EUROPE – Overview of medical device industry and healthcare statistics

Below you will find basic demographic and healthcare market data on Europe, plus specific information about the medical device and healthcare industries.

Overview of medical device industry: The medical device market in the EU accounts for one third of the global market, with around $122.5 billion (est. 2011) in yearly revenue. The industry consists of over 22,000 companies all over Europe that employ around half a million people.

Many European countries are leaders in medical device innovation and export their products all over the world. Germany, France, and Sweden are very competitive in other markets as well as in Europe.

Opportunities in the European market: Europe is a major hub for the global medical device industry. However, many European countries export their products to the other markets, and rely on imports to supply the domestic healthcare industry. Manufacturers producing in-demand technologies will find their products are well-received.

Industry challenges in Europe: Recent regulatory, economic, and political shifts in Europe could impact the medical device industry. The medical device manufacturers will transition to the new Medical Device Regulations and ISO 13485:2016, placing significant pressure on Notified Bodies. The relatively weak Euro continues to benefit European companies exporting to the US, but creates difficulties for some importers. Foreign manufacturers will continue to compete with large, multinational corporations operating and distributing in Europe. And, it is important to research the countries where your product will perform best, as healthcare industries vary significantly from one country to the next.

How Europe compares to other markets

	EUROPE	UNITED STATES	CHINA
Population	515,052,778	321,368,864	1,367,485,388
Primary language(s)	German, English	English	Chinese, Mandarin
Total healthcare spending	$1.80 trillion	$3 trillion	$574 billion
Healthcare expenditures total (% of GDP)	10.0%	17.1%	5.5%
Healthcare expenditures per capita	$3613 (USD)	$9403 (USD)	$420 (USD)
Expenditures on healthcare	Government: 78% Private: 22%	Government: 48% Private: 52%	Government: 56% Private: 44%
Size of medical device market (USD)	$14.5 billion (USD)	$147.7 billion (USD)	$8.7 billion (USD)
Number of hospital beds	5.4 per 1000 people	2.9 per 1000 people	3.8 per 1000 people
Age distribution	0-14 years: 16% 15-64 years: 65% 65 years and over: 19% (2016 est.)	0-14 years: 19% 15-64 years: 66% 65 years and over: 15% (2015 est.)	0-14 years: 17% 15-64 years: 73% 65 years and over: 10% (2015 est.)
Life expectancy at birth	Male: 77 years Female: 83 years	Male: 77 years Female: 82 years	Male: 73 years Female: 78 years
Currency	Euro (€)	US dollar ($)	Renminbi yuan (￥)

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Want to see how Europe compares to many other markets around the world? Download our free PDF Healthcare spending by country.