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2026-10-25 02:18:20

A Global Look at Who Funds the United Nations

The United Nations relies on government funding for everything from peacekeeping to humanitarian assistance. Contributions include mandatory assessments and voluntary funding, which allows governments to support specific agencies and programs.

This visualization, created by Iswardi Ishak, maps government contributions to the UN system using 2025 figures attributed to the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB).

Which Countries Contribute the Most?

The following table ranks government contributions to the UN system, combining assessed contributions, voluntary funding, and other revenue. All figures are in millions of U.S. dollars.

Rank	Country/Territory	Total Contributions (in USD Millions)
1	United States of America	7,094
2	Germany	3,462
3	China	2,726
4	United Kingdom	2,518
5	Japan	2,171
6	Sweden	1,720
7	Canada	1,511
8	Norway	1,414
9	Netherlands	1,297
10	South Korea	1,265
11	France	1,139
12	Italy	1,086
13	Switzerland	764
14	Denmark	753
15	Australia	676
16	Brazil	631
17	Saudi Arabia	628
18	Spain	624
19	Colombia	621
20	Belgium	508
21	Argentina	492
22	Russia	451
23	Ireland	387
24	Finland	338
25	Austria	233
26	Guatemala	224
27	Luxembourg	215
28	India	211
29	Qatar	209
30	New Zealand	181
31	Iran	180
32	Honduras	178
33	United Arab Emirates	177
34	Peru	170
35	South Sudan	163
36	Somalia	163
37	Panama	157
38	Bangladesh	154
39	Ecuador	148
40	Mexico	145
41	Türkiye	133
42	Kuwait	132
43	Gabon	130
44	Greece	112
45	Poland	108
46	Indonesia	96
47	Haiti	84
48	Chile	84
49	Singapore	84
50	Dominican Republic	81
51	Central African Republic	79
52	Israel	78
53	Portugal	68
54	Nigeria	66
55	Uzbekistan	66
56	Uruguay	61
57	Democratic Republic of the Congo	57
58	Czechia	56
59	Cyprus	53
60	Iceland	52
61	Cuba	52
62	Egypt	52
63	Mozambique	51
64	Pakistan	49
65	Kazakhstan	49
66	Nicaragua	47
67	Paraguay	45
68	Dominica	44
69	Angola	44
70	Costa Rica	44
71	Thailand	43
72	Ethiopia	42
73	Hungary	42
74	South Africa	41
75	Romania	41
76	Morocco	40
77	Malaysia	40
78	Chad	39
79	Philippines	34
80	Bolivia	34
81	Turkmenistan	33
82	El Salvador	31
83	Lebanon	31
84	Iraq	31
85	Niger	30
86	Serbia	27
87	Kenya	27
88	Slovakia	26
89	Madagascar	25
90	Montenegro	23
91	Cameroon	23
92	Zambia	22
93	Malawi	22
94	Burkina Faso	22
95	Côte d'Ivoire	21
96	Oman	21
97	Burundi	20
98	Jordan	20
99	Azerbaijan	19
100	Croatia	18
101	Slovenia	18
102	Venezuela	18
103	Viet Nam	17
104	Trinidad and Tobago	17
105	Ukraine	14
106	Sudan	13
107	Benin	13
108	Libya	13
109	Myanmar	13
110	Monaco	13
111	Bulgaria	12
112	Guinea	12
113	Liberia	11
114	North Macedonia	11
115	Lithuania	10
116	Kyrgyzstan	10
117	Cambodia	10
118	Algeria	10
119	Bosnia and Herzegovina	9.4
120	China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region	9.2
121	Sierra Leone	9.2
122	Mauritania	8.3
123	Estonia	8.3
124	Mongolia	7.7
125	Malta	7.7
126	Guinea-Bissau	7.5
127	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	7.0
128	Barbados	7.0
129	Bahrain	6.9
130	Latvia	6.8
131	United Republic of Tanzania	6.7
132	Marshall Islands	6.6
133	Equatorial Guinea	6.5
134	State of Palestine	6.4
135	Senegal	6.3
136	Belarus	5.9
137	Sri Lanka	5.7
138	Nepal	5.6
139	Timor-Leste	5.5
140	Botswana	5.5
141	Bahamas	5.3
142	Mali	5.0
143	Syria	4.9
144	Liechtenstein	4.9
145	Namibia	4.5
146	Sao Tome and Principe	4.5
147	Uganda	4.5
148	Ghana	4.4
149	Papua New Guinea	4.2
150	Tunisia	4.0
151	Guyana	3.9
152	Gambia	3.9
153	Taiwan	3.8
154	Kosovo	3.7
155	Moldova	3.7
156	Afghanistan	3.7
157	Jamaica	3.5
158	Fiji	3.5
159	Albania	3.4
160	Rwanda	3.4
161	Brunei Darussalam	3.2
162	Armenia	3.1
163	Mauritius	3.0
164	Georgia	3.0
165	Laos	2.9
166	Congo	2.9
167	Tajikistan	2.5
168	Solomon Islands	2.4
169	Lesotho	2.4
170	Eswatini	2.4
171	Vanuatu	2.2
172	Seychelles	2.2
173	Djibouti	2.0
174	Belize	1.9
175	Jersey	1.8
176	Samoa	1.7
177	Suriname	1.4
178	Maldives	1.3
179	Sint Maarten (Dutch part)	1.3
180	Andorra	1.3
181	Bhutan	1.1
182	China, Macao Special Administrative Region	1.0
183	Cabo Verde	0.9
184	Antigua and Barbuda	0.8
185	Togo	0.8
186	Zimbabwe	0.8
187	Yemen	0.8
188	Comoros	0.8
189	San Marino	0.7
190	Tuvalu	0.6
191	Saint Lucia	0.6
192	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	0.6
193	Saint Kitts and Nevis	0.5
194	Grenada	0.5
195	Eritrea	0.5
196	Aruba	0.4
197	Palau	0.4
198	New Caledonia	0.4
199	Cook Islands	0.3
200	Bermuda	0.3
201	Curaçao	0.3
202	Holy See	0.3
203	Tonga	0.3
204	Guernsey	0.3
205	Cayman Islands	0.3
206	Kiribati	0.2
207	Nauru	0.2
208	Micronesia (Federated States of)	0.2
209	Montserrat	0.2
210	Turks and Caicos Islands	0.2
211	Tokelau	0.2
212	Puerto Rico	0.1
213	British Virgin Islands	0.1
214	Anguilla	0.1
215	Niue	0.1
216	Faroe Islands	0.03
217	French Polynesia	0.02
--	Total	40,751

