# data[].attributes.body
Mexico offers public and private insurance but has three tiers within its system. ⁽²¹⁾

Citizens who qualify for IMSS (Mexican Social Security program) or Seguro Popular (program for those who don't qualify for IMSS) use public insurance. In contrast, the rest of their citizens who can afford private insurance use that route instead. ⁽²¹⁾

IMSS insurance is only for citizens who work for Mexican companies and covers both private and public sectors ⁽²¹⁾

Seguro Popular covers mainly unemployed, homeless, or citizens with exclusionary medical conditions. ⁽²¹⁾

The percentage of uninsured citizens is around 59.9% ⁽²⁵⁾

Out of all of the OECD countries, Mexico has one of the lowest per capita healthcare expenditures. ⁽²¹⁾

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-Life Expectancy:

Both sexes: 77.5 years (22)

Males: 74.8 years (22)

Females: 80.2 years (22)

-Infant Mortality:

5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births ⁽²³⁾

-Fertility Rate:

1.7 births per women ⁽²⁴⁾

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-Life Expectancy:

Both sexes: 75 years (22)

Males: 72 years ⁽²²⁾

Females: 78 years ⁽²²⁾

-Infant Mortality:

11 deaths per 1,000 live births ⁽²³⁾

-Fertility Rate:

1.8 births per women ⁽²⁴⁾

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The United States also has private and public healthcare delivery. (12)

It is mostly private, consisting of private hospitals, clinics, and individual practitioners. (12)

Approximately 4.3 nurses per doctor (Nurse-to-doctor ratio, 2021). Considered relatively high compared to global averages. ⁽¹³⁾

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Public hospitals may lack resources and staff.

Long wait times in government facilities.

Rural areas have limited access to specialists.

Patients often pay out-of-pocket for better private care.⁽¹⁸⁾

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High quality care with advanced facilities, especially in private hospitals.

No universal healthcare - access depends on insurance.

High healthcare costs.

Rural areas may also lack quality access.⁽¹⁶⁾

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17.36% of GDP in 2021 ⁽¹⁰⁾

Note: The latest official data on Healthcare Expenditures (% of GDP) in Mexico is from 2021, whereas more recent figures are available for the U.S.

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Leader in medical research and innovation

Widespread use of high-end medical equipment and technologies.

Advanced electronic health records and telemedicine services. (17)

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Shorter wait times for procedures in private care.

Access to world-class medical professionals and hospitals.

Advanced technology and research-based treatment options. ⁽¹⁷⁾

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Chronic non-communicable conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. ⁽⁵⁾

36.9% of adults is obese (2023) ⁽²⁷⁾

14.7% of adults smoke (2022) ⁽⁶⁾

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2021

#1 Diseases of Heart (695,547 deaths)

#2 Malignant Neoplasms (605,213 deaths)

#3 COVID-19 (416,893 deaths) (1) (3)

Note:The latest official data on leading causes of death in Mexico is from 2021, whereas more recent figures are available for the U.S.

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Factors such as income inequality, racial disparities and geographic disparities influence health outcomes.

The U.S. has the highest rate of gun related deaths, leading cause of death for children and teens, surpassing car accidents in recent years.

Communities affected by frequent gun violence also experience higher rates of mental health issues, including PTSD and anxiety.

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- Income Level: The United States is classified as a high-income country. Approximately 11.1% of the population was at risk of poverty in 2023.⁽⁸⁾

- GNI per Capita: $80,450 USD in 2023. ⁽⁹⁾

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Population: 340.1 million

- Median Age: Approximately 38.5 years as of 2020.

- Population Aged 65 and Over: About 16% as of 2020. ⁽¹⁴⁾

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Population: 131.7 million

- Median Age: Approximately 31.9 years as of 2020.

- Population Aged 65 and Over: About 7.5% as of 2020.⁽¹⁵⁾

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- Income Level: Mexico is classified as an upper-middle-income country by the World Bank. Approximately 36.3% of the population was at risk of poverty in 2022.⁽⁸⁾

- GNI per capita: $11,980.00 USD in 2023. ⁽⁹⁾

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High emigration rates, particularly to the United States, impacting family structures and social support systems.

Ongoing conflict between drug cartels and government forces contributes to high rates of homicide, mental trauma, and displacement.

Many communities experience limited access to healthcare due to insecurity.

Healthcare workers in cartel controlled areas may be threatened or forced to escape, disrupting services.

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2021

#1 COVID-19 (237,829 deaths)

#2 Ischaemic heart disease (171,548 deaths)

#3 Diabetes mellitus (137,116 deaths) ⁽²⁾

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Chronic non-communicable conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. ⁽⁴⁾

40.3% of adults is obese (2021-2023) ⁽⁷⁾

19.3% of adults smoke (2022) ⁽⁶⁾

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Universal coverage for citizens.

Low out-of-pocket costs.

Cheaper medications and procedures.

Medical tourism is popular. ⁽¹⁸⁾

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Limited access to cutting-edge medical technology in public hospitals.

Private hospitals have modern equipment, often simital to U.S. standards.

Growing use of telemedicine and digital records. ⁽¹⁶⁾

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6.08% of GDP in 2021 ⁽¹⁰⁾

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Offers universal healthcare through public programs (IMSS, INSABI, Seguro Popular).

Many private hospitals offer high-quality care, especially in urban areas.

Quality varies between rural and urban locations.

More affordable services, but sometimes longer wait times.(16) (18)

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Very expensive, even with insurance.

Many uninsured or underinsured individuals.

Administrative complexity.

