Gitnux/Report 2026

U.S. Health Statistics

Right now, U.S. health costs and care gaps are moving in opposite directions, with 13.6% of U.S. GDP spent on health care in 2023 and 1.3 trillion projected for administration by 2032, while 35.3% of adults say they did not get recommended care in the past 12 months. The page also tracks what people delay or miss because of cost, from 19.2% postponing medical care in 2022 to rising staffing and cybersecurity pressure, including 71% of organizations reporting ransomware attack attempts.
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U.S. Health Statistics
Verified via a 4-step process
01Source

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Verify

Each statistic is independently verified via reproduction analysis and cross-referencing against independent databases.

03Grade

Figures are graded by cross-model consensus. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited.

04Cite

Every figure carries a primary source. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates so the report can be cited.

Read our full methodology →

Statistics that fail independent corroboration are excluded.

Next review Jan 2027
Ransomware attack attempts hit 71% of healthcare organizations in a recent survey. Simultaneously, 10.3% of U.S. adults delayed medical care in a single year due to cost. This article details the scale of chronic disease, market expenditures, and access barriers that define the current health landscape.

Key Takeaways

  • 2.7% of U.S. adults aged 18+ reported substance use disorder in 2023
  • 38.4% of U.S. adults had hypertension in 2021
  • 13.6% of U.S. GDP was spent on health care in 2023
  • $14.0 billion total U.S. spending on medical supplies (projected 2024).
  • 28.8% of U.S. health spending is for physician and clinical services (2022).
  • 19.2% of adults delayed getting medical care in 2022 due to cost or other reasons (NHIS)
  • 67.2% of primary care HPSAs were located in rural or medically underserved communities in 2023 (HRSA distribution)
  • $4.1 billion cost of health care data breaches in 2023 (average across breaches; HIPAA-covered entities and business associates)
  • $1.3 trillion projected U.S. spending on health care administration by 2032 (national health expenditure administration component estimate)
  • 88% of nursing homes were in compliance with the federal minimum staffing requirements for at least one staffing measure after initial implementation (CMS final rule implementation update, 2024).
  • 12.2% of patients died within 30 days of hospitalization for pneumonia in 2022 (quality indicator rate)
  • 24.9% of adults aged 18–64 reported skipping mental health care due to cost or other reasons (2022).
  • 10.3% of U.S. adults delayed medical care in 2022 due to cost.
  • 35.3% of U.S. adults reported they did not get recommended care in the past 12 months (2022).
  • 26.0% of adults aged 18–64 reported that they have been diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes (NHIS, 2022).

Rising health care costs and access barriers coincide with major chronic disease burdens and staffing and data risks.

01 · Category

Public Health Burden2 stats

01
2.7% of U.S. adults aged 18+ reported substance use disorder in 2023
02
38.4% of U.S. adults had hypertension in 2021
Interpretation

Public Health Burden Interpretation

Under the public health burden framing, substance use disorder affects 2.7% of US adults while hypertension is far more widespread at 38.4% in 2021, showing how a relatively smaller prevalence can still signal a serious burden alongside much higher rates of chronic disease.

02 · Category

Market Size3 stats

01
13.6% of U.S. GDP was spent on health care in 2023
02
$14.0 billion total U.S. spending on medical supplies (projected 2024).
03
28.8% of U.S. health spending is for physician and clinical services (2022).
Interpretation

Market Size Interpretation

In the U.S. market, health care represents 13.6% of GDP in 2023 and physician and clinical services account for 28.8% of health spending in 2022, underscoring a very large and clinician driven demand alongside projected medical supplies spending of $14.0 billion in 2024.

03 · Category

Care Delivery2 stats

01
19.2% of adults delayed getting medical care in 2022 due to cost or other reasons (NHIS)
02
67.2% of primary care HPSAs were located in rural or medically underserved communities in 2023 (HRSA distribution)
Interpretation

Care Delivery Interpretation

From a care delivery perspective, cost-related delays remain a major barrier with 19.2% of adults postponing medical care in 2022, while the majority of primary care Health Professional Shortage Areas, 67.2% in 2023, are concentrated in rural or medically underserved communities.

04 · Category

Technology Adoption1 stats

01
$4.1 billion cost of health care data breaches in 2023 (average across breaches; HIPAA-covered entities and business associates)
Interpretation

Technology Adoption Interpretation

In the technology adoption lens, the U.S. health sector still faces major downside risks, with 4.1 billion in average costs from health care data breaches in 2023 across HIPAA-covered entities and business associates showing that stronger technology use must go hand in hand with robust security.

