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

Top 10 Fascinating Hospital Statistics

According to the American Hospital Association, there were over 36 million hospital admissions in the United States in 2019, an increase of 2.4% from the previous year.
In the US, childbirth is the leading reason for hospitalization, accounting for around 4 million hospital stays each year.
Around one in six Medicare patients are readmitted to hospitals within 30 days of being discharged, according to a report by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission.
Non-profit hospitals provided $95 billion in uncompensated care in 2018, which accounted for over 90% of all charity care provided in the US.
Studies have shown that higher nurse-to-patient ratios result in better patient outcomes and lower mortality rates.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that HAIs cost US hospitals between $28 billion and $45 billion each year.
In 2020, around 97% of non-federal acute care hospitals had adopted certified EHR technology, compared to just 9% in 2008.
Hospitals are among the largest employers in many communities, with over 5 million people working in them across the United States.
Studies have shown that minority patients are more likely to receive lower-quality care and experience worse health outcomes than white patients.
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of telehealth services, with one survey finding that 42% of hospitals were using telehealth in 2020, up from just 18% in 2018.

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How Many Hospitals Are There in the U.S?

As of 2021, there are approximately 6,146 hospitals in the United States.
Of these, around 2,000 are rural hospitals and over 3,000 are non-profit hospitals.
The largest hospital systems in the US include HCA Healthcare, Community Health Systems, and Tenet Healthcare Corporation.
California has the most hospitals of any state in the US, with over 400 hospitals within its borders.
In terms of hospital beds per capita, Washington D.C. has the highest rate with 10.7 beds per 1,000 people while Utah has the lowest rate with just 1.8 beds per 1,000 people.
The number of hospitals in the US has been declining in recent years due to factors such as mergers and closures.

How Many Hospitals Are There in the World?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are approximately 17,000 hospitals in the world.
The highest number of hospitals per capita is found in Japan, with over 13 hospitals per 100,000 people.
In low-income countries, there are only around 2 hospital beds per 10,000 people, compared to high-income countries which have around 40 beds per 10,000 people.
Europe has the highest number of hospital beds per capita with an average of around 50 beds per 10,000 people.
In some countries such as Cuba and Costa Rica, healthcare is free and provided by a network of public hospitals.

The United States has the most hospitals in the world

According to the American Hospital Association, there are over 6,000 hospitals in the United States, making it the country with the most hospitals in the world. Interestingly, Japan, a country with a larger population, has only 8% of the number of hospitals in the United States.

Most Expensive Medical Treatments in the World

Gene Therapy - This cutting-edge treatment uses genes to treat or prevent diseases such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, and hemophilia. The cost of gene therapy can range from $500,000 to $2 million per patient.
CAR-T Therapy - This immunotherapy treatment is used to treat cancer by using a patient's own immune cells to fight cancer cells. The cost of CAR-T therapy can exceed $1 million per patient.
Spinraza - This drug is used to treat spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic disease that affects muscle strength and movement. The cost of Spinraza can be over $750,000 for the first year of treatment and over $375,000 each year after that.
Zolgensma - This gene therapy is used to treat spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in children under 2 years old. It is currently one of the most expensive drugs in the world, with a price tag of around $2.1 million per dose.
Glybera - This gene therapy was developed to treat lipoprotein lipase deficiency (LPLD), a rare genetic disorder that affects fat metabolism. It was approved for use in Europe in 2012 but was later withdrawn due to its high cost of around $1 million per treatment.

Hospital care is expensive

Hospital care is one of the most expensive types of healthcare. In 2019, the average cost of a hospital stay in the United States was $15,734. This cost varies depending on the type of hospital, the patient's condition, and the length of stay.

U.S Nongovernment Not-for-Profit Community Hospitals by State

In Alaska, there are only 3 non-government not-for-profit community hospitals, making up 6.1% of all hospitals in the state.
California has the highest number of non-government not-for-profit community hospitals with 208, accounting for 24.9% of all hospitals in the state.
In Connecticut, there are 27 non-government not-for-profit community hospitals, making up 81.8% of all hospitals in the state.
Delaware has only one non-government not-for-profit community hospital, which makes up 11.1% of all hospitals in the state.
Hawaii has only five non-government not-for-profit community hospitals, which make up 17.2% of all hospitals in the state.
In Maryland, there are 32 non-government not-for-profit community hospitals that make up 53.3% of all hospitals in the state.
Massachusetts has a total of 63 non-government not-for-profit community hospitals that make up a whopping 92.7% of all hospitals in the state.
In New Hampshire, there are only three non-government not-for-profit community hospitals that make up just under a quarter (22.2%) of all hospitals in the state.
New Jersey has a total of 66 non-government not-for-profit community hospitals that make up about two-thirds (64.1%) of all hospitals in the state.
Rhode Island has seven non-government not-for-profit community hospitals that account for almost half (46.7%) of all hospitals in the state.
Vermont has six non-government not-for-profit community hospital facilities that make up nearly half (46.2%) of all hospital facilities in Vermont.

These statistics show that while some states have a high proportion of these types of healthcare facilities (like Massachusetts), others have very few (like Delaware).

