EU healthcare spending reached €1.72 trillion in 2023 (10% of GDP). Germany led in total and share of GDP, while per-capita spending rose across all countries, with Romania seeing the fastest growth.
Eurostat data released on November 2025 shows that healthcare expenditure in the European Union reached €1.72 trillion in 2023, representing 10% of the EU’s GDP. Germany remained the largest spender in absolute terms, allocating €492 billion, followed by France (€325 billion), Italy (€179 billion) and Spain (€138 billion). When measured as a share of GDP, Germany also led with 11.7%, ahead of France (11.5%), Austria and Sweden (both 11.2%). At the other end of the scale, Luxembourg and Romania recorded the lowest ratios at 5.7%, with Hungary (6.4%) and Ireland (6.6%) also well below the EU average.
Healthcare spending per inhabitant has continued its steady rise across Europe. Between 2014 and 2023, average EU spending per person increased by 43.7%, moving from €2 668 to €3 835. All EU countries saw growth, though the pace varied widely. Romania experienced the fastest increase, with per-capita spending rising by 155.6%, followed closely by Bulgaria, Lithuania and Latvia, all of which more than doubled their investment during the period.
In contrast, Sweden recorded the smallest increase at 15.2%, highlighting the diverse trajectories shaping national health financing levels across the Union. The findings underscore ongoing structural differences in how EU countries fund and prioritise healthcare, even amid a shared trend of rising expenditure.
