We know the cost of childbirth varies greatly across the country. But when you zoom out, and take the entire world into consideration, there's a huge disparity in the cost of having a baby from country to country. Consider that delivery is about six times more expensive in Japan than the United States! This is only one fascinating fact that came out of a recent report from Coyne College and its interactive map that shows the differences in the cost of childbirth in major regions of the world.
Color-coded by the least to the most expensive places to give birth, a quick look at the map reveals that the U.S. and Japan are the priciest places to pop out babies, while Canada, Russia, South America, and South Africa are the least expensive.
Delving into the data a bit further, researchers found that the cost of having a baby in the U.S. is, on average, $10,808. But a C-section will cost you $16,106. Travel over the border to Canada, and childbirth will set you back far less. Would you believe delivery costs just $3,195 on average, and $5,980 for a C-section?
In the U.K., having a baby is about half as expensive as in this country, coming in at around $4,500. In Germany and France, it's even more economical to give birth, at a little over $2,500.
Down under in Australia, you'll spend $5,312 for a typical delivery. But over in Switzerland, it'll cost you way more to welcome baby; about $7,751, and $9,965 for a C-section. Meanwhile, the costs of childbirth in Hong Kong are closer to those in the U.S.: $12,000 and $15,000 for a vagin*l and cesarean birth, respectively.
Japan is the most expensive country in which to deliver a baby, according to Coyne College researchers, costing a whooping $61,810! But researchers note that Japan is widely acknowledged as one of the safest places to give birth.
By contrast, in South Africa, delivery is priced at just over $1,200.
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"What myself and Coyne College found during the research and development of this interactive map was that childbirth varies wildly across the globe, and there are a number of mitigating factors that play a large role in this," Kyle Olson, senior content manager, Digital Third Coast, and project lead on Coyne College's Cost of Childbirth map, told Parents.com. "While this map is meant to offer a quick look at the average costs of childbirth, there are many circ*mstances that would play a role in the prices varying as widely as they do."
The cost of insurance as well as access to and the quality of health care are just a few.
Melissa Willets is a writer/blogger and a mom. Find her on Facebook where she chronicles her life momming under the influence. Of coffee.
