Band 5+: The bar chart below shows current health expenditure totals as percentages of GDP* for various European countries for the years 2002, 2007 and 2012. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. You should write at least 150 words. * GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is the total value of goods that are made and services that are provided in a country.

The bar chart compares the proportion of the European health consumption in GDP, starting from 2002 to 2012.

Overall, most countries showed an upward in heath expenditure. Switzerland had the largest proportion whereas Estonia had the lowest. Belgium, Estonia, and Switzerland remained the same over year while other countries exhibited a change.

In terms of Switzerland, health expenditure was roughly 11% in 2002 and remained constant by the year in 2012. There was 3% and 10% in Estonia and Belgium in 2002 and these figures also demonstrated unchanged by the end of the timeframe. Similarly, Denmark, Norway and Slovenia increased from approximately 9%, 9% and 8% in 2002 to roughly 10%, 10% and 9% in 2012.

On the other hand, France grew from 10% to nearly 11% in 2007, then it declined, decreasing from 11% in 2007 to 9% in 2002. Lithuania and Poland rose from about 5% and 6% in 2002 to almost 6% and 7% in 2007, as opposed to Spain, which remained steady over the period at 8%.