Below is an overview of some of the most widely recognized global healthcare ranking indexes and reports published by prominent organizations and institutions.

These rankings assess healthcare systems based on a range of criteria, including quality, accessibility, cost efficiency, health outcomes, and infrastructure, providing valuable insights into their performance on a global scale.

According to the 2025 edition of the CEOWORLD Magazine Health Care Index,Taiwan once again ranks as the country with the best healthcare system globally, maintaining its top position with an overall score of 97.59.South Korea andAustralia remain in second and third place, respectively.

The index ranks 110 countries based on several critical factors: healthcare infrastructure, the competencies of medical professionals (including doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers), annual per capita healthcare costs in USD, availability of quality medicine, and government preparedness to manage health crises.

The index ranks 110 countries based on key factors such as healthcare infrastructure, the competencies of healthcare professionals (including doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers), annual per capita healthcare costs in USD, availability of quality medicine, and government readiness to address health crises.

The ten countries with the best healthcare are:

1. Taiwan (78.72)
2. South Korea (77.7)
3. Australia (74.11)
4. Canada (71.32)
5. Sweden (70.73)
6. Ireland (67.99)
7. Netherlands (65.38)
8. Germany (64.66)
9. Norway (64.63)
10. Israel (61.73)

Source:CEOWORLD Magazine

Notably, the top ten includes three Asian countries and five European nations, highlighting the diverse ways healthcare systems are structured across the globe.

Taiwan, for instance, is known for its efficient single-payer system that provides universal coverage and emphasizes prevention. South Korea ranks highly due to its use of advanced technology in healthcare and a strong national health insurance program. Meanwhile, Australia’s ranking is supported by its excellent healthcare infrastructure and effective public health policies.

The Commonwealth Fund regularly ranks the best healthcare systems in the world. Its eighth edition,Mirror, Mirror 2024: A Portrait of the Failing U.S. Health System, compares the performance of healthcare systems across several countries, with a particular focus on how the U.S. system measures up.

The report evaluates 70 measures, grouped into five main areas of healthcare performance: access to care, care process, administrative efficiency, equity, and health outcomes. It relies heavily on surveys conducted by the Commonwealth Fund in 2021, 2022, and 2023, which capture the perspectives of patients and healthcare professionals who experience the system firsthand.

The report also includes insights from global organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), the OECD, and Our World in Data, as well as national health records and academic research.

According to the 2024Mirror, Mirror report,Australia,the Netherlands, and theUnited Kingdom have the best healthcare systems, though the differences in overall performance among most countries are relatively small. In stark contrast,the United States ranks last, with its healthcare system performing dramatically lower than the others.

*Sweden's overall ranking calculation excludes the equity domain due to changes in Sweden’s privacy laws, which prevented income-related questions in recent international surveys, leading to its omission from this edition ofMirror, Mirror.

Source:The Commonwealth Fund

Notably, the U.S. has ranked last in everyMirror, Mirror report since 2006, marking eight consecutive years at the bottom despite its high levels of healthcare spending.

While the U.S. excels in areas like preventive services and patient safety, it consistently falls short in critical areas such as access to care, affordability, and health outcomes. This persistent underperformance highlights the broader systemic issues within the U.S. healthcare system.

The Legatum Institute, a London-based think tank, has also evaluated where to find the best healthcare in the world. Its most recent report,The Legatum Prosperity Index 2023, includes a "Health Pillar" that ranks 167 countries based on the overall health of their societies and the accessibility of tools to maintain health, including healthcare services.

Of course, in most countries, you'll need atravel insurance plan for short visits for up to one year or aninternational medical insurance plan if you want long-term medical coverage for a year or more to access these healthcare services.

According to the index,Singapore ranks first for healthcare, followed byJapan in second place andSouth Korea in third. In contrast, theUnited States ranks much lower, coming in at 69th place in this assessment.

The full rankings are listed below.

1. Singapore
2. Japan
3. South Korea
4. Taiwan
5. China
6. Israel
7. Norway
8. Iceland
9. Sweden
10. Switzerland
11. Netherlands
12. Luxembourg
13. Germany
14. Hong Kong
15. Finland
16. Denmark
17. Italy
18. Belgium
19. Malta
20. France
21. Australia
22. Austria
23. Ireland
24. Slovenia
25. New Zealand
26. Spain
27. Cuba
28. Czech Republic
29. Cyprus
30. Costa Rica
31. Thailand
32. Canada
33. UAE
34. United Kingdom
35. Uruguay
36. Colombia
37. Estonia
38. Qatar
39. Seychelles
40. Portugal
41. Greece
42. Malaysia
43. Kuwait
44. Vietnam
45. Slovakia
46. Hungary
47. Sri Lanka
48. Poland
49. Uzbekistan
50. Bahrain
51. Chile
52. Peru
53. Croatia
54. Turkmenistan
55. Oman
56. Saudi Arabia
57. Panama
58. Iran
59. Latvia
60. Argentina
61. Lithuania
62. Belarus
63. Turkey
64. Trinidad and Tobago
65. Bulgaria
66. Albania
67. Jamaica
68. Armenia
69. United States
70. Algeria
71. Mexico
72. Romania
73. Cabo Verde
74. Macedonia
75. Tajikistan
76. Kyrgyzstan
77. Kazakhstan
78. Nicaragua
79. Tunisia
80. Serbia
81. Mauritius
82. Ecuador
83. Brazil
84. Russia
85. Azerbaijan
86. Morocco
87. Indonesia
88. Paraguay
89. Dominican Republic
90. Georgia
91. Belize
92. Cambodia
93. Moldova
94. São Tomé and Príncipe
95. Bosnia-Herzegovina
96. Philippines
97. Venezuela
98. El Salvador
99. Honduras
100. Jordan
101. Ukraine
102. Lebanon
103. Montenegro
104. Guatemala

