Hospital beds per 1,000 people in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Hospital beds per 1,000 people was 2.42 per 1,000 people in 2022. ▼ Falling
Hospital beds per 1,000 people in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1960–2022
Source: World Health Organization (WHO) data, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in per 1,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for hospital beds per 1,000 people in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 2.42 per 1,000 people, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and down 13.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, hospital beds per 1,000 people in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 10.7 per 1,000 people in 1960 and was at its lowest, 2.41 per 1,000 people, in 2021.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 83rd out of 179 countries with data for 2022, putting it 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 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% |
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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More health data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- 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)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,134 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 461 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 75-79, female, annual growth rate 1.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per capita 0.0229 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.0202 units per person (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is hospital beds per 1,000 people in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Hospital beds per 1,000 people in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 2.42 per 1,000 people in 2022, according to World Health Organization (WHO) data, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest hospital beds per 1,000 people recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 10.7 per 1,000 people in 1960.
- What is the lowest hospital beds per 1,000 people recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.41 per 1,000 people in 2021.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for hospital beds per 1,000 people?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 83rd out of 179 countries with data for 2022.
- Is hospital beds per 1,000 people rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (WHO) data, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, 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.