Band 8+: 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 illustrates the proportion of GDP allocated to health expenditure in twelve European countries in 2002, 2007, and 2012.

Overall, Switzerland consistently spent the largest percentage of GDP on health across all three years, while Estonia allocated the least. Although some countries maintained relatively stable expenditure levels over the years, others experienced notable changes.

In 2002, Switzerland was the highest spender, allocating approximately 11% of its GDP to health. This was followed by Belgium, France, and the Netherlands, which spent slightly less, at around 10%. In contrast, Estonia had the lowest health expenditure, accounting for just 3% of its GDP.

Moving to 2007, ten countries, including Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and Switzerland, maintained similar percentages to 2002. However, France experienced a noticeable increase, reaching nearly 11%, narrowing the gap with Switzerland.

By 2012, several countries, such as Slovenia, Poland, Denmark, Lithuania, and Norway, saw increases in their health spending as a percentage of GDP. Conversely, the Netherlands and Luxembourg recorded slight declines. Belgium and Spain remained steady at 10% and 8%, respectively, while Switzerland continued to allocate the highest proportion, exceeding 11%.