The 2021 Global Health Security Index

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1. The Data:

   • The average country score in 2021 was 38.9 out of 100, which is essentially unchanged from 2019. Looking at overall GHS Index scores, no country scored in the top tier5 of the GHS Index, signaling that significant gaps exist for all countries and across all GHS Index categories and reinforcing that preparedness remains fundamentally weak at all country income levels.

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2. The Data:

   • One hundred fifty-five out of 195 countries have not allocated national funds within the past three years to improve their capacity to address epidemic threats; among those who have, only two low-income countries have evidence of allocating funds. Ninety countries have not fulfilled their full financial contribution to the WHO; 14 of those countries are high-income countries.

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3. The Data:

   • Seventy percent of countries show insufficient health capacity in clinics, hospitals, and community health centers, including human resources and facilities capacity. Only 25% of countries, or 49, have published an updated health workforce strategy over the past five years to address staffing shortages.

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4. The Data:

   • Trust in government, which has been a key factor associated with success in countries’ responses to COVID-19, is low and decreasing. One hundred sixty-one countries have low to moderate levels of public confidence in their government. Only 16 countries score in the top tier for government effectiveness.

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5. The Data:

   • Only 33 countries have an overarching emergency preparedness and response plan in place that includes considerations for vulnerable populations. One hundred forty-nine of 195 countries do not identify how risk communication messages will reach populations and sectors with different communication needs related to language, location, and media reach.

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6. The Data:

   • Nearly two-thirds, or 126, countries have not published and implemented an overarching national public health emergency response plan for diseases with epidemic or pandemic potential. Seventy-three percent of countries do not have the ability to provide expedited approval for medical countermeasures, such as vaccines and antiviral drugs, during a public health emergency. One hundred seventy-eight countries score less than 50 out of 100 points for whole-of-government biosecurity systems, training, personnel vetting, transport of infectious substances, and cross-border transfer and screening.

   Read more on the Report & Model page.