80 Hospital Statistics & Facts: How Many Hospitals Are There?

Top 10 Hospital Statistics & Facts

Number of Hospitals: According to the American Hospital Association, there are 6,146 hospitals in the US as of 2021.
Hospital Employment: Hospitals are a major employer in the US, providing jobs to over 7 million people. This makes hospitals the second-largest source of employment in the country, after the retail sector.
Healthcare Spending: Hospitals account for the largest share of healthcare spending in the US, with an estimated $1.2 trillion spent on hospital care in 2020. This represents around 33% of all healthcare spending in the country.
Inpatient Care: In 2020, there were 36.9 million hospital admissions in the US, with an average length of stay of 4.6 days. This means that on any given day, there are around 800,000 patients in US hospitals.
Outpatient Care: In addition to inpatient care, hospitals also provide a wide range of outpatient services, including diagnostic tests, surgeries, and other procedures. In 2020, there were over 300 million outpatient visits to US hospitals.
Community Benefit: Hospitals provide a wide range of community benefits, including charity care, research, and education. In 2019, US hospitals provided over $95 billion in community benefits.
Emergency Department Visits: Hospitals are often the first point of contact for patients in need of emergency care. In 2019, there were over 141 million visits to hospital emergency departments in the US.
Healthcare Workforce: Hospitals are also an important source of healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and other staff. In 2020, there were over 1 million physicians and surgeons practicing in the US, with over 153,000 of them working in hospitals.
Hospital Quality: Quality of care is an important concern for hospitals, and there are a number of measures used to assess hospital quality. In 2020, over 4,500 hospitals were rated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, with just over 1,300 receiving the highest rating of 5 stars.
Hospital Technology: Hospitals are at the forefront of medical technology, with many adopting electronic health records, telemedicine, and other digital tools to improve patient care. In 2020, over 95% of hospitals used electronic health records, up from just 9% in 2008.

Number of Hospitals by Country

United States: Over 6,000 hospitals
United Kingdom: Over 1,000 hospitals
Canada: Over 600 hospitals
Germany: Over 2,000 hospitals
China: Over 33,000 hospitals
India: Over 23,000 hospitals
Australia: Over 1,300 hospitals
France: Over 3,000 hospitals
Japan: Over 8,000 hospitals
Brazil: Over 6,000 hospitals

Average Length of Hospital Stays

United States: Approximately 4.5 to 5 days on average.
United Kingdom: Around 5.5 days on average.
Canada: Approximately 7.4 days on average.
Germany: About 7.6 days on average.
Australia: Around 5.2 to 5.8 days on average.

Most Common Types of Illnesses Treated in Hospitals Worldwide

Cardiovascular diseases (30%)
Respiratory infections (10%)
Injuries from accidents or violence (9%)
Neonatal complications and preterm birth-related conditions (7%)
Digestive diseases (6%)
Cancers (5%)

Doctor and Nurses to Patients Ratio

United States: The patient-to-doctor ratio is around 2500:1, meaning there are approximately 2,500 patients for every primary care physician. The patient-to-nurse ratio varies between 4:1 to 8:1 depending on the setting and type of care.
United Kingdom: The patient-to-doctor ratio is approximately 350:1, and the patient-to-nurse ratio varies but can be around 8:1 in hospitals.
Canada: The patient-to-doctor ratio is around 400:1, and the patient-to-nurse ratio can range from 7:1 to 10:1 in hospitals.
Germany: The patient-to-doctor ratio is approximately 800:1, and the patient-to-nurse ratio is around 13:1 in hospitals.
Australia: The patient-to-doctor ratio is around 370:1, and the patient-to-nurse ratio varies but can be around 5:1 to 6:1 in hospitals.

Daily Hospital Discharge by Region

Western Europe: 45%
Australia and New Zealand: 40%
Eastern Asia: 35%
Latin America and the Caribbean: 30%
Eastern Europe: 25%

Age-Specific Hospitalization Rates

Infants and young children: This age group may be more susceptible to conditions like respiratory infections, digestive disorders, and injuries from accidents or falls. In the United States in 2017, there were approximately 2.3 million hospital stays for children under the age of 18, with the highest number of stays occurring in infants under 1 year of age.

Adolescents and young adults: This age group may be at higher risk for mental health conditions, substance abuse, and injuries related to sports and other physical activities. In the United States in 2017, there were approximately 1.5 million hospital stays for patients between the ages of 15 and 24.

Middle-aged adults: This age group may be at higher risk for chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. In the United States in 2017, there were approximately 4.6 million hospital stays for patients between the ages of 45 and 64.

Older adults: This age group may be at higher risk for conditions like dementia, stroke, and falls. In the United States in 2017, there were approximately 11.9 million hospital stays for patients aged 65 and older

centers of disease control and prevention

Leading Cause of Deaths in Hospitals

Sepsis: In 2018, sepsis was the underlying cause of death for approximately 270,000 people in the United States, making it the leading cause of death in hospitals.
Cancer: Cancer is the second leading cause of death in hospitals, accounting for approximately 170,000 deaths in 2018.
Circulatory system diseases: Diseases of the circulatory system, such as heart disease and stroke, are responsible for approximately 160,000 deaths in hospitals each year.
Respiratory system diseases: Respiratory system diseases, such as pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), account for approximately 115,000 hospital deaths per year.
Digestive system diseases: Diseases of the digestive system, such as liver disease and intestinal obstruction, are responsible for approximately 45,000 hospital deaths per year.

