U.S. healthcare spending hit $4.5 trillion in 2022, reaching 17.3% of GDP, while care outcomes still reflect major pressure points from medical errors and preventable harm. Life expectancy was 77.5 years in 2022, yet infant mortality, opioid overdoses, and high readmission rates for heart failure show how uneven progress can be across conditions. We compiled the most telling metrics on health, costs, safety, and coverage so you can see exactly where the system is winning and where it is not.
Key Takeaways
- Life expectancy at birth was 77.5 years in 2022.
- Infant mortality rate was 5.44 per 1,000 live births in 2022.
- Maternal mortality rate reached 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2021.
- In 2022, U.S. national health expenditures totaled $4.5 trillion, accounting for 17.3 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
- Per capita health spending in the U.S. reached $13,493 in 2022, the highest in the world.
- Hospital care accounted for 30% of total national health expenditures in 2022, amounting to $1.3 trillion.
- There were 3.3 million active registered nurses in the U.S. in 2022.
- Physicians numbered 1,077,000 in 2022, or 328 per 100,000 population.
- Nurse practitioners totaled 385,000 in 2023.
- There are 6,093 hospitals in the U.S. as of 2023.
- 5,112 community hospitals operate in the U.S., representing 84% of all hospitals.
- Average hospital size is 184 beds.
- In 2023, 91% of Americans had health insurance coverage.
- Medicaid covered 82.8 million people in FY 2023.
- Medicare enrolled 65.7 million beneficiaries in 2023.
U.S. healthcare spending hit $4.5 trillion in 2022, while major health outcomes still face obesity, chronic disease, and safety challenges.
Related reading
01 · Category
Health Outcomes and Quality20 stats
01
Life expectancy at birth was 77.5 years in 2022.
02
Infant mortality rate was 5.44 per 1,000 live births in 2022.
03
Maternal mortality rate reached 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2021.
04
Obesity prevalence among adults: 41.9% in 2020.
05
Diabetes prevalence: 14.7% of adults in 2022.
06
Heart disease death rate: 161.7 per 100,000 in 2022.
07
Cancer death rate: 146.2 per 100,000 in 2022.
08
COVID-19 caused 1,117,000 deaths by 2023.
09
Opioid overdose deaths: 81,806 in 2022.
10
Suicide rate: 14.2 per 100,000 in 2021.
11
Hospital readmission rate for heart failure: 21.4% within 30 days.
12
Patient safety incidents: 251,000 deaths annually from medical errors.
13
HCAHPS scores: average 3.4 stars out of 5.
14
5-year cancer survival rate: 68.7% overall.
15
Stroke death rate: 37.2 per 100,000.
16
Alzheimer's deaths: 119,399 in 2021.
17
Vaccination coverage: 92.7% for MMR in children.
18
Avoidable hospitalizations: 2 million per year.
19
Sepsis mortality: 35-50% in hospitals.
20
HAIs: 687,000 infections, 72,000 deaths annually.
Interpretation
Health Outcomes and Quality Interpretation
We are a nation whose life expectancy plateaus while we pay a premium to navigate a labyrinth of preventable crises, from hospital beds to grave beds, with middling satisfaction.
02 · Category
Healthcare Spending and Costs30 stats
01
In 2022, U.S. national health expenditures totaled $4.5 trillion, accounting for 17.3 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
02
Per capita health spending in the U.S. reached $13,493in 2022, the highest in the world.
03
Hospital care accounted for 30% of total national health expenditures in 2022, amounting to $1.3 trillion.
04
Physician and clinical services spending grew 4.5% in 2022 to $878.2 billion.
05
Prescription drug spending increased by 8.4% to $405.9 billion in 2022.
06
Medicare spending rose 4.0% to $944.1 billion in 2022, representing 21% of total NHE.
07
Medicaid spending grew 7.5% to $805.5 billion in 2022.
08
Private health insurance spending increased 6.0% to $1.3 trillion in 2022.
09
Out-of-pocket spending on healthcare was $433.7 billion in 2022, 10% of total NHE.