European countries account for seven of the top 10 contributors, highlighting the region’s substantial role in financing the UN system. Germany leads Europe, while Sweden, Norway, and the Netherlands contribute more than several much larger economies.

India contributes $211 million, compared with China’s $2.7 billion, illustrating the significant differences in UN funding among the world’s most populous countries.

How Are UN Contributions Calculated?

UN funding combines mandatory assessments with voluntary contributions. Assessments reflect countries’ capacity to pay, factoring in gross national income, debt, and income per capita.

The UN’s regular budget caps individual assessments at 22%, a ceiling reached by the United States. Peacekeeping uses a separate formula, with higher rates for permanent Security Council members. U.S. law also generally limits American peacekeeping contributions to 25%.

These assessment caps do not apply to voluntary funding, which supports agencies such as UNICEF and the World Food Programme.

What Does America Gain From Funding the UN?

For Washington, UN funding supports diplomatic influence, humanitarian objectives, and international stability. Multilateral peacekeeping also helps distribute security costs among countries, complementing the role of mutual defense alliances.

However, financial contributions do not directly translate into voting power. Every General Assembly member receives one vote, regardless of how much it contributes.

The Security Council’s five permanent members hold veto powers, providing a separate source of institutional influence. Meanwhile, governments can earmark voluntary contributions for specific programs, helping shape which humanitarian and development priorities receive funding.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

For another perspective on the UN’s global standing, explore Which Countries Trust (and Distrust) the UN? to see how public confidence varies around the world.

2026-10-25 00:24:27

Which Countries Have the Highest Online Gambling Rates?