Most Expensive Medical Treatments

Organ transplant: Depending on the type of organ and the complexity of the surgery, an organ transplant can cost anywhere from $100,000 to over $1 million.
Cancer treatment: Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and other cancer treatments can cost tens of thousands of dollars per year, and total costs can easily reach hundreds of thousands of dollars or more.
Heart surgery: Procedures like bypass surgery and heart valve replacement can cost tens of thousands of dollars or more.
Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU): The cost of NICU care can vary widely depending on the length of stay and the medical needs of the baby, but it can easily reach tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Trauma care: Treatment for severe injuries such as those sustained in car accidents or falls can be very expensive due to the need for emergency care and specialized treatment. Costs can range from several thousand dollars to over $100,000 depending on the severity of the injury.
Prescription drugs: Some prescription drugs can be very expensive, especially if they are not covered by insurance or if they are only available in brand-name form. For example, a single dose of some cancer drugs can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Emergency room visits: Visiting the emergency room for a serious injury or illness can result in high medical bills due to the need for immediate care and testing. The average cost of an emergency room visit is around $1,000, but costs can be much higher depending on the reason for the visit and any necessary follow-up care.

Number of Operations

United States: In 2021, there were an estimated 51 million inpatient surgeries and 58 million outpatient surgeries performed in US hospitals.
Canada: In 2019, there were 2.7 million surgeries performed in Canadian hospitals, including 1.4 million same-day surgeries and 1.3 million surgeries requiring an overnight stay.
United Kingdom: In 2018-2019, there were approximately 4.9 million surgical procedures performed in NHS hospitals in England, including 2.7 million procedures requiring an overnight stay.
Australia: In 2018-2019, there were over 2.7 million hospital admissions in Australia, including more than 2.3 million same-day admissions and over 400,000 admissions requiring an overnight stay.
China: In 2018, there were approximately 50 million surgeries performed in Chinese hospitals, including over 30 million surgeries requiring an overnight stay.

Number of U.S Community Hospitals by State

Alabama 91
Alaska 10
Arizona 43
Alabama-91
Alaska-10
Arizona-43
Arkansas-52
California-343
Colorado-67
Connecticut-28
Delaware-6
District of Columbia-7
Florida-207
Georgia-115
Hawaii-10
Idaho-29
Illinois-195
Indiana-107
Iowa-83
Kansas-80
Kentucky-71
Louisiana-79
Maine-22
Maryland -53
Massachusetts-64
Michigan-138
Minnesota-133
Mississippi-64
Missouri-92
Montana-25
Nebraska-70
Nevada-19
New Hampshire-13
New Jerse-68
New Mexico-34
New York-194
North Carolina-104
North Dakota-13
Ohio-167

Rates of Hospital Construction Worldwide

China: According to a report by Fitch Ratings, China plans to build more than 3,000 new hospitals by 2022 to meet growing demand for healthcare services.
India: According to a report by the Indian government, there are plans to build 157 new medical colleges and hospitals across the country over the next few years.
United Kingdom: According to a report by NHS Providers, the UK government has committed to funding the construction of 40 new hospitals by 2030.
United States: According to data from the American Hospital Association, there were 6,146 hospitals in the US as of 2020. While there is ongoing investment in hospital building projects in the US, it's difficult to provide an exact average number of hospitals being built without specific information about current and future construction plans.

Hospital Bed to Patients Ratio

United States: According to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the United States had around 2.8 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 2019.
Japan: According to data from the OECD, Japan had around 13.4 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 2019.
South Korea: According to data from the Korean Statistical Information Service, South Korea had around 10.6 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 2020.
Germany: According to data from the OECD, Germany had around 8 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 2019.

FAQs

How does the number of hospital beds per capita affect healthcare outcomes?

The number of hospital beds per capita can have a significant impact on healthcare outcomes. Countries with higher numbers of hospital beds tend to have lower mortality rates from certain conditions such as heart attacks and strokes.

However, having too many hospital beds can also lead to overuse and unnecessary medical procedures.

What is the average wait time for elective surgeries in different countries?

The average wait time for elective surgeries varies widely between countries and depends on factors such as the availability of resources and funding for healthcare services. In Canada, for example, the average wait time for an elective surgery is around 20 weeks while in Germany it is around 8 weeks.

How much does it cost to perform an organ transplant?

The cost of performing an organ transplant can vary widely depending on factors such as the type of organ being transplanted and the complexity of the procedure. In general, however, organ transplants are among the most expensive medical procedures with costs ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars.

What are some common types of illnesses treated in hospitals worldwide?

Hospitals worldwide treat a wide range of illnesses including infectious diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis, chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease, mental health disorders like depression and anxiety, and injuries sustained from accidents or violence.

How do healthcare expenditures per capita differ between countries?

Healthcare expenditures per capita vary widely between countries depending on factors such as government spending on healthcare services, access to private insurance coverage, and overall health outcomes. The United States spends more on healthcare per capita than any other country in the world, but many countries with lower healthcare expenditures have better overall health outcomes.