Japan spends a modest amount on healthcare by developed-world standards, at an estimated 9.8% of GDP in 2013 based on OECD definitions. This compares with an estimated 11.8% of GDP in Germany and 18% in the US. Japan's total healthcare spending reached an estimated US$48obn in 2013, making it the third-largest spender on healthcare in the world after the US and China.
The rapid ageing of the country's population is taking a toll on public finances: the rise in spending on healthcare in Japan will continue to outstrip GDP growth in the forecast period, exerting further pressure on both the budget deficit and the national debt.
Total spending on healthcare is expected to rise by an average of 3% a year in local-currency terms in 2014-18, reaching 10% of GDP by 2018. In US-dollar terms, healthcare expenditure fell by an estimated 16.6% in 2013, owing to the sharp fell in the value of the yen, but is forecast to grow by 2.5% a year on average in 2014-18.

Healthcare report 2

Healthcare spending 2

Healthcare provision 5

Pharma and biotech 6

Disease trends 10

Industry publishing schedule 14

中国科学技术信息研究所