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Hospitals in Europe - statistics & facts

Hospitals are one of the most vital cornerstones of every modern health system. While each country has their own individual healthcare system, most European nations have some type of universal healthcare. They can be roughly categorized into three systems: single-payer, socialized, and privatized but regulated. Healthcare spending represented just under ten percent of Europe’s GDP in 2024, of which roughly a third was related to hospital expenditure.

Number of hospitals and hospital beds in Europe

Despite a continued increase in health spending, the total number of hospitals in Europe has decreased over the past few decades, along with the number of hospital beds. Hospital bed density varies greatly from one country to another. In 2021, the number of hospital beds available per 100,000 people was over 700 beds in Bulgaria, Germany, and Romania. On the other hand, Sweden and Liechtenstein had less than 250 beds available per 100,000 inhabitants.

European hospital workforce

Hospitals are some of the biggest employers in Europe and provide millions of jobs. In 2021, hospitals in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Turkey all employed over a million people. However, when looking at the number of physicians employed in hospitals, Germany ranked the highest. Germany also employed the greatest number of nurses and midwives in hospitals. While the majority of Europeans were satisfied with their country’s healthcare system, this share has been gradually decreasing. Nevertheless, hospitals in Europe generally provide high standards of care and some are among the top-ranking hospitals in the world.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, Apr 18, 2024

Key insights

Number of hospitals in Europe
24.2k
Hospital expenditure as share of GDP in Europe
3.64%
European country with highest share of physicians in hospitals
Greece
Get more insights

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Ranking of the number of hospital beds in Europe by country 2020 (in thousands)

Hospitals

Hospital bed count in Europe 2020, by country

Share of individuals who trust the healthcare system in their country to provide them with the best treatment in select European countries in 2023

Health Policy

Trust in the quality of healthcare treatments in Europe 2023

Largest hospitals in the world based on the number of beds as of 2022

Hospitals

Largest hospitals in the world as of 2022, by number of beds

Further recommended statistics

Infrastructures

5

Infrastructures

Expenditure

5

Expenditure

Bed count

6

Bed count

Bed density

7

Bed density

Workforce

5

Workforce

Hospitalizations and discharges

6

Hospitalizations and discharges

Psychiatric hospitals

3

Psychiatric hospitals

Quality of care

4

Quality of care

Further reports

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Hospitals in the U.S.
Hospitals in the U.S.
Hospitals in the United Kingdom
Hospitals in the United Kingdom
Hospitals in Germany
Hospitals in Germany
Hospitals worldwide
Hospitals worldwide
Hospitals in Italy
Hospitals in Italy

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