Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) was 2.42 per 1,000 people in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
2.42 per 1,000 people
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
83rd
of 179 countries
All-time high
10.7 per 1,000 people
in 1960
All-time low
2.41 per 1,000 people
in 2021
Years of data
37
1960–2022
Hospital beds in United Kingdom, 1960–2022
Source: WHO data, supplemented by country data, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in per 1,000 people.
Analysis
In 2022, hospital beds in United Kingdom stood at 2.42 per 1,000 people.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and down 13.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, hospital beds in United Kingdom peaked at 10.7 per 1,000 people in 1960 and was at its lowest, 2.41 per 1,000 people, in 2021.
United Kingdom ranks 83rd of 179 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 37 years of available data.
Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 10.7 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1970 | 9.6 per 1,000 people | -10.3% |
| 1980 | 8.1 per 1,000 people | -15.6% |
| 1985 | 7.4 per 1,000 people | -8.6% |
| 1990 | 5.9 per 1,000 people | -20.3% |
| 1991 | 5.6 per 1,000 people | -5.1% |
| 1992 | 5.4 per 1,000 people | -3.6% |
| 1993 | 5.1 per 1,000 people | -5.6% |
| 1994 | 4.8 per 1,000 people | -5.9% |
| 1995 | 4.8 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 4.6 per 1,000 people | -4.2% |
| 1997 | 4.6 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 4.4 per 1,000 people | -4.3% |
| 1999 | 4.2 per 1,000 people | -4.5% |
| 2000 | 4.07 per 1,000 people | -3.1% |
| 2001 | 4.03 per 1,000 people | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 3.97 per 1,000 people | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 3.94 per 1,000 people | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 3.85 per 1,000 people | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 3.71 per 1,000 people | -3.6% |
| 2006 | 3.53 per 1,000 people | -4.9% |
| 2007 | 3.38 per 1,000 people | -4.2% |
| 2008 | 3.32 per 1,000 people | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 3.25 per 1,000 people | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 2.92 per 1,000 people | -10.2% |
| 2011 | 2.87 per 1,000 people | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 2.8 per 1,000 people | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 2.75 per 1,000 people | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 2.72 per 1,000 people | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 2.6 per 1,000 people | -4.4% |
| 2016 | 2.56 per 1,000 people | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 2.53 per 1,000 people | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 2.48 per 1,000 people | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 2.44 per 1,000 people | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 2.42 per 1,000 people | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 2.41 per 1,000 people | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 2.42 per 1,000 people | +0.4% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 2.42 per 1,000 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.3 per 1,000 people, 73% of the median. (63 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 2.42 per 1,000 people is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.12 per 1,000 people, 59% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 10.7 per 1,000 people | 10.7 per 1,000 people | 10.7 per 1,000 people | 1 |
| 1970s | 9.6 per 1,000 people | 9.6 per 1,000 people | 9.6 per 1,000 people | 1 |
| 1980s | 7.75 per 1,000 people | 7.4 per 1,000 people | 8.1 per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 1990s | 4.94 per 1,000 people | 4.2 per 1,000 people | 5.9 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.7 per 1,000 people | 3.25 per 1,000 people | 4.07 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.67 per 1,000 people | 2.44 per 1,000 people | 2.92 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.42 per 1,000 people | 2.41 per 1,000 people | 2.42 per 1,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More health data for United Kingdom
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 461 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7128 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0247 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7724 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0261 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is hospital beds in United Kingdom?
- Hospital beds in United Kingdom was 2.42 per 1,000 people in 2022, according to WHO data, supplemented by country data, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest hospital beds recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 10.7 per 1,000 people in 1960.
- What is the lowest hospital beds recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.41 per 1,000 people in 2021.
- How does United Kingdom rank for hospital beds?
- United Kingdom ranks 83rd out of 179 countries with data for 2022.
- Is hospital beds rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from WHO data, supplemented by country data, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Hospital beds (per 1,000 people). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Hospital beds include inpatient beds available in public, private, general, and specialized hospitals and rehabilitation centers. In most cases beds for both acute and chronic care are included.