System of Health Accounts 2023
GDP share of health and medical care was 11.2 percent
Statistical news from Statistics Sweden 2025-03-31 8.00
In 2023, health and medical care comprised 11.2 percent of GDP. General government financed 86 percent of the total expenditures, while households paid 13 percent of the total expenditures via patient fees and other fees.
Data is only available in current prices, which means that the growth rates reported refer to changes in current prices.
Increase in the GDP share of health and medical care
The GDP share of health and medical care increased in 2023 compared to previous year. In 2023 the share of GDP was 11.2, while in 2022 it was 10.9 percent.
In 2023, total current health expenditure increased by 56.2 billion, which corresponds to 8.8 percent compared with 2022. High inflation and rising pension costs affecting regions and municipalities may contribute to the increased expenses in health and medical care. Total expenditures for health and medical care amounted to 693 billion in 2023.
Curative and rehabilitative care
Expenditure on curative and rehabilitative care increased by 10.3 percent between 2022 and 2023. Day curative and rehabilitative care experienced the largest growth and increased by 26.5 percent. The largest expenditure item in curative and rehabilitative care is inpatient care and it increased by 8.6 percent compared to previous year.
Long-term care
Expenditures on long-term care for elderly and disabled increased by 8.6 percent. The largest expenditure item is inpatient long-term care which increased by 8.5 percent.
Medical goods
Expenditures for medical goods dispensed to outpatients increased by 8.8 percent between 2022 and 2023. Over-the-counter medicines increased by 14.1 percent and prescribed medicines increased by 9.0 percent.
Preventive care
Expenditures for preventive care escalated sharply in 2021 because of Covid-19. In 2022 the expenditures decreased compared to the previous year. Between 2022 and 2023 the expenditures increased by 1.7 percent.
General government increased their expenditures with 9.1 percent
As a result of, among other things, high inflation and rising pensions costs the general government increased their expenditures for health and medical care by 9.1 percent between 2022 and 2023. Household out-of pocket payment increased by 7.4 percent. Other financier which includes companies, private health insurance, and non-profit institutions service households, increased their expenditures by 4.0 percent.
Main areas of health and medical care
Health and medical care expenditures can be classified into seven main areas. Curative and rehabilitative care account for about half of all the costs. Health and medical care concerning care for the elderly and persons with disabilities accounts for 28 percent of the health and medical care sector. Nursing costs are also included in these expenditures. The third largest item is expenditures of medical goods for outpatients.
Revision to previously published data
In May 2024, the National Accounts published updated figures for 1993-2022 as a result of a benchmark revision. Benchmark revisions are conducted by National Accounts every five years. These updates have affected the Health Accounts for 2001-2022. The revision affects the health and medical expenditures in relation to GDP for the entire series.
Definitions and explanations
The Health Accounts are based on the concepts in the National Accounts. All expenditures for health and medical care are presented in a three-axis system based on the function, financier and producer. Data is only available in current prices.
Statistics Sweden has presented Health Accounts since 2008. The data is presented according to the manual A System of Health Accounts 2011 (SHA 2011), which is common to the OECD, Eurostat and the WHO.
Data is presented for the years 2001–2023, but the period 2001–2010 is not completely comparable with the period 2011–2023, which means there is a break in the time series. This break in the time series refers to the area health and medical care within care for the elderly and persons with disabilities.
Next publishing will be
The next statistical news is scheduled for publication in 2026.
Statistical Database
More information is available in the Statistical Database
Feel free to use the facts from this statistical news but remember to state Source: Statistics Sweden.