The average number of hospital beds in the European Union continues to decline

The average number of hospital beds in the European Union continues to fall: 511 per 100,000 people in 2023, down from 517 in 2022 and 552 in 2013. Behind this decline are medical and technological advances that allow more and more procedures to be carried out on an outpatient or day hospital basis. This is particularly noticeable in countries with highly developed medical infrastructure, such as Sweden and the Netherlands, where the share of outpatient care is higher.

Nevertheless, the differences between EU countries remain impressive. Bulgaria leads in the number of hospital beds (864), followed by Germany (766), Romania (728), Austria (660) and Hungary (651). These countries still retain a significant amount of inpatient care. At the same time, seven countries have fewer than 300 beds per 100,000 inhabitants: Sweden (187), the Netherlands (231), Denmark (233), Finland (260), Spain (288), Ireland (289) and Cyprus (298). Such figures raise questions about the accessibility and capacity of inpatient care, especially in the context of demographic ageing.

The picture becomes even more contrasting when long-term care is considered. The Netherlands, Sweden and Belgium are the leaders in the number of institutional beds for the elderly and chronically ill: 1,400, 1,315 and 1,250 beds per 100,000 people respectively. The outsiders were Greece (only 20) and Bulgaria (26), which may reflect the greater role of the family or a lack of institutional support in these countries.

These data illustrate a twofold trend: on the one hand, optimisation of health care systems, and on the other hand, risks for vulnerable populations. In the context of an ageing population and a growing number of chronic diseases, reducing the number of beds requires a particularly balanced approach. The sustainability of a health system depends not only on technology, but also on the ability to provide physical access to care.