10
U.S. healthcare spending grew 4.1% in 2022, slower than the 7.6% growth in 2021.
11
Administrative costs in the U.S. healthcare system account for about 8% of total healthcare spending.
12
The average family health insurance premium in 2023 was $23,968,up 7% from 2022.
13
U.S. spending on hospital care per capita was $4,076in 2021.
14
Retail prescription drug spending per capita in the U.S. was $1,226in 2021.
15
In 2021, U.S. health spending growth was projected at 5.4% for the year.
16
Cardiovascular disease costs the U.S. $363 billion annually in healthcare expenditures.
17
Diabetes healthcare costs totaled $412.9 billion in 2022.
18
Cancer treatment costs reached $208.9 billion in 2020.
19
Mental health spending was $282 billion in 2020, 5.5% of total NHE.
20
Home health care spending grew 10.8% to $128.6 billion in 2022.
21
Nursing care facilities spending increased 4.2% to $183.5 billion in 2022.
22
The U.S. spends 2.5 times more per capita on healthcare than the OECD average.
23
Employer-sponsored insurance premiums rose 4% in 2023 to $8,435 for single coverage.
24
Deductibles in employer plans averaged $1,735for single coverage in 2023.
25
U.S. healthcare price growth was 4.2% in 2022.
26
Utilization growth for healthcare services was -0.1% in 2022.
27
Obesity-related medical costs totaled $173 billion in 2019.
28
Alzheimer's disease and dementia cost $355 billion in 2021.
29
Substance use disorder treatment spending was $42 billion in 2019.
30
Emergency department visits cost $136 billion in 2019.
Interpretation
Healthcare Spending and Costs Interpretation
The American healthcare system is a uniquely expensive machine, devouring a staggering 17.3% of our national output to deliver, rather ironically, less actual care as utilization fell, while our wallets hemorrhage from every angle: through soaring premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs, all to fund a trillion-dollar hospital complex, rapidly inflating drug prices, and chronic disease bills that would make a small nation blush.
03 · Category
Healthcare Workforce25 stats
01
There were 3.3 million active registered nurses in the U.S. in 2022.
02
Physicians numbered 1,077,000 in 2022, or 328 per 100,000 population.
03
Nurse practitioners totaled 385,000 in 2023.
04
The U.S. had 12.9 physicians per 1,000 people in 2021, below OECD average.
05
Nursing shortage projected: 200,000 RN openings annually through 2030.
06
195,000 dentists practiced in 2022.
07
Pharmacists numbered 330,000 in 2022.
08
Physician assistants reached 148,000 in 2022.
09
Home health aides: 4.1 million employed in 2022.
10
Healthcare support occupations grew 8% from 2022-2032.
11
18.4% of physicians were over age 65 in 2022.
12
Female physicians: 38% of total in 2022.
13
Primary care physicians: 93 per 100,000 in 2022.
14
Rural physician shortage: 60.6 per 100,000 vs urban 82.6.
15
Burnout rate among physicians: 47% in 2022.
16
75% of nurse practitioners can practice independently in 27 states.
17
Medical assistants: 757,000 employed in 2022.
18
Turnover rate for RNs was 27.1% in 2022.
19
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations: 9.1 million jobs in 2022.
20
EMTs and paramedics: 261,000 in 2022.
21
Optometrists: 20,000 in 2022.
22
Physical therapists: 244,000 in 2022.
23
Occupational therapists: 143,000 in 2022.
24
Speech-language pathologists: 175,000 in 2022.
25
Veterinarians in public health: growing demand.
Interpretation
Healthcare Workforce Interpretation
America's healthcare system is a paradox of impressive scale and alarming strain: we have an army of 9.1 million practitioners, yet we're simultaneously hemorrhaging burned-out nurses and doctors while desperately trying to backfill shortages, all while our population ages and outpaces our primary care capacity.
More related reading
04 · Category
Hospitals and Facilities25 stats
01
There are 6,093 hospitals in the U.S. as of 2023.
02
5,112 community hospitals operate in the U.S., representing 84% of all hospitals.