Online gambling is a global industry, but some of the countries with the highest participation rates may come as a surprise.

The ranking includes countries with very different gambling regulations and market sizes, highlighting how widely online betting habits can differ around the world.

This visualization ranks 48 markets by the share of internet users aged 16 and older who visited an online gambling or betting website or app in the previous month.

Online Gambling Participation by Country

The data comes from GWI’s Q2 2025 survey, published in the Digital 2026 Global Overview Report. The percentages reflect online gambling participation among internet users aged 16 and older, not the general population.

South Africa leads the ranking at 32.3%, narrowly ahead of Norway at 31.2%. Greece follows at 25.8%, while New Zealand ranks fourth at 24.0%.

The table below shows online gambling participation across all 48 surveyed markets.

Rank	Country / territory	Monthly use (%)
1	South Africa	32.3%
2	Norway	31.2%
3	Greece	25.8%
4	New Zealand	24.0%
5	Ghana	21.5%
5	Hungary	21.5%
7	United Kingdom	19.6%
8	Brazil	19.0%
9	Austria	18.7%
10	Australia	18.0%
10	Nigeria	18.0%
12	Chile	16.6%
13	Kenya	16.0%
14	Portugal	15.8%
15	Croatia	15.5%
16	Thailand	15.0%
17	Hong Kong	14.9%
18	Ireland	14.8%
19	Serbia	14.4%
20	Belgium	14.3%
20	Canada	14.3%
22	Colombia	13.8%
22	Denmark	13.8%
24	Romania	13.7%
25	Mexico	13.3%
26	Germany	13.2%
27	France	12.7%
28	Argentina	12.5%
28	Sweden	12.5%
30	Spain	12.0%
30	Switzerland	12.0%
32	Bulgaria	11.9%
33	Philippines	11.5%
34	Turkey	11.1%
35	Netherlands	10.9%
36	Singapore	10.6%
37	Poland	10.4%
38	United States	10.2%
39	Italy	10.1%
40	Czechia	9.9%
41	India	7.6%
42	Japan	7.5%
43	Morocco	7.3%
44	Russia	7.0%
45	Israel	6.8%
46	Taiwan	6.5%
47	Vietnam	5.7%
48	South Korea	2.7%

Ghana and Hungary are tied at 21.5%, rounding out the top six. The United Kingdom (19.6%) and Brazil (19.0%) also rank relatively high.

The United States sits further down the list at 10.2%, below Canada (14.3%). Vietnam (5.7%) and Taiwan (6.5%) are also among the lowest-ranking markets.

South Africa’s Booming Gambling Industry

South Africa’s gambling industry has expanded rapidly in recent years, driven largely by the growth of sports betting and online platforms.

According to the National Gambling Board, gambling turnover reached R1.1 trillion during the 2023/24 financial year, while gross gambling revenue rose 25.7% to R59.3 billion.

Betting accounted for roughly 61% of gambling revenue that year, overtaking casinos as the industry’s largest segment. These figures measure gambling activity and revenue rather than the number of online users, but highlight the scale of South Africa’s betting market.

Norway’s High Participation Despite Strict Regulations

Norway has one of Europe’s more tightly regulated gambling markets, making its position near the top of the ranking particularly notable.

Major gambling activities are controlled by Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto, with the former imposing mandatory loss limits and monitoring players for potentially harmful gambling behavior.

Foreign gambling platforms also face restrictions, including payment blocking and website blocking introduced in 2025. Norway’s high participation rate highlights how strict regulation of gambling operators can coexist with widespread participation.

Online Gambling Varies Widely Within Regions

Some of the largest differences in online gambling participation occur between countries in the same region.

In Africa, South Africa’s participation rate is more than four times Morocco’s 7.3%. Europe shows a similar divide, with Norway reporting nearly three times the rate of the Netherlands (10.9%).

Several other African markets rank relatively high, including Ghana (21.5%), Nigeria (18.0%), and Kenya (16.0%). In South America, Brazil leads the surveyed markets at 19.0%, ahead of Chile (16.6%) and Colombia (13.8%).

How Does the United States Compare?

