The Top 5 Healthiest Countries in Asia

Many countries around the world are renowned for the health of their populations, particularly those located in Asia. The Legatum Centre for National Prosperity conducts research on living conditions in different parts of the world in order to publish an annual prosperity index. Countries are ranked according to several factors. Aspects like social capital, health, safety, governmental structure, and education all influence a country’s score. Today, we’ll review five of the healthiest countries in Asia and discuss what structures support the well-being of the individuals living there.

1. China

Compared to 30 years ago, China has made great strides in its healthcare system. As their population grows older and older, the demand for adequate elderly care also grows. Because of this, China has had to get creative over the past few decades. Today, roughly 95% of all citizens have access to healthcare and the government dedicates more and more financial support to this sector with each passing year.

In a paper authored by Cui Chen and Mao Liu, it was reported that “In 2021, the number of beds in medical institutions across the country reached 9.4 million, including 7.4 million in hospitals, 1.7 million in township-level health centers, and 0.3 million in public health institutions. Besides, there are a total of 67,153 ICU beds nationwide. As a result, the country has built an integrated healthcare system of high quality and efficiency and improved the availability and accessibility of medical resources.” China is one of the most rapidly advancing countries in Asia, and its strides in this field have benefitted the health of its population.

2. Taiwan

Starting in the 1980s, Taiwan set out on a mission to provide universal health coverage to its citizens. Since then, this initiative has been wildly successful. According to The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, “The Taiwanese benefit package is more comprehensive than typical Western single-payer systems and includes dental care, mental health, home nursing, and traditional Chinese medicine. Enrollees have complete freedom to choose their providers.” In addition to being incredibly comprehensive, it is also high-quality, and easy to access. Both natives and foreigners living in Taiwan report great satisfaction with this system.

3. South Korea

Not only does South Korea have some of the best quality healthcare in the world, but access to it is also readily available. According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA), “The Ministry of Health and Welfare of Korea has implemented a variety of social security programs to ensure a basic standard of living and to raise the overall quality of life for all citizens. The Korean social security system provides social insurance, public assistance, and social welfare services.” In addition to their world-class healthcare, Koreans also live an active lifestyle and eat a nutritious diet. Biking and walking are popular among citizens, and their standard diet contains vegetables, high-quality meat and fish, and fermented foods. Additionally, Korean food is typically low-calorie, which helps prevent obesity-related illnesses.

4. Japan

Japan is home to some of the healthiest, oldest people in the world. But why is this? Experts claim that it’s due to their diet. Beans, leafy greens, sweet potato, and soy products such as tofu and miso are all common components in Japanese cuisine. In addition, the majority of the foods people in Japan consume are locally grown. Japanese health care is also some of the best in the world. Instead of focusing on treating illnesses after they have been diagnosed, Japanese medical practitioners advocate for preventative care. Living a healthy lifestyle is promoted heavily. In fact, many companies require their employees to undergo a yearly health screening. On average, Japanese people visit the doctor almost four times more per year than Americans, which might explain why their lifespan is so long and their overall health is so incredible.

5. Singapore

Out of all the countries in Asia we’ve reviewed so far, Singapore ranks the highest on The Legatum Prosperity Index for health and wellness. In fact, Singapore is currently the highest-ranking country in the world with a score of 86.89. As is the case with many countries on this list, Singapore has excellent universal health care coverage. Their system is in three parts, Medishield, Medisave, and Medifund. Medisave functions as a medical savings account. Individuals must fund this account with a percentage of their earned wages. Medishield and Medifund are safety nets for those who use their Medisave earnings.

In addition, Singapore has a highly active population. Owning a car is very expensive, so instead, many Singaporeans choose to bike or walk to their destinations instead. Over 75% of residents report that they exercise once a week or more. In addition, this also keeps emission levels low, which may also contribute to overall better health. These factors combine to create the healthiest country in Asia!

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