05 · Category

Cost Analysis2 stats

01
$1.3 trillion projected U.S. spending on health care administration by 2032 (national health expenditure administration component estimate)
02
88% of nursing homes were in compliance with the federal minimum staffing requirements for at least one staffing measure after initial implementation (CMS final rule implementation update, 2024).
Interpretation

Cost Analysis Interpretation

The U.S. is projected to spend $1.3 trillion on health care administration by 2032, showing that administrative costs are a growing driver of overall health care expenses, while staffing compliance in nursing homes is still not universal at 88% even after initial requirements.

06 · Category

Outcomes & Quality1 stats

01
12.2% of patients died within 30 days of hospitalization for pneumonia in 2022 (quality indicator rate)
Interpretation

Outcomes & Quality Interpretation

In the Outcomes and Quality category, 12.2% of patients died within 30 days of hospitalization for pneumonia in 2022, underscoring the ongoing impact of this condition on short term patient outcomes.

07 · Category

Access & Outcomes11 stats

01
24.9% of adults aged 18–64 reported skipping mental health care due to cost or other reasons (2022).
02
10.3% of U.S. adults delayed medical care in 2022 due to cost.
03
35.3% of U.S. adults reported they did not get recommended care in the past 12 months (2022).
04
63% of U.S. adults reported having a primary care doctor or provider (2022).
05
15.2% of U.S. adults reported fair or poor health (2022).
06
7.6% of U.S. adults reported having a disability (2022).
07
8.7% of U.S. adults reported visiting an emergency department in the past 12 months (2022).
08
12.5% of U.S. adults reported not receiving needed dental care in 2022.
09
33.0% of adults reported not having a recent routine checkup in 2022 (AHRQ HCUP/MEPS-based estimate).
10
36.0% of adults reported experiencing difficulty getting health care services due to structural barriers (2022).
11
12.9 million U.S. adults (age 18+) had trouble getting or affording health care in 2022 (AHRQ).
Interpretation

Access & Outcomes Interpretation

Across Access and Outcomes, cost and missed care are widespread, with 35.3% of adults reporting they did not get recommended care in the past 12 months and 24.9% skipping mental health care, while only 63% report having a primary care doctor.

08 · Category

Disease Burden9 stats

01
26.0% of adults aged 18–64 reported that they have been diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes (NHIS, 2022).
02
19.8% of U.S. adults (age 18+) reported current asthma in 2022.
03
4.4% of U.S. adults (age 18+) reported having chronic kidney disease (2022).
04
2.7% of U.S. adults aged 18+ reported substance use disorder in 2023
05
12.4% of U.S. adults reported having cancer (2022).
06
7.2% of adults aged 18+ reported chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 2022.
07
5.8% of U.S. adults (age 18+) reported having stroke (2022).
08
17.8% of U.S. adults aged 18+ reported being current smokers (2022).
09
1.4% of people with cancer reported having not received treatment in the prior 12 months due to cost (2022).
Interpretation

Disease Burden Interpretation

Across U.S. disease burden, diabetes and prediabetes top the list with 26.0% of adults aged 18 to 64 reporting a diagnosis while asthma remains widespread at 19.8% and other chronic conditions like COPD affect 7.2%, underscoring how common long term illness is.

09 · Category

Health Workforce1 stats

01
9.0% of adults reported having no usual source of health care (2022).
Interpretation

Health Workforce Interpretation

In 2022, 9.0% of U.S. adults reported having no usual source of health care, a sign of gaps in health workforce access and continuity for those who may not reliably connect to providers.

11 · Category

Policy & Regulation1 stats

01
13.2% of U.S. adults were uninsured at some point in 2022 (KFF Health Insurance Coverage).
Interpretation

Policy & Regulation Interpretation

In 2022, 13.2% of U.S. adults were uninsured at some point, highlighting how policy and regulation still leave a sizable share of people uncovered.
report visual · Comparison

Key health snapshot: chronic conditions, access barriers, and system costs

A substantial share of U.S. adults report common health conditions and significant challenges accessing recommended care—alongside large national spending on health care.

38.4% of U.S. adults had hypertension in 202138.4%
35.3% of U.S. adults reported they did not get recommended care in the past 12 months (2022).
35.3%
19.2% of adults delayed getting medical care in 2022 due to cost or other reasons (NHIS)
19.2%
13.6% of U.S. GDP was spent on health care in 2023
13.6%
source-verifiedcdc.gov · ahrq.gov · cms.gov2023
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
Sophie Moreland. (2026, February 13). U.S. Health Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/u-s-health-statistics
MLA
Sophie Moreland. "U.S. Health Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/u-s-health-statistics.
Chicago
Sophie Moreland. 2026. "U.S. Health Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/u-s-health-statistics.

Sources & references

37 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level

+22 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)