Hospital beds per 1,000 people in United States
United States: Hospital beds per 1,000 people was 2.68 per 1,000 people in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
2.68 per 1,000 people
Change on year
down 0.7%
World rank
71st
of 179 countries
All-time high
9.2 per 1,000 people
in 1960
All-time low
2.68 per 1,000 people
in 2022
Years of data
55
1960–2022
Hospital beds per 1,000 people in United States, 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 States is 2.68 per 1,000 people, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, hospital beds per 1,000 people in United States peaked at 9.2 per 1,000 people in 1960 and was at its lowest, 2.68 per 1,000 people, in 2022.
That places United States 71st 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 55 years of available data.
Hospital beds per 1,000 people in United States, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 9.2 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1965 | 8.8 per 1,000 people | -4.3% |
| 1970 | 7.9 per 1,000 people | -10.2% |
| 1971 | 7.5 per 1,000 people | -5.1% |
| 1972 | 7.4 per 1,000 people | -1.3% |
| 1973 | 7.2 per 1,000 people | -2.7% |
| 1974 | 7.1 per 1,000 people | -1.4% |
| 1975 | 6.8 per 1,000 people | -4.2% |
| 1976 | 6.6 per 1,000 people | -2.9% |
| 1977 | 6.4 per 1,000 people | -3.0% |
| 1978 | 6.2 per 1,000 people | -3.1% |
| 1979 | 6.1 per 1,000 people | -1.6% |
| 1980 | 6 per 1,000 people | -1.6% |
| 1981 | 5.9 per 1,000 people | -1.7% |
| 1982 | 5.9 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 5.8 per 1,000 people | -1.7% |
| 1984 | 5.7 per 1,000 people | -1.7% |
| 1985 | 5.5 per 1,000 people | -3.5% |
| 1986 | 5.4 per 1,000 people | -1.8% |
| 1987 | 5.2 per 1,000 people | -3.7% |
| 1988 | 5.1 per 1,000 people | -1.9% |
| 1989 | 5 per 1,000 people | -2.0% |
| 1990 | 4.9 per 1,000 people | -2.0% |
| 1991 | 4.8 per 1,000 people | -2.0% |
| 1992 | 4.6 per 1,000 people | -4.2% |
| 1993 | 4.5 per 1,000 people | -2.2% |
| 1994 | 4.3 per 1,000 people | -4.4% |
| 1995 | 4.1 per 1,000 people | -4.7% |
| 1996 | 3.9 per 1,000 people | -4.9% |
| 1997 | 3.8 per 1,000 people | -2.6% |
| 1998 | 3.7 per 1,000 people | -2.6% |
| 1999 | 3.6 per 1,000 people | -2.7% |
| 2000 | 3.49 per 1,000 people | -3.1% |
| 2001 | 3.47 per 1,000 people | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 3.4 per 1,000 people | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 3.33 per 1,000 people | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 3.26 per 1,000 people | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 3.2 per 1,000 people | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 3.17 per 1,000 people | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 3.13 per 1,000 people | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 3.12 per 1,000 people | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 3.07 per 1,000 people | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 3.03 per 1,000 people | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 2.94 per 1,000 people | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 2.9 per 1,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 2.86 per 1,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 2.79 per 1,000 people | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 2.75 per 1,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 2.72 per 1,000 people | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 2.8 per 1,000 people | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 2.76 per 1,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 2.72 per 1,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 2.71 per 1,000 people | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 2.7 per 1,000 people | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 2.68 per 1,000 people | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9 per 1,000 people | 8.8 per 1,000 people | 9.2 per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 6.92 per 1,000 people | 6.1 per 1,000 people | 7.9 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.55 per 1,000 people | 5 per 1,000 people | 6 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.22 per 1,000 people | 3.6 per 1,000 people | 4.9 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.26 per 1,000 people | 3.07 per 1,000 people | 3.49 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.83 per 1,000 people | 2.72 per 1,000 people | 3.03 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.7 per 1,000 people | 2.68 per 1,000 people | 2.71 per 1,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near United States
More health data for United States
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,069 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,015 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 75-79, female, annual growth rate 4.92 % 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 0.0198 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 4.81 % 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 0.0168 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is hospital beds per 1,000 people in United States?
- Hospital beds per 1,000 people in United States was 2.68 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 States?
- The highest recorded value was 9.2 per 1,000 people in 1960.
- What is the lowest hospital beds per 1,000 people recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.68 per 1,000 people in 2022.
- How does United States rank for hospital beds per 1,000 people?
- United States ranks 71st out of 179 countries with data for 2022.
- Is hospital beds per 1,000 people rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.