Band 8+: The table below shows information about spending on health in five different countries in 2002. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

The table compares health expenditure as a percentage of GDP, including both public and private spending, in five different countries in 2002.

Overall, France accounted for the largest share of health spending among the five countries, whereas Japan recorded the lowest total health expenditure. Notably, public expenditure far exceeded private spending across all five countries.

Turning to higher-spending nations, France recorded the highest health expenditure as a percentage of GDP, followed by Germany and the USA, at 9.3% and 8.6%, respectively. Likewise, in terms of public spending, France led the group with a figure of 8.6%, while Germany and the USA were close behind, at 7% and 6%, respectively. In terms of private expenditure, France, Germany and the USA recorded 2.8%, 2.6%, and 2.3%, respectively.

Italy and Japan recorded lower levels of health expenditure as a percentage of GDP, with figures of 7.7% and 7.2%, respectively. Public spending accounted for 5.8% of total health expenditure in Japan, while Italy’s figure was 0.5 percentage points lower than Japan’s. Regarding private expenditure, Italy’s figure was 1 percentage point higher than Japan’s, standing at 2.4%.