In 2012 the United Kingdom spent just below the average for all current EU
members on health care as a share of GDP (Figure 3.1). The United Kingdom
spends less money as a percentage of GDP than comparable affluent EU nations
like Germany and France, although it is fairly similar in spend to Sweden
(Figure 3.2). Per capita expenditure is lower than the median western European
country, but at over $3300 per person (PPP USD), it is comparable to the EU
average, despite the rate of increase slowing since 2010 following the financial
crisis (Figure 3.3 and Table 3.1). There is some variation between the nations
in the United Kingdom: in 2012/2013 per capita spending was highest in
Scotland (£2115) and lowest in England (£1912), while in Northern Ireland and
Wales spending per capita was £2109 and £1954 respectively, but there is also
considerable variation across England, for example per capita spending in the
north-east of England was £2028 (Bevan et al., 2014). The percentage of total
health expenditure across the United Kingdom coming from public funds is
high, similar to the Scandinavian nations and higher than in France, Germany
and the EU average (Figure 3.4