Source:Legatum Institute andProsperity.com

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1. Singapore
2. Japan
3. South Korea
4. Taiwan
5. China
6. Israel
7. Norway
8. Iceland
9. Sweden
10. Switzerland
11. Netherlands
12. Luxembourg
13. Germany
14. Hong Kong
15. Finland
16. Denmark
17. Italy
18. Belgium
19. Malta
20. France
21. Australia
22. Austria
23. Ireland
24. Slovenia
25. New Zealand
26. Spain
27. Cuba
28. Czech Republic
29. Cyprus
30. Costa Rica
31. Thailand
32. Canada
33. UAE
34. United Kingdom
35. Uruguay
36. Colombia
37. Estonia
38. Qatar
39. Seychelles
40. Portugal
41. Greece
42. Malaysia
43. Kuwait
44. Vietnam
45. Slovakia
46. Hungary
47. Sri Lanka
48. Poland
49. Uzbekistan
50. Bahrain
51. Chile
52. Peru
53. Croatia
54. Turkmenistan
55. Oman
56. Saudi Arabia
57. Panama
58. Iran
59. Latvia
60. Argentina
61. Lithuania
62. Belarus
63. Turkey
64. Trinidad and Tobago
65. Bulgaria
66. Albania
67. Jamaica
68. Armenia
69. United States
70. Algeria
71. Mexico
72. Romania
73. Cabo Verde
74. Macedonia
75. Tajikistan
76. Kyrgyzstan
77. Kazakhstan
78. Nicaragua
79. Tunisia
80. Serbia
81. Mauritius
82. Ecuador
83. Brazil
84. Russia
85. Azerbaijan
86. Morocco
87. Indonesia
88. Paraguay
89. Dominican Republic
90. Georgia
91. Belize
92. Cambodia
93. Moldova
94. São Tomé and Príncipe
95. Bosnia-Herzegovina
96. Philippines
97. Venezuela
98. El Salvador
99. Honduras
100. Jordan
101. Ukraine
102. Lebanon
103. Montenegro
104. Guatemala

Source:Legatum Institute andProsperity.com

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Based on insights from theMirror, Mirror 2024 report, and the2024 Best Countries rankings by U.S. News & World Report, the following countries are ranked among the best in Europe for healthcare.

• Netherlands
• Sweden
• Germany
• United Kingdom
• Switzerland
• France
• Denmark
• Finland
• Norway
• Luxembourg

This list combines findings from both reports, reflecting a range of factors such as access, equity, health outcomes, administrative efficiency, and the global perception of each country’s public health system.

Each country has its unique strengths, but together, they represent some of the most effective healthcare practices in Europe.

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While these European countries stand out for their comprehensive healthcare coverage, innovation, sustainability, and focus on preventive care, it’s important to keep in mind that public healthcare in some countries may involve long wait times for certain treatments or procedures.

Additionally, if you do not qualify for enrollment in a country’s public healthcare system, you may need to secure an international health insurance plan to cover your medical needs.

Private health insurance plans offer the advantage of shorter wait times, more treatment options, and access to high-quality care worldwide, making them an appealing choice for many.

The Commonwealth Fund's2025 Scorecard on State Health System Performance highlights that while many U.S. states have progressed, affordability remains a significant concern within the healthcare system.

The report also emphasizes ongoing public health challenges, including premature deaths from conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and drug overdoses, which continue to strain the healthcare system and overall health outcomes.

Visitors to the United States should know they will need an international health plan to cover their medical care, as the U.S. lacks universal healthcare coverage.

According to the Scorecard, the states with the best healthcare systems excel in healthcare access, quality, equity, and health outcomes. These states consistently rank at the top due to their strong healthcare infrastructure and positive health indicators:

1. Massachusetts
2. Hawaii
3. New Hampshire
4. Rhode Island
5. District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.)

Conversely, the states with the lowest-rated healthcare systems often face challenges such as limited access to care, higher rates of uninsured residents, and poorer health outcomes. These barriers contribute to significant disparities in healthcare access and health outcomes, which result in lower scores:

1. West Virginia
2. Arkansas
3. Oklahoma
4. Texas
5. Mississippi

Source:2025 Scorecard on State Health System Performance

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If you are considering visiting any foreign country and are concerned about access to quality health care, aninternational travel medical insurance plan should be a priority.

These plans cover emergency medical expenses, medical evacuation, repatriation, and other travel insurance benefits.

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According toThe Legatum Prosperity Index 2023, the following countries have the worst healthcare in the world. This list begins with the country with the worst healthcare system:

1. Central African Republic
2. South Sudan
3. Chad
4. Lesotho
5. Somalia
6. Sierra Leone
7. Swaziland
8. Liberia
9. Guinea
10. Angola
11. Nigeria
12. Equatorial Guinea

Explore our guides to the best health insurance options for international citizens and expats, based on the most popular destinations for people living abroad:

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Author / Editor:Joe Cronin, Founder and President ofInternational Citizens Insurance. Mr. Cronin, a former expat, is an authority in the areas of international travel, and global health, life, and travel insurance, with expertise in advising individuals and groups on benefits for today's global workforce. Follow him onLinkedIn orTwitter.