China: health and care

How many people in China have health insurance?

1.331 billion people in China were covered by basic medical insurance at the end of 2025, a coverage rate of about 95%, according to the National Healthcare Security Administration's 2025 statistical bulletin of 16 July 2026.

388.56 million people were in the employee scheme, which is funded by employers and workers, and 942.13 million in the scheme for urban and rural residents, which is funded by individual contributions and government subsidies. Basic medical insurance funds had total revenue of 3.59 trillion yuan in 2025 and spending of 3.01 trillion yuan.

Official sources: NHSA: 2025 medical security statistical bulletin (Chinese)

How much does a hospital stay cost in China?

An average hospital stay cost 11,522 yuan for members of China's employee medical insurance scheme in 2025, and 7,339 yuan for members of the residents' scheme, according to the National Healthcare Security Administration's 2025 statistical bulletin.

For employee scheme members, stays in top-tier (tertiary) hospitals cost 13,335 yuan on average, against 6,440 yuan in the lowest-tier facilities. Average stays lasted 8.6 days in both schemes. These are total costs, of which insurance pays a share; the rest is paid by patients.

Official sources: NHSA: 2025 medical security statistical bulletin (Chinese)

How much of hospital costs does Chinese health insurance pay?

China's employee medical insurance paid 84.1% of eligible inpatient costs in 2025, and the residents' scheme 66.0%, according to the National Healthcare Security Administration's 2025 statistical bulletin.

The rates apply to costs within the national list of covered drugs and services. Reimbursement is higher in lower-level hospitals: in the residents' scheme it was 61.7% in tertiary hospitals and 79.4% in the lowest tier. Patients also pay costs outside the list, so their share of total costs is higher than these rates suggest.

Official sources: NHSA: 2025 medical security statistical bulletin (Chinese)

How much does China spend on health?

China's current health spending was 5.94% of GDP in 2023, according to the World Bank's health expenditure data, compared with 5.88% in 2022 and 5.26% in 2021.

The measure includes government, insurance and household spending on health care, excluding investment. More recent government figures show general budget spending on health of 1.50 trillion yuan in January to August 2026, 9.2% more than a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Finance. That covers only budget spending, not insurance funds or what patients pay themselves.

Official sources: World Bank: Current health expenditure (% of GDP), China · Ministry of Finance: Fiscal revenue and spending, January to August 2026 (Chinese)

How many doctors does China have?

China had 3.1 physicians per 1,000 people in 2022, according to the World Bank's physicians indicator, up from 2.5 in 2021 and 2.4 in 2020.

The indicator counts doctors in general and specialist practice, based on WHO data. Year-to-year changes can reflect changes in reporting as well as in the number of doctors. The national average does not show differences between cities and rural areas or between provinces.

Official sources: World Bank: Physicians (per 1,000 people), China

What is China's infant mortality rate?

China's infant mortality rate was 4.1 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024, according to the World Bank's infant mortality indicator, which uses UN inter-agency estimates. It was 4.4 in 2023 and 4.8 in 2022.

Infant mortality counts deaths before a child's first birthday. The UN estimates are modelled from national data and can differ slightly from figures published by China's health authorities. The rate is often used as a broad indicator of the health of mothers and children and of access to care.

Official sources: World Bank: Infant mortality rate, China

What is the average life expectancy in China?

78.0 years: that is life expectancy at birth in China for 2024, according to the UN Population Division. The peak was 78.2 years in 2022 and the low 74.1 years in 2005. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 71.5 years, and China placed 6th highest of 30. Worldwide: 54th of 193.

What is China's infant mortality rate?

4.1 per 1,000: that is the infant mortality rate in China for 2024, according to the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. That is the lowest since at least 2005. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 13.9 per 1,000, and China placed 25th highest of 30. Of 192 countries with 2024 data, 151st highest.

What is the maternal mortality rate in China?

The WHO puts the maternal mortality ratio in China at 16.0 per 100,000 in 2023. That is the lowest since at least 2005. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 82.0 per 100,000, and China placed 25th highest of 30. Of 192 countries with 2023 data, 131st highest.

How much does China spend on health?

In 2023, current health spending in China was 5.9% of GDP, according to the WHO. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 15th highest of 29 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 5.9% of GDP. World rank, highest first: 104th of 191.

How much do people in China pay for health care themselves?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 32.2%. Since 2005 it has ranged from 31.6% (2022) to 57.7% (2005). East Asia & Pacific median: 12.2%; China is 8th highest of 29. Of 191 countries with 2023 data, 73rd highest.

How many doctors per person does China have?

3.1 per 1,000: that is the number of doctors per 1,000 people in China for 2022, according to the WHO. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. East Asia & Pacific median: 2.6 per 1,000; China is 4th highest of 11. Of 125 countries with 2022 data, 48th highest.

How many hospital beds does China have?

The WHO puts hospital beds per 1,000 people in China at 5.6 per 1,000 in 2023. No year since 2005 has been higher. It is 2nd highest of 11 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 2.4 per 1,000. Of 73 countries with 2023 data, 7th highest.

What is measles vaccine coverage in China?

According to WHO and UNICEF, measles vaccination among children aged 12 to 23 months in China was 95.0% in 2024. Its high point since 2005 was 2009, at 99.0%; its low point was 2005, at 86.0%. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 91.0%, and China placed 12th highest of 30. Of 191 countries with 2024 data, 60th highest.