Despite its large gambling industry, the United States has a relatively low monthly online gambling participation rate compared with several other developed markets.

However, participation rates tell a different story from market size. In our earlier ranking of the world’s largest online gambling markets, the U.S. placed second globally by revenue in 2021, behind only the UK.

A country can have a relatively small share of internet users gambling online while still generating substantial revenue. Ultimately, the GWI survey measures how widespread online gambling activity is, rather than how much money is wagered.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed this visualization, check out America’s Sports Betting Boom on the Voronoi app.

2026-10-24 22:08:14

Which Countries Have the Best Computing Skills?

As artificial intelligence reshapes the workplace, students’ ability to solve problems using logic and computational thinking is becoming increasingly valuable.

This visualization ranks countries and economies by the computational problem-solving performance of their 15-year-old students, using the OECD’s PISA 2025 results, published in September 2026.

The assessment evaluates skills such as logical reasoning, modeling, and algorithmic thinking rather than simply knowing how to use a computer.

Ranking Countries by Computing Skills

The following table shows average computational problem-solving scores from PISA 2025. Scores represent assessment points, not the percentage of students who are computer literate.

Rank	Country / Economy	Mean Score (PISA points)
1	Macao (China)	572
2	Singapore	563
3	B-S-J-Z (China)	560
4	Japan	557
5	Chinese Taipei	551
6	Hong Kong (China)	545
7	Estonia	541
8	South Korea	538
9	Australia	532
10	New Zealand*	531
11	Canada*	525
12	United Kingdom	523
13	Switzerland	520
14	Czechia	517
15	United States*	513
16	Lithuania	512
17	Ireland	511
18	Austria	509
19	Belgium	508
20	Latvia	507
21	Poland	507
22	Finland	507
23	Netherlands*	506
24	Denmark	506
25	Luxembourg	506
26	Sweden	503
27	Portugal	501
28	Spain	499
29	Germany	498
30	France	497
31	Slovak Republic	497
32	Brunei Darussalam	496
33	Hungary	495
34	Norway*	491
35	Italy	490
36	Iceland	490
37	Slovenia	486
38	Malaysia	484
39	Ukrainian regions (17 of 27)	478
40	Thailand	476
41	United Arab Emirates	476
42	Türkiye	473
43	Chile	466
44	Croatia	464
45	Malta	463
46	Uruguay	462
47	Viet Nam	461
48	Greece	461
49	Mexico	453
50	Moldova	452
51	Qatar	452
52	Costa Rica	452
53	Kazakhstan	449
54	Israel	444
55	Mongolia	443
56	Romania	442
57	Serbia	437
58	Albania*	437
59	Peru	436
60	Philippines	434
61	Colombia	432
62	Cyprus	427
63	Indonesia	427
64	Saudi Arabia	426
65	Bulgaria	425
66	Montenegro	423
67	Ecuador	422
68	Georgia	413
69	Jordan	408
70	Brazil	406
71	Argentina	403
72	Uzbekistan	402
73	El Salvador	401
74	Palestinian Authority	393
75	North Macedonia	389
76	Azerbaijan	388
77	Kyrgyzstan	388
78	Dominican Republic	379
79	Morocco	374
80	Guatemala	369
81	Kosovo	359
82	Lebanon	358
83	Armenia	354
84	Paraguay	352
85	Kenya	278

Note: China refers to Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. An asterisk indicates sampling limitations. Scores are averages for participating education systems.

Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong round out the top six, while Estonia leads Europe with 541 points. Australia and New Zealand also rank among the top 10, highlighting strong performance beyond East Asia.

Why Does Asia Dominate the Rankings?

East Asian education systems also perform strongly in international mathematics rankings, suggesting that foundational mathematical reasoning may complement computational problem-solving.

Educational expectations, curriculum design, and sustained investment in technical education may help explain the pattern. A Brookings analysis also highlights the importance of academic culture and domestic STEM talent development in China’s technological advancement.

However, these rankings do not establish which educational policies directly contribute to stronger results.

Does Better Internet Access Mean Better Computing Skills?

Widespread internet access does not automatically translate into stronger computational problem-solving skills.

