Executive summary

Health at a Glance: Asia/Pacific 2022 presents key indicators on health status, determinants of health, health care resources and utilisation, health expenditure and financing, and quality of care for 27 Asia-Pacific countries and territories. Countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific region are diverse, and their health issues and health systems differ. However, these indicators provide a concise overview of the progress of countries towards achieving universal health coverage for their population.

Life expectancy decreased by 1 year during the COVID-19 pandemic and maternal mortality ratio is still twice the Sustainable Development Goal target in lower-middle and low-income countries in the region

During the COVID-19 pandemic, life expectancy has decreased by one year in lower-middle and low-income Asia-Pacific countries from 2019 to 2021, while it decreased by 0.4 years un upper-middle income countries and slightly increased in high-income countries during the same period.
In 2020, the average neonatal mortality rate amongst lower-middle and low-income countries in Asia-Pacific was 15.8 deaths per 1 000 live births, almost halving the rate observed in 2000 but still above the SDG target of 12 deaths or less per 1 000 live births.
Maternal mortality ratio averaged around 140 deaths per 100 000 live births in lower-middle and low-income Asia-Pacific countries and territories in 2019, still two times higher than the SDG target of less than 70 death per 100 000 live births.

Almost half of total health spending came from payments made by households out-of-pocket in lower-middle and low-income countries

In 2019, lower-middle and low-income Asia-Pacific countries spend – after adjusting for differences in purchasing power across countries – USD 285 per person per year on health, against USD 822 and USD 3 891 in upper-middle income and high-income Asia-Pacific countries respectively.
The share of public spending in total health spending increased – on average – in all Asia-Pacific country income groups from 2010 to 2019, but the increase was much smaller in lower-middle and low-income Asia-Pacific countries compared to upper-middle and high-income countries: 41.4% compared to 62.5% and 74.1%, respectively.
On average, household out-of-pocket expenditure (that is, payments made directly by households for health services and goods) accounted for 49% of total health expenditure in lower-middle and low-income Asia-Pacific countries in 2019, a slight decrease in the percentage share of total health expenditure but an increase in level from 2010.

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Disclaimers

This work is published under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD and the Director-General of the WHO. The opinions expressed and arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of the member countries of the OECD or those of the World Health Organization.

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