Number of Federal Government Hospitals by State

In Alaska, there is only one federal government hospital, making up 2.0% of all hospitals in the state.
California has the highest number of federal government hospitals with 14, accounting for 1.7% of all hospitals in the state.
In Connecticut, there are no federal government hospitals.
Delaware has no federal government hospitals either.
Hawaii also has no federal government hospitals.
In Maryland, there is only one federal government hospital that makes up 1.7% of all hospitals in the state.
Massachusetts has two federal government hospitals that make up only 2.9% of all hospitals in the state.
New Hampshire has no federal government hospitals.
New Jersey has three federal government hospitals that make up about 2.9% of all hospitals in the state.
Rhode Island also has no federal government hospitals.
Vermont has one federal government hospital facility that makes up just under 8% (7.7%) of all hospital facilities in Vermont.

These statistics show that while some states have a high proportion of these types of healthcare facilities (like California), others have very few (like Delaware and Rhode Island).

Hospitals are a significant employer

Hospitals are a significant source of employment in many countries. In the United States, hospitals employ over 5.5 million people, making them the largest employer in the healthcare sector.

The number of hospital beds is decreasing

The number of hospital beds per 1,000 people is decreasing in many countries. In the United States, the number of hospital beds per 1,000 people has decreased from 6.2 in 1975 to 2.8 in 2018.

Highest Diseases Treated in Hospitals

Heart disease: 12%
Pneumonia: 8%
Childbirth and pregnancy-related complications: 6%
Mental health disorders: 4%
COPD and other respiratory diseases: 3%
Stroke: 3%
Orthopedic issues and injuries: 3%
Sepsis: 2%

Number of Community Hospitals in Rural Areas

Approximately 60 million Americans live in rural areas, and there are around 2,000 rural hospitals in the United States.
According to the National Rural Health Association, 673 rural hospitals are at risk of closure, which could result in a significant reduction in access to healthcare for those living in these areas.
In rural areas, community hospitals make up around 40% of all acute care hospitals.

Hospital Deaths Statistics and Information

In the United States, hospital deaths account for around 20% of all deaths each year.
The most common causes of hospital deaths are heart disease, cancer, and respiratory failure.
A study published in the Journal of Patient Safety estimated that between 210,000 and 440,000 patients die each year in US hospitals due to preventable medical errors.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sepsis is responsible for around 270,000 deaths each year in US hospitals.

Global Hospital Surgery Statistics

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 312.9 million surgical procedures are performed each year worldwide.
The most common types of surgeries performed globally are cataract surgery, followed by cesarean sections and cardiac surgeries.
In low-income countries, only about 3.5% of the population has access to surgical care, compared to high-income countries where the figure is closer to 80%.
Complications from surgery occur in around 3-16% of cases, depending on the type of surgery and other factors.
About one-third of all deaths that occur within 30 days after surgery are due to complications related to anesthesia.
The global market for surgical instruments is projected to reach $11.7 billion by 2026, driven by factors such as an aging population and increasing demand for minimally invasive surgeries.

Top Hospital Spendings in the U.S.

The largest expense for hospitals in the United States is labor costs, which account for around 50% of total hospital spending.
Medical supplies and drugs are the second-largest expense, making up around 20% of total hospital spending.
Other expenses include facility maintenance and utilities (10%), medical equipment (5%), and insurance and legal fees (5%).
According to the American Hospital Association, uncompensated care - which includes charity care and bad debt - accounts for around 6% of total hospital spending.
In recent years, healthcare information technology has become an increasingly important area of hospital spending. Hospitals now spend around 2% of their budget on IT infrastructure such as electronic health records (EHRs) and telemedicine technology.

Doctors, Nurses to Patients Ratio

In the United States, there are approximately 2.6 doctors per 1,000 people and 11.1 nurses per 1,000 people.
In Canada, there are approximately 2.7 doctors per 1,000 people and 9.4 nurses per 1,000 people.
In the United Kingdom, there are approximately 2.8 doctors per 1,000 people and 7.9 nurses per 1,000 people.
In Germany, there are approximately 4.2 doctors per 1,000 people and 12.9 nurses per 1,000 people.
In Japan, there are approximately 2.5 doctors per 1,000 people and 12.7 nurses per 1,000 people.
In India, there are approximately 0.8 doctors per 1,000 people and only about one nurse for every ten hospital beds.
In Australia, there are approximately three doctors per 1,000 people and almost one nurse for every hundred residents.

Hospital Bed Count in the US

In 2018, there were approximately 924,000 hospital beds in the United States.
The number of hospital beds per capita has been decreasing over time. In 1975, there were approximately 4.5 hospital beds per 1,000 people. By 2018, this had decreased to just 2.8 hospital beds per 1,000 people.
The state with the highest number of hospital beds is California, with over 70,000 total beds.
Texas and Florida are also among the states with the highest number of hospital beds, with over 50,000 and 40,000 total beds respectively.
Vermont has the fewest hospital beds of any state in the US. As of 2018, there were only around 2,300 total hospital beds in the state.
The average occupancy rate for US hospitals is around 68%. This means that on any given day, roughly one-third of all hospital beds are unoccupied.
There is significant variation in occupancy rates across different types of hospitals and regions of the country. For example, rural hospitals tend to have lower occupancy rates than urban hospitals.