England recorded 6.3 million people waiting for elective care. Nineteen percent of adults worldwide report skipping needed health services due to cost. Figures on spending, technology use, and employment add detail to these access pressures.
Key Takeaways
- 1.3 million people are on waitlists for NHS elective care in England (as of 2024 Q2).
- 6.3 million people in England were waiting for elective care at the end of 2024 Q1.
- 19% of adults globally report not getting health services when needed because of cost (2019-2022 pooled estimates).
- $4,288 per person was spent on hospital care in 2022 (per-capita hospital spending).
- The median annual salary for a registered nurse in the U.S. was $86,070 in 2023 (median pay).
- The median annual salary for a medical and health services manager in the U.S. was $110,680 in 2023 (median pay).
- $6.8 trillion projected global healthcare spending by 2030 (OECD projection).
- $42.8 billion global telehealth market value in 2021.
- $28.5 billion global health IT market size in 2022.
- 11.0% of U.S. physician practices reported using telehealth as part of care delivery in 2022.
- 45% of U.S. hospitals reported using clinical decision support in 2021.
- 93% of U.S. hospitals reported having a patient portal in 2021 (adoption).
- 36% of employers with 200+ workers offered telehealth benefits in 2023 (employer survey).
- There were 5.6 million active nursing assistants in the U.S. labor force in 2023 (employment).
- The U.S. had 1.1 physicians per 1,000 population in 2022 (physician density).
Growing care demand, high costs, and expanding digital tools are straining healthcare systems worldwide.
Related reading
01 · Category
Access And Outcomes5 stats
01
1.3 million people are on waitlists for NHS elective care in England (as of 2024 Q2).
02
6.3 million people in England were waiting for elective care at the end of 2024 Q1.
03
19% of adults globally report not getting health services when needed because of cost (2019-2022 pooled estimates).
04
2.1 million Medicare beneficiaries were hospitalized for ambulatory care sensitive conditions in 2021 (count of hospitalizations).
05
24% of U.S. adults delayed care in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns (survey estimate).
Interpretation
Access And Outcomes Interpretation
For the Access and Outcomes angle, millions of people are still waiting for timely care and many miss it due to cost or barriers, such as 6.3 million in England waiting for elective services by end of 2024 Q1 and 19% of adults worldwide reporting they do not get health services when needed because of cost.
02 · Category
Cost Analysis7 stats
01
$4,288per person was spent on hospital care in 2022 (per-capita hospital spending).
02
The median annual salary for a registered nurse in the U.S. was $86,070in 2023 (median pay).
03
The median annual salary for a medical and health services manager in the U.S. was $110,680in 2023 (median pay).
04
Health insurers’ net underwriting gain was 2.2% of premiums in 2022 (combined ratio-related profit measure).
05
The U.S. average price for an MRI (brain) was $1,542in 2021 (average allowed amount estimate).
06
U.S. healthcare administrative costs were estimated at $504per person in 2019 (administrative expenses).
07
In a U.S. analysis, 2.5% of total medical spending was attributed to billing errors (2016-2019 estimate).
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
In cost analysis terms, the U.S. spends $4,288 per person on hospital care in 2022 while administrative expenses add another $504 per person in 2019, underscoring that both direct care and overhead pressures remain substantial.
03 · Category
Market Size4 stats
01
$6.8 trillion projected global healthcare spending by 2030 (OECD projection).
02
$42.8 billion global telehealth market value in 2021.
03
$28.5 billion global health IT market size in 2022.
04
8.1% of the global population lacked financial protection against health costs in 2019 (WHO/World Bank estimates).
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
With OECD projecting global healthcare spending to reach $6.8 trillion by 2030 and major subsegments like telehealth at $42.8 billion in 2021 and health IT at $28.5 billion in 2022, the market size picture shows fast expansion alongside a persistent need for improved financial protection where 8.1% of people lacked coverage in 2019.
More related reading
04 · Category
Technology The Market6 stats
01
11.0% of U.S. physician practices reported using telehealth as part of care delivery in 2022.
02
45% of U.S. hospitals reported using clinical decision support in 2021.
03
93% of U.S. hospitals reported having a patient portal in 2021 (adoption).
04
1.4 billion EHR records were breached in 2022 globally (health data breach reporting count).
05
2,574 healthcare data breaches were reported in the U.S. from 2016 through 2022 (breach count).
06
FHIR adoption accelerated: 4.5x increase in FHIR implementation projects between 2019 and 2021 (market survey trend).
Interpretation
Technology The Market Interpretation
For the Technology The Market angle, adoption is surging but security is not keeping pace, with FHIR implementation projects up 4.5x from 2019 to 2021 and 93% of U.S. hospitals using patient portals, while 2,574 U.S. healthcare data breaches were reported from 2016 through 2022 and 1.4 billion EHR records were breached globally in 2022.
05 · Category
Industry Trends6 stats
01
36% of employers with 200+ workers offered telehealth benefits in 2023 (employer survey).
02
There were 5.6 million active nursing assistants in the U.S. labor force in 2023 (employment).
03
The U.S. had 1.1 physicians per 1,000 population in 2022 (physician density).
04
The U.S. had 28.0 nursing and midwifery professionals per 10,000 population in 2022 (density).
05
U.S. healthcare employment rose by 1.9% from 2022 to 2023 (employment growth rate).
06
In 2022, U.S. Health Center Program sites provided 117.2 million visits (HRSA-supported).
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Industry trends show that telehealth is becoming a mainstream benefit with 36% of employers with 200+ workers offering it in 2023, even as the U.S. continues to expand healthcare workforces, with healthcare employment up 1.9% from 2022 to 2023.
report visual · Key figures
Healthcare Services Demand, Costs, and Access Pressure
Demand pressures and affordability barriers are evident across waitlists, delayed care, and the share of spending linked to operational issues.
1.3
1.3 million people are on waitlists for NHS elective care in England (as of 2024 Q2).
6.3
6.3 million people in England were waiting for elective care at the end of 2024 Q1.
19%
19% of adults globally report not getting health services when needed because of cost (2019-2022 pooled estimates).
24%
24% of U.S. adults delayed care in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns (survey estimate).
source-verifieddigital.nhs.uk · who.int · cdc.gov2024
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Priya Chandrasekaran. (2026, February 13). Healthcare Services Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/healthcare-services-industry-statistics
MLA
Priya Chandrasekaran. "Healthcare Services Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/healthcare-services-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Priya Chandrasekaran. 2026. "Healthcare Services Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/healthcare-services-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
28 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
digital.nhs.uk
who.int
ahrq.gov
cdc.gov
cms.gov
oecd.org
mordorintelligence.com
grandviewresearch.com
ama-assn.org
dashboard.healthit.gov
beckershospitalreview.com
hhs.gov
hl7.org
aon.com
bls.govdata.oecd.org
nber.org
healthcarebluebook.com
jamanetwork.com
worldbank.org
hrsa.gov
+7 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)