Health at a Glance 2019
OECD Indicators
Health at a Glance compares key indicators for population health and health system performance across OECD members, candidate and partner countries. It highlights how countries differ in terms of the health status and health-seeking behaviour of their citizens; access to and quality of health care; and the resources available for health. Analysis is based on the latest comparable data across 80 indicators, with data coming from official national statistics, unless otherwise stated.
Alongside indicator-by-indicator analysis, an overview chapter summarises the comparative performance of countries and major trends, including how much health spending is associated with staffing, access, quality and health outcomes. This edition also includes a special focus on patient-reported outcomes and experiences, with a thematic chapter on measuring what matters for people-centred health systems.
Also available in: French
Self-rated health and disability at age 65 and over
Even as life expectancy at age 65 has increased across OECD countries, many adults spend a high proportion of their older lives in poor or fair health (see indicator on “Life expectancy and healthy life expectancy”). In 2017, more than half the population aged 65 and over in 35 OECD countries reported being in poor or fair health (). Older people in eastern European OECD countries report some of the highest rates of poor or fair health, with more than three-quarters of people aged 65 and over reporting their health to be fair, bad or very bad in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, and the Slovak Republic. High rates of poor health are also reported in Portugal and Korea. Women are slightly more likely to report being in poor or fair health than men: 59% of women report their health to be fair, bad or very bad on average across OECD countries, compared with 54% of men. Less than 40% of the total population aged 65 and over reported being in poor or fair health in five European countries (Norway, Ireland, Switzerland, Sweden and the Netherlands). The lowest rate of poor or fair health for women was reported in Ireland (31%), while men reported the lowest rate of poor or fair health in Norway (also 31%).
Also available in: French