Healthcare Expenditure and Outcomes Comparison

Developed Nations

We are being royally screwed in healthcare. These charts represent a country’s total spending — taxes, private insurance, and out-of-pocket costs combined. The U.S. spends more of its economy on healthcare than any other developed country. For every $100 spent in the U.S., nearly $17 goes to healthcare. In most other wealthy nations, that number is closer to $10–13 — with better outcomes and no medical bankruptcies.

This isn't abstract GDP math — this is actual dollars. What does each country pay per person, per year, in U.S. dollars for healthcare? The U.S. spends more than twice as much as other countries, and we’re not getting anything close to double the value. We are being drained for profit.

Here’s what it all amounts to: life expectancy. The U.S. is at the bottom of the developed world despite outspending everyone by a mile. We’re not just wasting money — we’re losing years of life while doing it.

Developing Nations

Even among developing nations, the U.S. sticks out. Cuba and Argentina spend a smaller share of their GDP and deliver better public health outcomes. Many of these countries provide basic care, vaccines, and maternal health at scale — without for-profit intermediaries taking their cut.

The gap here is staggering. While the U.S. spends over $12,000 per person, countries like Costa Rica, Thailand, and India spend hundreds — and still achieve longer life expectancy and broader coverage for the basics. This is proof that throwing money at healthcare doesn’t fix it — structure does.

Several of these so-called “developing” nations now match or beat the U.S. in life expectancy. For a fraction of the cost, they’ve prioritized public health instead of private profit. We are overpaying, underliving, and being told it’s the best we can do. It’s not.