For example, the UAE has internet penetration exceeding 99%, according to internet access statistics, yet scores 476 points in this assessment.

The OECD also finds that moderate educational technology use is associated with stronger academic performance, while excessive use and digital distractions are associated with weaker outcomes.

Ultimately, computational proficiency depends not just on access to technology, but on how it supports learning, alongside foundational skills such as mathematics and reading comprehension.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

For another perspective on global education, see Comparing Education Levels Across 45 Countries, which explores educational attainment across countries worldwide.

2026-10-24 20:07:49

How Common Is Your Birthday in America?

Have you ever wondered how many people share your birthday?

Some birthdays are far more common than others, with seasonal trends and major holidays helping shape the calendar. The differences can be striking, even between dates just a few days apart.

This visualization ranks all 366 calendar dates by total U.S. births, from 1 (most common) to 366 (least common). It draws on 142.6 million births recorded between 1989 and 2024 by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), compiled by RareBirthday.

Want to know where your birthday ranks? Scroll to the bottom of the article for a searchable, sortable table of all 366 dates.

The 25 Most Common Birthdays in America

September dominates the top of the ranking, claiming eight of the first 10 spots. September 9 takes first place, followed by September 20, September 19, and September 14. July 7 breaks the pattern in fifth place, while December 28 ranks sixth despite falling during the year-end holiday period.

The table below shows the 25 most common birthdays.

Why September Dominates the Birthday Calendar

September’s birthday boom is often attributed to conceptions during the winter holidays. But research suggests the explanation goes beyond when people choose to start a family.

A 2020 study following more than 14,000 women in North America and Denmark found that participants were most likely to begin trying for a pregnancy in September. However, after accounting for that timing, their chances of conceiving in a given menstrual cycle peaked in late fall and early winter. The seasonal difference was strongest in the southern United States.

That distinction matters: when people start trying and when they conceive do not necessarily follow the same pattern. The findings suggest September’s popularity reflects a combination of pregnancy planning and seasonal variation in conception, rather than holiday timing alone.

How Holidays Change When Babies Are Born

Excluding February 29, Christmas Day is the rarest birthday, followed by New Year’s Day and Christmas Eve. Independence Day is the fourth rarest among dates that occur every year, while November 24–27 also appear among the 25 least common birthdays overall.

Holiday dips can reflect births shifting to nearby dates. A study using California birth records found approximately 18% fewer births on holidays and the following day. Researchers traced the displaced births to a window stretching from 11 days before the holiday to 16 days afterward.

This offers a possible explanation for December’s contrast. Delivery scheduling can contribute to both a holiday lull and higher birth counts on surrounding dates, although the ranking cannot establish how much it explains December 28’s unusually high position.

Thanksgiving also differs from Christmas in an important way: its date moves each year. Any Thanksgiving-related dip is therefore spread across several late-November dates in a multiyear ranking, rather than concentrated on one fixed date.

Find Your Birthday: All 366 Dates Ranked

The complete ranking includes all 366 calendar dates, including February 29, which ranks last largely because it occurs only once every four years. The rankings are based on total births between 1989 and 2024, without adjusting for how often each date occurred.

Use the searchable, sortable table below to find your birthday and see how it compares with the rest of the calendar.

For a broader perspective on births around the world, see our visualization of how many babies are born every hour by country.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed this visualization, check out Total Fertility Rates By Country on the Voronoi app.

2026-10-24 01:49:04

Where Are Starbucks Stores Located Around the World?

From major cities to smaller markets, Starbucks has built a global presence spanning nearly 90 markets.

This visualization, created by Iswardi Ishak, maps Starbucks locations worldwide using the company’s Q3 2026 figures, including licensed and company-operated stores.

Which Countries Have the Most Starbucks Stores?

The following table ranks countries by Starbucks locations, based on Starbucks’ Quarterly Results and Supplemental Data.

