Health spending in each state and territory

Of total health spending in 2020–21, more than half (56.1%) was spent in New South Wales ($67.4 billion) and Victoria ($56.5 billion) combined. These states also represented more than half (around 57%) of the Australian population (Figure 3; Table 37).

From 2019–20 to 2020–21, growth in total spending ranged from 2.0% in the Northern Territory to 9.6% in Western Australia.

Figure 3: Total health expenditure for each state and territory, constant prices(a), 2010–11 to 2020–21

The line graph shows that total health spending was highest for New South Wales and lowest for the Northern Territory in the 10-year period. In 2020–21, total health spending was $67.4 billion for New South Wales and $2.8 billion for the Northern Territory. Total health spending increased between 2010–11 and 2020–21 for all states and territories.

In 2020–21, average per capita health spending was similar across all states and territories, except for the Northern Territory where average spending was $11,136 per person, compared with the national average of $8,617 (Figure 4).

Figure 4: Average total health expenditure per person(a) for each state and territory, constant prices(b), 2010–11 to 2020–21

The line graph shows that average total health spending per person for each state and territory increased overall from 2010–11 to 2020–21. Australian Capital Territory is excluded from the graph, as the Australian Capital Territory population is not an appropriate denominator. In the 10-year period, Northern Territory maintained the highest average total health spending per person while the other states and territories recording similar values.