The country of 1.4 billion has made major public health gains over recent decades as rising incomes have lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty, pushing average life expectancy to 79 in 2024, on par with the United States. But benefits remain limited, funding varies by province, private care plays a growing role, and access gaps persist, especially between urban and rural areas.
China’s medical insurance system, comprising public basic insurance and supplementary private coverage, covered 1.33 billion people, or about 95 percent of the population, at the end of 2025, according to a report released Monday by the country's National Healthcare Security Administration.