Market	Store Count (Q3 FY24)	Store Count (Q3 FY26)	Two-Year Change
U.S.	16,730	16,933	203
China	7,306	8,103	797
South Korea	1,937	2,174	237
Japan	1,948	2,138	190
Canada	1,468	1,438	(30)
United Kingdom	1,327	1,377	50
Mexico	850	968	118
Turkey	716	780	64
Taiwan	567	614	47
Indonesia	609	592	(17)
Thailand	501	574	73
Philippines	460	530	70
India	438	499	61
Saudi Arabia	476	417	(59)
UAE - Dubai	316	317	1
Malaysia	408	272	(136)
France	252	243	(9)
Spain	173	195	22
Kuwait	206	195	(11)
Germany	163	185	22
Chile	167	180	13
Hong Kong/Macau	183	177	(6)
Vietnam	112	156	44
Singapore	152	138	(14)
Argentina	132	135	3
Peru	118	129	11
Brazil	128	112	(16)
Australia	70	98	28
Poland	76	96	20
Netherlands	102	93	(9)
Ireland	89	79	(10)
South Africa	69	75	6
Egypt	79	74	(5)
Colombia	71	72	1
Romania	60	64	4
Czech Republic	56	61	5
Cambodia	46	59	13
Qatar	68	58	(10)
Switzerland	56	54	(2)
Italy	40	51	11
Bahrain	50	46	(4)
Kazakhstan	38	42	4
New Zealand	38	42	4
Greece	39	39	-
Hungary	39	39	-
Puerto Rico	33	36	3
Portugal	28	34	6
Lebanon	39	34	(5)
El Salvador	24	33	9
Costa Rica	26	32	6
Belgium	36	32	(4)
Guatemala	21	27	6
Panama	16	20	4
Trinidad and Tobago	17	20	3
Norway	22	20	(2)
Uruguay	16	19	3
Austria	23	19	(4)
Bulgaria	16	18	2
Cyprus	17	18	1
Malta	17	18	1
Slovakia	12	17	5
Denmark	17	17	-
Dominican Republic	8	16	8
Bahamas	14	16	2
Morocco	18	15	(3)
Jordan	28	15	(13)
Jamaica	14	14	-
Oman	19	12	(7)
Azerbaijan	7	9	2
Serbia	7	9	2
Ecuador	-	8	8
Barbados	5	7	2
Bolivia	7	7	-
Laos	5	6	1
Paraguay	3	5	2
Aruba	5	5	-
Honduras	-	4	4
Finland	5	4	(1)
Luxembourg	5	4	(1)
Andorra	2	3	1
Sweden	3	3	-
Gibraltar	-	2	2
Iceland	-	2	2
Cayman Islands	2	2	-
Curacao	2	2	-
Guyana	2	2	-
Monaco	2	2	-
Brunei	4	2	(2)
Turks and Caicos	1	1	-

The U.S. leads with 16,933 stores, followed by China with 8,103. South Korea (2,174) and Japan (2,138) rank next, while Canada rounds out the top five with 1,438 locations.

Together, the U.S., Canada, and Mexico account for nearly half of Starbucks’ global footprint, reflecting the chain’s North American roots and decades of expansion. Meanwhile, South Korea and Japan each have more stores than any individual European market, highlighting Starbucks’ strong presence in Asia.

Where Is Starbucks Growing and Shrinking?

China led Starbucks’ expansion between Q3 2024 and Q3 2026, adding 797 locations despite fierce competition from domestic coffee chains. That’s nearly four times the increase recorded in the U.S. (+203). South Korea (+237) and Japan (+190) also posted substantial gains.

Meanwhile, Malaysia (-136), Saudi Arabia (-59), and Canada (-30) experienced the largest declines. Boycotts linked to the Gaza conflict have pressured Starbucks in Malaysia and parts of the Middle East, including Jordan and Kuwait. However, store closures cannot be attributed solely to boycotts.

In Canada, intensifying competition from independent cafés and lower-priced alternatives has challenged Starbucks’ traditional position as a community gathering place.

Is Starbucks Still Profitable?

Despite store closures in certain markets, Starbucks remains profitable. Its Q3 2026 financial results reported $9.3 billion in quarterly revenue, with global comparable-store sales increasing 7.9%.

However, revenue declined 1.4% year-over-year, partly reflecting the transition of its Chinese operations to a licensed joint-venture model. With 67% of stores now licensed, Starbucks increasingly relies on partners to operate locations, reducing its direct involvement in day-to-day store operations.

