Public expenditure on health care in Spain 2010-2021

Having experienced a rapid drop between 2010 and 2013, public health care expenditure in Spain increased progressively in the years following up to 2021. That year, spending on health care by public organizations amounted to around 87.9 billion euros. In terms of health expenditure as a share of the Spanish GDP, the figure stood at 7.3 percent, about 1.2 percentage points more than in 2015.

Main areas of spending

Regarding the Spanish public expenditure on health by sector, hospital services accounted for the greatest share. The hospital expenditure amounted to around 54.2 billion euros in 2021, nearly 62 percent of that year's budget. Pharmacies and primary health care services were two other large areas of spending, accounting for more than 12 billion euros each.

Private health expenditure

Although public spending on healthcare fluctuated over the last decade, the expenditure on private healthcare grew steadily between 2009 and 2018 and exceeded the 32 billion euros in 2020. Madrid, Navarre, and Catalonia, were the autonomous communities with the highest private healthcare spending per capita in 2021. In Navarre, the average citizen spent 622 euros a year in medical expenses out of their own pockets and 89 euros in private insurance. Catalonia and the Community of Madrid had a slightly lower spending, but they devoted a larger portion to cover private insurance expenses.