Inequality in access to healthcare. (17)

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Approximately 70-80% of medical services are provided by public health institutions. ⁽¹¹⁾

Private institutions serve 25-30% of the population. ⁽¹¹⁾

Approximately 1.2 nurses per doctor (Nurse-to-doctor ratio, 2021). This is considered low compared to international standards. ⁽¹³⁾

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In mexico small private hospitals, often operating with short limited budgets, opt for used or repaired equipment. This is legally prohibited for public hospitals.

Some agreements allow U.S. providers to offer specialized care like cancer and cardiac treatment in Mexico or by treating patients in the U.S.

Many Americans go to Mexico for affordable dental or medical treatments (medical tourism).

Compared to the U.S., Mexico spends less per capita on healthcare but provides coverage to more people.

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(1) NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS. (2023). CDC. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db492-tables.pdf#4

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(2) Country details. (n.d.). Mortality DB. https://platform.who.int/mortality/countries/country-details/MDB/mexico

(3) Curtin, S. C., Tejada-Vera, B., Bastian, B. A., U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, & National Vital Statistics System. (2024). Deaths: leading causes for 2021. In National Vital Statistics Reports (No. 4; Vol. 73). https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr73/nvsr73-04.pdf

(4) Benavidez GA, Zahnd WE, Hung P, Eberth JM. Chronic Disease Prevalence in the US: Sociodemographic and Geographic Variations by Zip Code Tabulation Area. Prev Chronic Dis 2024;21:230267. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd21.230267

(5) World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, Miguel Á González Block, Hortensia Reyes Morales, Lucero Cahuana Hurtado. et al. (‎2020)‎. Mexico: health system review. World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/334334

(6) Mexico | Tobacco Atlas. (n.d.). Tobacco Atlas. https://tobaccoatlas.org/factsheets/mexico/#:~:text=Adult%20smoking%20prevalence%20in%20Mexico%20is%2014.7%25.&text=Number%20of%20adult%20smokers%20in%20Mexico%20is%2014%2C376%2C495

(7) Emmerich SD, Fryar CD, Stierman B, Ogden CL. Obesity and severe obesity prevalence in adults: United States, August 2021–August 2023. NCHS Data Brief, no 508. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2024. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc/159281.

(8) United Nations. (2024). World Bank country and lending groups. The World Bank. https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519

(9) World Bank Open Data. (n.d.). World Bank Open Data. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP.PCAP.CD

(10) World Bank Open Data. (n.d.-b). World Bank Open Data. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS?locations=MX-US

(11) Mexico - Healthcare products & services. (2023, November 5). International Trade Administration | Trade.gov. https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/mexico-healthcare-products-services#:~:text=Mexico's%20Healthcare%20System%20and%20Trends,percent%20of%20the%20Mexican%20population

(12) Tikkanen, Roosa, et al. “International Health Care System Profiles: United States.” The Commonwealth Fund, 5 June 2020, www.commonwealthfund.org/international-health-policy-center/countries/united-states.

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(13) OECD (2023), Health at a Glance 2023: OECD Indicators, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/health-at-a-glance-2023_7a7afb35-en/full-report/nurses_6eb4c85a.html#indicator-d1e31905-aede82b04a

(14) United States Census Bureau. (2020). Demographic data and projections. https://www.census.gov

(15) World Health Organization. (2020). World health statistics 2020: Monitoring health for the SDGs. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/334334

(16) OECD. (2023). Health at a Glance 2023: OECD Indicators. https://www.oecd.org/health/health-at-a-glance-19991312.htm

(17) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2024). Healthcare in the United States. https://www.hhs.gov

(18) Secretaría de Salud México. (2023). Sistema de Salud en México. https://www.gob.mx/salud

(19) World Health Organization. (2023). Mexico Health System Review. https://www.who.int/publications/

(20) Tikkanen, R., & Abrams, M. K. (2020). U.S. health care from a global perspective, 2020: Higher spending, worse outcomes? The Commonwealth Fund. https://www.commonwealthfund.org/sites/default/files/2020-12/2020_IntlOverview_USA.pdf

(21) International Citizens Insurance. (n.d.). Mexican healthcare systems – Health care in Mexico. International Citizens Insurance. https://www.internationalinsurance.com/health/systems/mexico.php

(22) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, October 25). FastStats: Life expectancy. National Center for Health Statistics. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/life-expectancy.htm

(23) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, October 25). FastStats: Life expectancy. National Center for Health Statistics. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/life-expectancy.htm

(24) World Bank. (n.d.). Fertility rate, total (births per woman) – Mexico. World Bank. Retrieved April 9, 2025, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.TFRT.IN?end=2022&locations=MX&start=1960&view=chart

(25) Puentes-Rosas, E., Sesma, S., & Gómez-Dantés, O. (2005). Medical insurance coverage in Mexico. Salud Pública de México, 47(Suppl 1), S22–S26.

(26) Blinder, C., & Dempster, M. (2024, May 16). Percentage of uninsured Americans. ConsumerAffairs. https://www.consumeraffairs.com/finance/percentage-of-uninsured-americans.html

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(27) Simancas, Jorge Vaquero. “Mexico Has the Second-Highest Obesity Rate in the OECD.” EL PAÍS English, 8 Nov. 2023, english.elpais.com/health/2023-11-08/mexico-has-the-second-highest-obesity-rate-in-the-oecd.html.

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The US healthcare system has a combination of public and private insurance plans.⁽²⁰⁾

Public insurance would include people who use Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, Military, etc., and citizens who use private insurance are people who have employer plans or make direct purchases instead.⁽²⁰⁾

Around 8.5% of US citizens are uninsured (26)

The US is also one of the highest in the world regarding how much they spend on healthcare.⁽²⁰⁾