As the global coffee industry evolves, Starbucks’ future growth will depend on balancing international expansion, local competition, and changing consumer preferences.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

For another perspective on consumer spending, check out Ranked: Where Eating Out Costs the Most and Least, which compares dining costs across different markets.

2026-10-24 00:12:43

Which Countries Visit the Doctor Most Often?

How often do you visit the doctor? Depending on where you live, the answer could be a few times a year or more than once a month.

These differences reflect how healthcare systems operate, from the cost of appointments to how doctors are paid and who provides routine care.

This graphic ranks 40 countries by average annual in-person doctor consultations per person, using the latest data from OECD Health Statistics. Figures cover visits to both general practitioners and specialists.

South Koreans See a Doctor 18 Times a Year

South Korea tops the ranking with 18 doctor visits per person annually, the equivalent of one visit roughly every three weeks. That’s six more visits than second-place Japan (12) and nine times as many as last-place Mexico (2).

Much of the gap comes down to how care is delivered. Korean doctors are paid mostly per service, and short consultations let them see more patients. According to the OECD, most Koreans can get primary care on the same day, even without an appointment.

The table below ranks all 40 countries by average annual doctor visits per person, along with the year of each country’s latest data:

Rank	Country	Annual Doctor Visits per Person
1	South Korea	18
2	Japan	12
3	Türkiye	12
4	Netherlands	11
5	Germany	10
6	Hungary	10
7	Italy	9
8	Lithuania	9
9	Moldova	8
10	Montenegro	8
11	Poland	8
12	Belgium	8
12	Czech Republic	8
14	Cyprus	8
15	Serbia	8
16	Colombia	7
17	Bulgaria	7
18	Israel	7
19	Croatia	7
20	Australia	6
20	Spain	6
22	Slovenia	6
23	Romania	6
24	Luxembourg	6
25	Canada	5
26	France	5
27	Denmark	5
28	Chile	5
29	Switzerland	5
30	Norway	4
30	Portugal	4
32	Thailand	4
33	Estonia	4
34	U.S.	4
35	Finland	3
36	Greece	3
37	Malta	2
37	Sweden	2
39	Costa Rica	2
40	Mexico	2

Figures are rounded.

Japan (12) and Germany (10) also rank near the top, and like South Korea, both pay doctors mostly per service. Germany’s figure is an undercount: it tallies treatment cases rather than visits, with each case counting only the first contact with a doctor in a three-month period.

Türkiye has seen the steepest rise in the data. Annual doctor visits quadrupled from three per person in 2000 to 12 in 2024, putting the country alongside Japan and just behind South Korea.

The increase followed the Health Transformation Programme, launched in 2003, which tied doctors’ pay to their performance starting in 2004 and introduced universal health insurance in 2008. A joint OECD and World Bank review found large increases in consultations per doctor after the pay change.

Does How Doctors Are Paid Affect Visit Figures?

At the other end of the ranking, Mexico, Costa Rica, Malta, and Sweden report the fewest visits, at about two per person each.

How doctors are paid is one factor. Countries that pay doctors mainly through salaries or a fixed fee per patient, such as Denmark (5), Finland (3), Mexico, and Sweden, tend to report fewer consultations than those that pay per service.

The U.S. is an exception. Its doctors are also paid mostly per service, yet Americans averaged about four visits in 2023, essentially unchanged since 2000. The OECD points to the high copayments many Americans face, which can lead patients to skip visits because of the cost of care.

Who delivers care matters too. In Finland and Sweden, nurses play a larger role in primary care, managing chronic conditions and minor health problems that might otherwise require a doctor’s visit. Swedish doctors tend to focus on more severe and complex cases.

The figures also exclude remote consultations in most countries. In 2023, more than a quarter of doctor consultations in Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, and Portugal took place remotely, meaning their in-person totals understate overall contact with doctors.

Ultimately, more doctor visits don’t necessarily mean better healthcare. The ranking reflects differences in how countries organize, deliver, and pay for medical care, not simply how healthy their populations are.

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