03
Average hospital size is 184 beds.
04
920,531 staffed beds in U.S. hospitals in 2023.
05
36.7 million admissions to U.S. hospitals in 2021.
06
137 million emergency department visits in 2021.
07
76% of community hospitals are nonprofit.
08
1,165 hospitals are government-owned.
09
58 million outpatient visits in rural hospitals annually.
10
2,000 rural hospitals, 20% at risk of closure.
11
Ambulatory surgery centers: over 5,800 in U.S.
12
Skilled nursing facilities: 15,600 nationwide.
13
1.4 million nursing home beds available.
14
7,200 inpatient rehabilitation facilities.
15
6,300 hospitals had electronic health records in 2021.
16
Teaching hospitals: 392 major academic medical centers.
17
Critical Access Hospitals: 1,360 serving rural areas.
18
Hospital occupancy rate averaged 64% in 2022.
19
20% of hospitals operate at negative margins.
20
Freestanding ERs: 382 in operation in 2023.
21
Urgent care centers: 11,000+ locations.
22
Dialysis centers: 7,500 facilities.
23
Federally Qualified Health Centers: 1,400 organizations, 14,000 sites.
24
VA medical centers: 170 facilities.
25
Indian Health Service facilities: 26 hospitals, 59 health centers.
Interpretation
Hospitals and Facilities Interpretation
With its vast network of 6,093 hospitals—where nonprofit idealism meets government stewardship and private enterprise—the U.S. healthcare system is a sprawling, stressed, and paradoxically fragile giant, simultaneously serving 137 million emergencies a year while one-fifth of its rural outposts teeter on the brink.
05 · Category
Insurance and Coverage25 stats
01
In 2023, 91% of Americans had health insurance coverage.
02
Medicaid covered 82.8 million people in FY 2023.
03
Medicare enrolled 65.7 million beneficiaries in 2023.
04
Employer-sponsored insurance covered 153.5 million non-elderly adults in 2022.
05
Uninsured rate dropped to 7.7% in 2023 from 9.2% in 2022.
06
Marketplace enrollment reached 21.3 million in 2024.
07
CHIP covered 9.1 million children in FY 2022.
08
26.4 million people enrolled in ACA Marketplaces in 2023.
09
Medicaid expansion states have uninsured rates 5.8 percentage points lower than non-expansion states.
10
TRICARE covered 9.4 million beneficiaries in 2022.
11
VA health care served 9.2 million veterans in 2023.
12
Short-term limited duration insurance plans cover about 1 million people.
13
Direct primary care memberships grew to 1.5 million in 2023.
14
Medicare Advantage enrollment was 31 million in 2024, 51% of Medicare beneficiaries.
15
Medicaid spending per enrollee was $8,823in 2021.
16
8.6 million people gained coverage through ACA Medicaid expansion by 2023.
17
Employer coverage stability: 54% of firms offer the same plan as previous year in 2023.
18
Individual market coverage outside ACA exchanges covers 5-7 million people.
19
Uninsured children rate was 5.8% in 2022.
20
Adults aged 18-64 uninsured rate was 10.7% in 2023.
21
Racial disparities: Black uninsured rate 10.8%, Hispanic 18.0% in 2023.
22
Income-based: <100% FPL uninsured 22.3% in 2023.
23
Medicare Part D enrollment 49 million in 2023.
24
Medicaid managed care covers 75% of enrollees.
25
ACA subsidies reduced premiums by average $705per enrollee in 2023.
Interpretation
Insurance and Coverage Interpretation
Despite the reassuring statistic that 91% of Americans are technically insured, our healthcare system remains a bewildering labyrinth of patchwork programs where coverage is a precarious privilege, not a universal right, as starkly evidenced by the 26 million uninsured and persistent, unconscionable disparities along lines of race and income.
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
Helena Kowalczyk. (2026, February 13). Us Healthcare Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/us-healthcare-industry-statistics
MLA
Helena Kowalczyk. "Us Healthcare Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/us-healthcare-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Helena Kowalczyk. 2026. "Us Healthcare Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/us-healthcare-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
40 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level