Ranking the Best Healthcare in the World by Country (2024)

What Are the Countries With the Best Healthcare?

Healthcare systems differ greatly by country and region, which makes it difficult to determine where the best healthcare in the world is. Fortunately, there are organizations that have assessed which country has the best healthcare (as well as the countries with the worst systems!).

In 2024, CEOWorld Magazine’s Health Care Index analyzed the overall quality of healthcare systems across various countries. The index considered factors such as healthcare infrastructure, competencies of healthcare professionals (including doctors, nursing staff, and other health workers), cost per capita in USD annually, availability of quality medicine, and government readiness. Italy, with a score of 72.15, ranked highest on the index, followed by Singapore at 67.22, and Iceland at 65.15. Other countries in the top ten included Hong Kong, Finland, Taiwan, New Zealand, Australia, Monaco, and Norway. You can explore the full index report on CEOWorld Magazine’s website.

The Commonwealth Fund regularly ranks the best healthcare in the world. The United States has come in last in 2006, 2007, 2010, 2014, 2017, and 2021.

You can read the full 2021 report here: Commonwealth Fund Report

Healthcare System Performance Ranking

Key findings: “The top-performing countries overall are Norway, the Netherlands, and Australia. The United States ranks last overall, despite spending far more of its gross domestic product on health care. The U.S. ranks last on access to care, administrative efficiency, equity, and health care outcomes, but second on measures of care process.”

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The Best Healthcare Systems in the World in 2024

The Legatum Institute, a London-based think tank, has also evaluated where to find the best healthcare in the world. Its 2023 report includes a “Health pillar” that is based on how healthy a society is and whether people can access tools to maintain their health, including healthcare services. Of course, in most countries, you’ll need a travel insurance plan for short visits for up to one year or an international medical insurance plan if you want long-term medical coverage for a year or more to access these services.

What country has the best healthcare, according to this assessment? Singapore comes in at No. 1! Other countries with the best healthcare are listed below.

Best Healthcare in the World

1. Singapore
2. Japan
3. South Korea
4. Taiwan
5. China
6. Israel
7. Norway
8. Iceland
9. Sweden
10. Switzerland
11. Netherlands
12. Luxembourg
13. Germany
14. Hong Kong
15. Finland
16. Denmark
17. Italy
18. Belgium
19. Malta
20. France
21. Australia
22. Austria
23. Ireland
24. Slovenia
25. New Zealand
26. Spain
27. Cuba
28. Czech Republic
29. Cyprus
30. Costa Rica
31. Thailand
32. Canada
33. United Arab Emirates
34. United Kingdom
35. Uruguay
36. Colombia
37. Estonia
38. Qatar
39. Seychelles
40. Portugal
41. Greece
42. Malaysia
43. Kuwait
44. Vietnam
45. Slovakia
46. Hungary
47. Sri Lanka
48. Poland
49. Uzbekistan
50. Bahrain
51. Chile
52. Peru
53. Croatia
54. Turkmenistan
55. Oman
56. Saudi Arabia
57. Panama
58. Iran
59. Latvia
60. Argentina
61. Lithuania
62. Belarus
63. Turkey
64. Trinidad and Tobago
65. Bulgaria
66. Albania
67. Jamaica
68. Armenia
69. United States
70. Algeria
71. Mexico
72. Romania
73. Cabo Verde
74. Macedonia
75. Tajikistan
76. Kyrgyzstan
77. Kazakhstan
78. Nicaragua
79. Tunisia
80. Serbia
81. Mauritius
82. Ecuador
83. Brazil
84. Russia
85. Azerbaijan
86. Morocco
87. Indonesia
88. Paraguay
89. Dominican Republic
90. Georgia
91. Belize
92. Cambodia
93. Moldova
94. São Tomé and Príncipe
95. Bosnia-Herzegovina
96. Philippines
97. Venezuela
98. El Salvador
99. Honduras
100. Jordan
101. Ukraine
102. Lebanon
103. Montenegro
104. Guatemala

Source: https://www.prosperity.com/rankings

Review: Travel Insurance Advice by Country

In addition to this list, we also researched the countries with the best healthcare for women.

What Country Has the Best Healthcare in Europe?

BAV Group, part of the global marketing company VMLY&R, and The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania surveyed 17,000 people around the globe, which confirmed Europe has some of the best public healthcare systems in the world. The countries with the best healthcare in Europe were Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Finland, and Belgium.

Keep in mind that public healthcare in some European countries often comes with long wait times to receive care. And if you don’t qualify for enrollment in a country’s public healthcare system, you’ll need an international health insurance plan to be sure your medical needs will be covered. Private plans provide you with access to quality healthcare around the world, as well as offering shorter wait times and more choices in treatment.

Related: Insurance for Travel to Europe

Which U.S. States Have the Best Healthcare?

The Commonwealth Fund’s 2022 Scorecard on State Health System Performance reveals that affordability is an ongoing concern for healthcare in the United States. Premature deaths from heart disease, diabetes, and drug overdoses remain an ongoing problem. Visitors to the United States will need an international health plan to have their medical care covered.

States With the Best Healthcare Systems

1. Hawaii
2. Massachusetts
3. Connecticut
4. Washington
5. Vermont

States With the Worst-Rated Healthcare Systems

1. Mississippi
2. Oklahoma
3. West Virginia
4. Texas
5. Missouri

Source: 2022 Scorecard on State Health System Performance

Related: Insurance for Travel to the USA

Which Countries Have the Worst Healthcare in the World?

According to the Legatum Prosperity Index, the following countries have the worst healthcare in the world. This list begins with the country with the worst healthcare system:

1. Central African Republic
2. South Sudan
3. Chad
4. Lesotho
5. Somalia
6. Sierra Leone
7. Swaziland
8. Liberia
9. Guinea
10. Angola
11. Nigeria
12. Equatorial Guinea

International Health Insurance Plans Abroad

When living abroad, ensure access to the best health care and coverage for your medical expenses.

Searching for the Best International Medical Insurance? Visit: Compare Global Medical Plans

Read:

• Cost of Health Care in the USA
• Countries Offering Free or Universal Health Care
• Understanding South Africa’s Healthcare System
• India’s Healthcare System

Author: Joe Cronin, Founder and President of International Citizens Insurance. Mr. Cronin, a former expat, is an authority in the areas of international travel, and global health, life, and travel insurance, with expertise in advising individuals and groups on benefits for today's global workforce. Follow him on LinkedIn or Twitter.