Paris: Member states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) allocated 9.3% of their GDP to health in 2024. This figure is lower than the peak during the COVID-19 pandemic but remains above pre-pandemic levels. In 16 OECD countries, health spending accounts for at least 10% of GDP. On average, public spending on health represents 15% of government expenditure in these countries, as highlighted by a new OECD report.
According to Emirates News Agency, the "OECD Health at a Glance 2025" report projects that public spending on health is anticipated to grow by 1.5% of GDP by 2045 across the OECD. This increase is largely attributed to technological advancements, rising healthcare expectations, and an ageing population. However, financing this spending growth poses challenges due to other policy priorities and constraints on public finances. Emphasizing value-for-money in healthcare is crucial, with preventive measures playing a significant role.
Life expectancy averaged 81.1 years across OECD countries in 2023 but remained below pre-pandemic levels in 13 countries. There were over three million premature deaths in 2023 among individuals under 75, deaths that might have been averted with better prevention and healthcare interventions. Diseases of the circulatory system and cancer are the leading causes of death, making up nearly half of all fatalities in OECD nations.
Obesity rates increased in more than four-fifths of OECD countries from 2013 to 2023, with an average of 54% of adults being overweight or obese. Harmful alcohol consumption is also a concern, with 27% of adults engaging in binge drinking at least monthly. Although smoking rates have decreased, 15% of adults continue to smoke daily, and vaping is on the rise. These risk factors are also prevalent among children, with 20% of 15-year-olds being overweight or obese, 15% smoking, and 20% vaping monthly.
Health indicators reveal ongoing improvements in acute care services quality. The survival rate after a heart attack or stroke has increased over the past decade. The 30-day mortality rate following a heart attack averaged 6.5% in 2023, down from 8.2% in 2013. For ischaemic stroke, the figures were 7.7% in 2023 compared to 9.3% in 2013.