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.
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.
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.