Where health care spending per person is highest

Understanding where health care spending per person is highest

Across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, health care per person spans from $15,425 in Alaska at the top of the list to $7,570 in Utah at the bottom. The three at the top are Alaska, the District of Columbia, and South Dakota; the three at the bottom are South Carolina, Nevada, and Utah.

Alaska and the District of Columbia spend the most on health care services per resident, over $15,000 a year in 2025. South Dakota, New York, West Virginia, and Delaware follow at about $13,000. Utah spends the least, about $7,600 per person, with Nevada, South Carolina, Texas, and Alabama also near the bottom. The US average is about $10,400.

This measure counts the value of health care services used by residents, whoever pays for it: households, employers through insurance, or Medicare and Medicaid. It is not a household medical bill. It rises with prices, with how much care people use, and with the age of the population: older states such as West Virginia and Delaware rank high, and Utah, the youngest state, ranks last. Alaska and the District of Columbia are younger than average, so their high figures reflect the price and use of care rather than age.

Health care services exclude prescription drugs and medical equipment, which BEA counts as goods. Figures are in current dollars and are not adjusted for regional prices, so part of the gap reflects the higher cost of care in expensive states.