 per 100,000 in 2023, rural areas 39.8 vs urban 101.5
05
Dentists numbered 200,626 in 2022, 61 per 100,000 population
06
Pharmacists totaled 323,100 in 2022
07
Physician assistants 148,000 in 2022, growing 27% by 2031 projected
08
Hospitals employed 6.4 million staff in 2023
09
Nurse turnover rate 27.2% in 2022, highest on record
10
International medical graduates 26% of U.S. physicians in 2023
11
Rural physician shortage affected 60 million Americans, 20% fewer providers
12
Emergency medicine physicians 44,684 in 2022
13
OB/GYNs totaled 19,680 in 2023, shortage projected 8,000 by 2034
14
Anesthesiologists 50,126 in 2022
15
Psychiatrists 29,000 active in 2023, 1 per 12,000 adults shortage
16
Surgical specialists 20% of physician workforce but 50% of shortages
17
Nursing faculty shortage led to 91,000 qualified applicants turned away in 2022
18
Home health aides 4.1 million in 2022, fastest growing occupation
19
Medical assistants 683,370 in 2022, projected 16% growth
20
Burnout affected 62% of physicians in 2022
21
Residency positions 40,375 filled in 2023 Match, 92.4% U.S. seniors
22
CRNAs numbered 45,000 in 2022
23
Physical therapists 258,000 in 2023
24
Optometrists 41,000 in 2022
25
Veterinarians in human health? Wait, no: Radiologic technologists 228,000 in 2022
26
Licensed practical nurses 657,000 in 2022
Interpretation
Healthcare Workforce Interpretation
America's healthcare system is a paradox of impressive scale and terrifying shortages, where we simultaneously employ millions while burning out the critical few, leaving vast swaths of the country desperately underserved by a machine that is both growing and crumbling at once.
05 · Category
Insurance and Coverage22 stats
01
In 2023, 8.6% of Americans under 65 were uninsured, down from 9.2% pre-ACA
02
Medicaid covered 94.1 million people in FY2023, 28% of U.S. population
03
Medicare enrolled 65.7 million beneficiaries in 2023, including 6.4 million dual eligibles
04
Employer-sponsored insurance covered 153.5 million non-elderly in 2022, 62% of population
05
ACA Marketplaces enrolled 21.3 million in 2024, with 80% receiving premium tax credits
06
CHIP covered 9.1 million children in FY2022
07
26.4 million non-elderly uninsured in 2023, disproportionately Hispanic (31%) and Black (11%)
08
Medicaid expansion states had uninsured rates 5.4 percentage points lower in 2023 vs non-expansion
09
TRICARE covered 9.4 million active duty and retirees in 2022
10
VA health system served 9.2 million veterans enrolled in 2023
11
Short-term limited duration insurance plans grew to cover 1 million in 2022 post-ACA rules change
12
92% of marketplace enrollees had incomes <400% FPL in 2023, qualifying for subsidies
13
Medicaid covers 40% of U.S. births annually, 2 million infants in 2022
14
Employer coverage stable at 49% of population in 2022, but declining for small firms
15
Uninsured rate for children dropped to 5.8% in 2023 from 16.4% pre-ACA
16
Direct primary care subscriptions grew 20% yearly, covering 2 million by 2023 estimate
17
Medicare Advantage plans enrolled 31 million (54%) of beneficiaries in 2024
18
Medicaid disenrollments post-pandemic reached 18 million by mid-2024
19
44% of adults 18-64 uninsured at some point in 2022
20
ACA reduced uninsured by 20 million from 2010-2016, stabilizing at 8-9%
21
Rural uninsured rate 12.5% vs 10.2% urban in 2022
22
Gig workers uninsured at 18% rate in 2023
Interpretation
Insurance and Coverage Interpretation
While the ACA has cobbled together a remarkably leaky safety net—shrinking the uninsured rate to a still-wild 8.6% and making Medicaid the nation's largest insurer—America's healthcare system remains a fragmented, precarious patchwork where your coverage, or lack thereof, is largely determined by your employer, your state, your income, and your luck.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Leah Kessler. (2026, February 13). American Healthcare Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/american-healthcare-statistics
MLA
Leah Kessler. "American Healthcare Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/american-healthcare-statistics.
Chicago
Leah Kessler. 2026. "American Healthcare Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/american-healthcare-statistics.
Sources & references
53 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level