The bar chart illustrates the percentage of GDP spent on health expenditure in several European countries across three different years: 2002, 2007, and 2012.
Overall, the health expenditure in most countries either increased slightly or remained stable over the period. Switzerland consistently allocated the largest share of its GDP to healthcare in all three years, while countries such as Lithuania and Luxembourg spent significantly less in comparison.
In detail, Switzerland led the rankings, with its health expenditure reaching nearly 12% of GDP by 2012. Similarly, Denmark and Belgium also allocated a high percentage, maintaining figures close to 10% throughout the period. On the other hand, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and Poland consistently spent below 7%, with Lithuania showing the lowest percentage overall.
Some countries, such as France and the Netherlands, experienced noticeable fluctuations. For instance, France recorded a slight drop in 2007 before increasing again in 2012. In contrast, the Netherlands displayed steady growth across the three years. Other nations, such as Norway and Slovenia, saw minor increases, typically by less than 1%.
In summary, while health expenditure varied between countries, Switzerland remained the highest spender, and Lithuania the lowest, reflecting a consistent disparity in healthcare priorities across Europe.