Total health expenditure as share of GDP in Italy 2005-2023

Over the period from 2005 to 2023, health expenditure as share of GDP in Italy fluctuated between 8.1 percent and 9.6 percent. More specifically, it increased between 2005 and 2009, before gradually decreasing. In 2020, the total healthcare expenditure (public, private, and out-of-pocket) peaked at 9.6 percent of the country's gross domestic product, also as a result of the country's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, the total health expenditure as a share of GDP in Italy was 8.4 percent.   

 European framework

The Italian share was lower the European average, which was equal to 10.9 percent in 2020. Moreover, some of the major European economies such as France and Germany, addressed a much higher share of the GDP to healthcare. As a matter of fact, in 2023,  France and Germany spent 11.9 and 11.8 percent of their GDP on health respectively.

Private healthcare spending

In the last few years, conversely with the decrease of public healthcare resources, the private spending on health increased. The private health expenditure peaked at 41.5 billion euros in 2022. Specialist examinations and dental checks were the most burdening headings for Italians in terms of private healthcare costs.