Comparison of the number of hospital beds per capita and the average length of hospital stay in the United States and Soviet Union in select years between 1970 and 1988
(per 1,000 population)
Characteristic
U.S. - beds (per 1,000 population)
USSR - beds (per 1,000 population)
U.S. - average stay (days)
USSR - average stay (days)
1988
5
13
7.2
12.7
1987
5.3
13
7.2
13.4
1985
5.5
13
7.1
13.9
1980
6
13
7.6
14.3
1975
6.8
12
7.7
13.8
1970
7.9
11
-
-
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Between 1970 and 1988, the number of hospital beds in the Soviet Union grew from 11 to 13 beds per 1,000 population, whereas it shrunk from 7.9 to five in the U.S.. This meant that the U.S. had roughly 70 percent the number of hospital beds per capita as the USSR in 1970, but less than 40 percent in 1988. Similarly, the average length of hospital stays in the U.S. was just over half of those in the USSR, although both of these rates declined steadily in these decades.
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U.S. Census Bureau. (August 1, 1991). Comparison of the number of hospital beds per capita and the average length of hospital stay in the United States and Soviet Union in select years between 1970 and 1988 (per 1,000 population) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 28, 2026, from /statistics/1249193/us-ussr-comparison-hospital-beds-and-stays-cold-war/
U.S. Census Bureau. "Comparison of the number of hospital beds per capita and the average length of hospital stay in the United States and Soviet Union in select years between 1970 and 1988 (per 1,000 population)." Chart. August 1, 1991. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 28, 2026. /statistics/1249193/us-ussr-comparison-hospital-beds-and-stays-cold-war/
U.S. Census Bureau. (1991). Comparison of the number of hospital beds per capita and the average length of hospital stay in the United States and Soviet Union in select years between 1970 and 1988 (per 1,000 population). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 28, 2026. /statistics/1249193/us-ussr-comparison-hospital-beds-and-stays-cold-war/
U.S. Census Bureau. "Comparison of The Number of Hospital Beds per Capita and The Average Length of Hospital Stay in The United States and Soviet Union in Select Years between 1970 and 1988 (per 1,000 Population)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 1 Aug 1991, /statistics/1249193/us-ussr-comparison-hospital-beds-and-stays-cold-war/
U.S. Census Bureau, Comparison of the number of hospital beds per capita and the average length of hospital stay in the United States and Soviet Union in select years between 1970 and 1988 (per 1,000 population) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1249193/us-ussr-comparison-hospital-beds-and-stays-cold-war/ (last visited July 28, 2026)
Comparison of the number of hospital beds per capita and the average length of hospital stay in the United States and Soviet Union in select years between 1970 and 1988 (per 1,000 population) [Graph], U.S. Census Bureau, August 1, 1991. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1249193/us-ussr-comparison-hospital-beds-and-stays-cold-war/
