Canada Hospital Beds
Hospital beds per 1,000 people SH.MED.BEDS.ZS
Canada's hospital beds was 2.57 in 2025, ranked 61st globally. This represents a 1.2% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Canada's hospital beds stood at 2.57 in 2025, a rise of +0.03 from 2022. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 2.57 by 2025. Canada ranked 61st globally.
Canada’s hospital‑bed stock has contracted sharply since the 1970 peak of 7.00 beds per 1,000 people, falling to an all‑time trough of 2.51 in 2019 and rising only modestly to 2.57 in 2025, which places the country 61st globally. The 49‑year coverage shows a persistent downward trajectory, reflecting broader shifts toward outpatient care, advances in medical technology and fiscal pressures on health‑system financing. Compared with its closest peer, the United States, which holds 2.62 beds per 1,000, Canada’s capacity remains slightly lower, while New Zealand’s 2.56 suggests a similar compression of inpatient resources among high‑income nations. The modest post‑trough increase may stem from pandemic‑related investments, yet the long‑term trend points to continued consolidation of services and reliance on alternative care settings. Future changes in demographic aging, policy emphasis on hospital capacity, or major health‑system reforms could alter this trajectory, potentially stabilising or modestly expanding the bed count.
Data & projection
| Year | Hospital Beds | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* trend | 2.57 | - | - |
| 2025 | 2.57 | +0.03 | #61 |
| 2022 | 2.54 | −0.03 | #63 |
| 2021 | 2.57 | +0.03 | #69 |
| 2020 | 2.54 | +0.03 | #71 |
| 2019 | 2.51 | −0.03 | #73 |
| 2018 | 2.54 | +0.03 | #72 |
| 2017 | 2.51 | −0.07 | #73 |
| 2016 | 2.58 | −0.02 | #72 |
| 2015 | 2.60 | −0.06 | #72 |
| 2014 | 2.66 | −0.04 | #71 |
| 2013 | 2.70 | −0.07 | #71 |
| 2012 | 2.77 | −0.01 | #69 |
| 2011 | 2.78 | +0.01 | #68 |
| 2010 | 2.77 | −0.02 | #67 |
| 2009 | 2.79 | −0.04 | #64 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Canada matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2007. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw hospital beds improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Canada's hospital beds was 2.57 in 2025. Ranked 61st globally. This represents a 1.2% increase from the previous year.
Canada's hospital beds peaked at 7.00 in 1970.
The lowest hospital beds in Canada was 2.51 in 2017.
Canada ranks 61st globally in hospital beds as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SH.MED.BEDS.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Canada's hospital beds is projected to reach 2.57 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The hospital beds of Canada in 2025 was 2.57. This ranks 61st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_canada_hospital-beds,
title = {Canada Hospital Beds},
url = {https://historysaid.com/canada/hospital-beds/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}