Top 12 Countries with Free Healthcare in 2025

01/ Canada 

Best for: Comprehensive coverage and equitable access across a large, diverse population. 

Known for its breathtaking landscapes and welcoming multicultural society, Canada is also famous for its commitment to social welfare, particularly its universal healthcare system. 

Canada’s Medicare system covers citizens, permanent residents, refugees, and First Nations people. It is administered through 13 provincial and territorial plans, each offering free access to core services like GP visits, emergency care, maternity, and mental health. Coverage may vary slightly by province. For example, Quebec includes fertility treatments. 

One challenge faced by the country when it comes to its free healthcare services is long wait times. In 2024, the average wait between a GP referral and treatment was 30 weeks (up from 27.7 weeks in 2023), the longest ever recorded nationally according to the Fraser Institute. 

Despite this, 91% of Canadians report having a regular doctor, a much higher access rate than many OECD peers. 

02/ United Kingdom 

Best for: Comprehensive maternity and preventive care delivered free at the point of service. 

The United Kingdom is home to one of the world’s most recognized healthcare systems: the National Health Service (NHS). Founded in 1948, it employs over 1.3 million people in England alone, making it one of the largest employers in Europe. The NHS provides GP consultations, hospital treatment, maternity care, vaccinations, and mental health services free at the point of use. 

In England, prescriptions carry a flat fee (£9.90 in 2024), while in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland they remain free. Beyond affordability, the NHS is praised for accessibility, nearly 100% of residents are registered with a GP, and survival rates for conditions like breast cancer are among the highest in Europe. 

Public trust remains strong: in 2023, 70% of patients rated their care as good or very good, though rising wait times are a concern. For expats, access is straightforward through the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which grants full use of NHS services during their stay. 

03/ Germany 

Best for: Fast specialist access and strong rehabilitation care. 

Germany’s public healthcare system follows the Bismarck model, built on mandatory multi-payer insurance. Everyone living in Germany must be covered, with 86% enrolled in statutory “sickness funds” and 11% opting for private plans. This ensures access to GP and specialist consultations, hospital care, maternity services, prescriptions, and preventive screenings. 

Germany spends more on healthcare than any other EU nation, yet patients face some of the lowest out-of-pocket costs in Europe. The country also benefits from a high doctor density of 4.5 per 1,000 people, well above the OECD average. This translates into shorter wait times than in many tax-only systems, making Germany a standout for efficiency and accessibility.

04/ Sweden 

Best for: Preventive medicine and affordable long-term care. 

Sweden runs a universal but subsidized healthcare system, where residents pay modest fees but never exceed annual limits thanks to the högkostnadsskydd (high-cost protection scheme). This model ensures affordability while guaranteeing access to GP consultations, emergency treatment, maternity and pediatric care, vaccinations, and mental health services. 

Healthcare delivery is highly localized, with community health centers emphasizing preventive and primary care. Sweden also performs exceptionally well in equity: only 1.2% of residents report unmet healthcare needs, one of the lowest rates in the OECD. 

Though waits for specialists can be long, Sweden remains a progressive model for affordable, equitable, and preventive-focused healthcare. 

05/ Norway 

Best for: Maternal and child health outcomes. 

Famous for its fjords and exceptional quality of life, Norway consistently ranks among the happiest and healthiest countries in the world. Its tax-funded healthcare system provides universal access to GPs, specialists, hospitals, maternity services, and preventive programs. 

Norway’s results are among the best globally: the infant mortality rate is just 2 per 1,000 live births, one of the lowest worldwide (UNICEF), and life expectancy stands at 83 years. Patients also benefit from robust rights legislation that guarantees timely treatment in critical cases. 

High taxes and some waits are trade-offs, but Norway’s commitment to equality and outcomes makes its healthcare system among the most trusted in Europe. 

06/ France 

Best for: Specialist care and chronic disease management. 

France is renowned for having one of the best healthcare systems in the world, blending public insurance with reimbursements. Under the L’Assurance Maladie system, patients typically pay upfront for GP visits or hospital services, but 70–80% of the cost is reimbursed, with supplementary “mutuelle” policies covering most of the remainder. 

The system guarantees access to GP and specialist consultations, hospital stays, maternity services, prescriptions, and preventive screenings. Nearly 95% of residents carry supplemental insurance, ensuring near-complete coverage at a relatively low personal cost. 

France also stands out for quality: it has some of the highest cancer survival rates in Europe and remains a benchmark for chronic disease management. 

07/ Spain 

Best for: Accessible hospital and emergency care. 

Spain, beloved for its Mediterranean lifestyle, sunny weather, and affordability, also stands out for its strong public healthcare system, consistently ranked among the world’s best. 

