Skip to content

Tuesday, May. 12, 2026

Does America spend nearly double per individual with worse health outcomes when compared to similarly developed countries, as Rep. Josh Breechen claimed?


yes

A 2025 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development report found that the U.S. was the highest spender on health per capita, spending 2.5 times the OECD average, while having below-average outcomes across several metrics. 

U.S. health expenditure was $14,880 per person, about 133% the expenditures of Switzerland, Norway and Germany, the next three highest spenders. All three countries exceed the OECD average life expectancy of 81.1 years, while the U.S. life expectancy is 78.4 years. 

The U.S. had notably worse statistics compared to the OECD averages in terms of cancer incidence rates, percentage of people living with multiple chronic conditions, and share of population eligible for coverage. 

Higher payments to hospitals and physicians accounted for 80% of the difference in spending between the U.S. and comparable countries, though administrative and drug spending also contributed.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

About fact briefs

Fact briefs are bite-sized, well-sourced explanations that offer clear "yes" or "no" answers to questions, confusions, and unsupported claims circulating online. They rely on publicly available data and documents, often from the original source. Fact briefs are written and published by newsrooms in the Gigafact network.

See all fact briefs

Oklahoma Watch is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) corporation that produces in-depth and investigative journalism as a public service for the benefit of all Oklahomans. Through investigative, fact-driven journalism, we dig deep and examine significant issues facing our state. Our work engages all Oklahomans, amplifies the discussion of important issues and leads to change. We help develop the journalists and journalism of the future.

Learn More

Be a Friend of facts

Help us fund more great fact briefs like this one.