Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Japan
Japan: Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending was 84.8% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Japan, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
Japan recorded 84.8% for public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in 2023.
That represents a change of down 1.4% on the previous year and up 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Japan peaked at 86.3% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 80.0%, in 2003.
That places Japan 9th out of 193 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Japan, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 80.4% | — |
| 2001 | 81.0% | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 80.8% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 80.0% | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 80.3% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 81.2% | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 80.3% | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 81.2% | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 81.2% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 81.3% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 81.9% | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 83.7% | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 83.9% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 84.3% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 84.1% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 84.1% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 84.0% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 84.2% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 83.8% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 84.0% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 85.4% | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 86.3% | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 86.0% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 84.8% | -1.4% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 84.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 73.1%, 1.2× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Japan's 84.8% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 60.9%, 1.4× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 80.8% | 80.0% | 81.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 83.8% | 81.9% | 84.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 85.6% | 84.8% | 86.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More health data for Japan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.73 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2774 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,294 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 178 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.22 % 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 0.0155 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.36 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Japan?
- Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Japan was 84.8% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 86.3% in 2021.
- What is the lowest public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 80.0% in 2003.
- How does Japan rank for public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending?
- Japan ranks 9th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of current health expenditures funded from domestic public sources for health.