Band 9: 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.

The bar chart illustrates the percentage of GDP allocated to health expenditure in various European countries in 2002, 2007, and 2012.

Overall, the data highlights significant differences in health spending among the countries, with Switzerland consistently allocating the highest percentage of GDP, while Estonia and Lithuania recorded the lowest figures throughout the period. Additionally, health expenditure remained relatively stable for most countries over the years, with only slight variations observed.

In more detail, Switzerland consistently led the rankings, spending over 11% of its GDP on health in all three years. Denmark, France, and the Netherlands also allocated substantial portions, with percentages ranging between 10% and 11% in 2012. Belgium followed closely, maintaining a stable percentage just above 10%.

In contrast, Estonia and Lithuania had the lowest expenditures, with percentages hovering around 5% to 6% across all three years. Other countries, including Spain, Slovenia, Poland, and Luxembourg, allocated moderate percentages, generally between 7% and 9%.

In conclusion, while European health expenditures varied across countries, the general trends indicate consistency in spending levels, with significant disparities between the highest- and lowest-spending nations