Through the Sistema Nacional de Salud (SNS), Spain ensures residents have access to essential services free at the point of use (though there are co-payments for some pharmaceuticals). This tax-funded system has helped Spain achieve one of the highest life expectancies in the EU and become a world leader in organ transplants. 

For expats, retirees, and digital nomads, Spain combines quality healthcare with attractive residency options such as the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa and the Spain Digital Nomad Visa. 

While many long-term visas require applicants to secure private health insurance initially, legal residents contributing to social security (or retirees on pension) can transition to the comprehensive public SNS. 

08/ Portugal 

Best for: Affordable healthcare access with strong physician availability. 

Portugal’s Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS) delivers universal healthcare at minimal cost to residents. It covers GP services, hospital care, maternity, pediatrics, preventive screenings, vaccinations, and mental health support. 

The country has one of the highest physician-to-population ratios in the EU: 5.3 doctors per 1,000 residents. This helps explain why only 2% of Portuguese report unmet medical needs, compared to the EU average of 7%. 

According to the annual Retirement Report from Global Citizen Solutions’ Global Intelligence Unit, Portugal healthcare ranks 4^th in the world, reflecting the system’s strength. 

Combined with access to the Portugal D7 Visa, Portugal Digital Nomad Visa and Portugal Golden Visa, the SNS makes Portugal especially appealing to foreigners looking for both lifestyle and healthcare security. 

09/ Italy 

Best for: Preventive and primary care in urban centers. 

Italy’s commitment to public welfare is channeled through its Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN), a universal healthcare system that guarantees access to most medical services at little or no cost, including emergency treatment for tourists. 

This dedication contributes to a life expectancy of 82.9 years, among the highest globally, supported by strong preventive care and the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet. Italy also reports one of the lowest rates of preventable mortality in the EU, reflecting the effectiveness of its public health approach. 

The SSN is highly regarded internationally, yet it faces challenges, particularly regional disparities in quality and access between the north and south. 

For both retirees and long-term expats, Italy’s strong public coverage is a major draw, often complemented by optional private insurance to reduce wait times or expand provider choice. 

10/ Malta 

Best for: Accessible general and hospital care in a small, well-connected system. 

Small but mighty, Malta’s public healthcare system covers citizens and legal residents via taxation and social security. The WHO ranks Malta fifth in the world in terms of health system performance. 

Malta’s healthcare system is primarily public and provides a comprehensive basket of services free at the point of use to all citizens, contributing to a high healthy life expectancy at birth of 70.7 years (as of 2021). 

Despite this, the country relies heavily on a single main state-run hospital (which is accredited by several bodies), Mater Dei Hospital, to service its small archipelago. This teaching hospital is currently undergoing a a major €80 million upgrade to further strengthen the country’s healthcare infrastructure. 

The system also boasts a high density of medical professionals, with 45.1 physicians per 10,000 population (as of 2022), reflecting a significant investment in its health workforce. 

11/ Brazil 

Best for: Free nationwide vaccination and infectious disease prevention. 

Brazil’s Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) is one of the largest and most complex public health systems in the world. It is remarkable for providing universal, free-at-point-use access to the entire population, including undocumented individuals. 

SUS delivers comprehensive healthcare that can range from basic medical care to organ transplants, all distributed through massive community-health networks. It also offers emergency services (SAMU), hospital and specialist care, vaccinations, and free medication for chronic conditions. 

One of its greatest success stories is vaccination: childhood immunization rates exceed 95% nationwide, among the highest in Latin America. 

Despite funding constraints and regional inequities, international assessments have called SUS a coverage expansion success story, something that is unique for a country with more than 200 million people, anchoring Brazil’s progress toward UHC and protecting vulnerable groups. 

12/ Australia 

Best for: Subsidized prescription drugs and accessible GP care. 

Australia’s Medicare is a universal scheme that guarantees free public hospital care for residents and subsidized access to GP visits, specialists, and prescription medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). 

Covered services include hospital treatment, surgery, diagnostics, imaging, GP consultations, eye tests, and subsidized mental-health care. Exclusions, such as most dental and physiotherapy, ambulance services in many states, and items like glasses or hearing aids, are typically handled through private insurance. 

In 2023, 88.5% of GP visits were bulk billed, leaving patients with no out-of-pocket expenses. Still, nearly 45% of Australians carry private insurance to cover extras or reduce wait times. 

Medicare is funded through general taxation and the Medicare Levy, with safety nets in place to limit costs for those with high medical needs. The result is a pragmatic blend of public security and private choice that expats find reassuring.