Medical Tourism Market - By Application, By End Use - Global Forecast, 2026 - 2035

In 2022, the market was valued at USD 31.3 billion and grew to USD 52.9 billion in 2023, reaching USD 66.8 billion by 2024. Rising demand for personalized and precision treatments along with growing prevalence of chronic diseases are among the key variables contributing to industry growth.
 

Based on application, the global market is segmented into cosmetic surgery, cardiovascular surgery, orthopedic surgery, oncology treatment, dental surgery, bariatric surgery, fertility treatment, and other applications. The cosmetic surgery segment accounted for a leading share of 17.1% in 2025. Growing focus of younger adults on aesthetics is a key factor fueling the segmental growth. The segment is expected to reach USD 31.1 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 8.9% during the forecast period.
 

• Cosmetic surgery accounts for a sizable share of international patient demand, with hair transplantation, breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, and body contouring among the most frequently packaged procedures in destination hubs. The associated benefits include transparent pricing, shorter recovery, and strong perceived value, particularly for self pay patients.
   
• Additionally, the growth of the cosmetic surgery segment is attributed to a strong and increasing global interest in enhancing patients’ appearance and is driven by social media's influence along with an increase in awareness about body image. Technological advances, including laser surgery, non-invasive body contouring procedures, and the use of safer minimally invasive techniques, have increased the appeal of cosmetic procedures by decreasing downtime and risk associated with procedures.
   
• Medical tourism has also had a significant impact on cosmetic surgery's growth, as potential patients travel to countries with highly skilled cosmetic surgeons and advanced medical facility capabilities to have cosmetic procedures performed at lower costs.
   
• Similarly, the orthopedic surgery segment is a substantial part of market growth because there are more people suffering from musculoskeletal problems, injuries from sports, and age-related conditions such as osteoarthritis. As life expectancy continues to increase, more people may require their joints replaced, go through spinal surgeries, and need help from trauma care.
   
• Dedicated robotic-assisted surgeries and the rise of minimally invasive surgery have allowed patients to feel more comfortable with their procedures and improve their recovery time and comfort level after surgery. Demand has also grown through medical tourism related to cheaper orthopedic surgeries, mainly for knee and hip replacement procedures.
   
• Furthermore, the fertility treatment segment is expected to witness the fastest growth with a CAGR of 9.4% over the forecast period. As infertility increases around the world because of everything from changing lifestyles to delayed parenthood, there has also been an increase in the development of fertility services. The growth of ART (assisted reproductive technology), such as IVF (in vitro fertilization), ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection), and egg freezing, has led to more people taking advantage of such advancements.
   
• In addition, patients are also coming to treatment on their own due to advancements in technology that have improved their ability to screen embryos, conduct genetic testing, and increase the likelihood of success.
   
• Moreover, medical tourism for cost-effective fertility care is also increasing, supported by specialized clinics and favorable regulations in certain regions.
   

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Based on end use, the medical tourism market is segmented into specialty clinics, hospitals and other end users. The specialty clinics segment accounted for the leading market share of 53.1% in 2025.
 

• The specialty clinics in the medical tourism industry are the critical aspect of medical tourism by providing specialized expertise in various therapeutic areas, such as orthopedics, oncology, fertility, cosmetic surgery, dentistry, and cardiology.
   
• Specialty clinics are more attractive than large hospitals to medical tourists due to the available high-precision specialized treatments, shorter wait times, and usually lower-cost solutions. The majority of specialty clinics are expected to invest significantly in the latest technology, minimally invasive procedures, and use internationally trained specialists to treat their patients. The medical tourist prefers specialty clinics due to personalized care, faster treatment cycles, and the streamlined processes the clinics offer, including international patient coordinators.
   
• Additionally, specialty clinics are smaller than large hospitals, allowing more direct interaction between the physician and the patient, leading to increased patient satisfaction and positive experiences.
   
• The hospitals segment was valued at USD 28.3 billion in 2025. Hospitals provide comprehensive, full-service medical care for patients who want to undergo complicated surgery or advanced testing (diagnostics), receive critical care or organ transplantation, and need multi-faceted and integrated treatment paths involving multiple specialty providers.
   
• Further, many hospitals also maintain an international accreditation that verifies compliance with international regulations regarding quality and safety (e.g., JCI), which is a critical consideration for many medical tourists.
   
• In addition to infrastructure, hospitals provide high-confidence treatment settings through intensive care units (ICUs), multiple emergency room facilities, and various other departments with different specialties and services; therefore, hospitals are the go-to option for patients seeking medical care from outside their country.
   

North America Medical Tourism Market
 

North America market accounted for notable share of 10.6% in 2025 in the global market and is anticipated to show considerable growth over the forecast period.
 

• The North America market is primarily a source market, though the U.S. attracts inbound patients for complex and experimental care at renowned centers.
   
• High domestic costs keep outbound flows to various regional countries such as Mexico and Brazil strong for dental, bariatric, and cosmetic procedures. Major academic centers such as the Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic operate dedicated international services that support affluent, complex cases and tele enabled second opinions.
   
• Further, Canada’s role as a destination is limited by similar cost structures and capacity constraints, which reinforces outbound flows for select procedures.
   

The U.S. medical tourism market was valued at USD 3.1 billion and USD 5.2 billion in 2022 and 2023, respectively. In 2025 the market size was valued at USD 7.5 billion from USD 6.6 billion in 2024. Availability of highly skilled professionals for range of treatments in the country is projected to fuel the market growth.
 

• The U.S. plays a dual role primarily a source market, and also a receiver for high acuity inbound care generating a significant amount in inbound receipts from roughly 450,000 international patients annually, with strong demand from Canada, Latin America, and the Middle East.
   
• The U.S. value proposition includes access to latest therapies and clinical trials, world class specialist teams, and leading academic centers such as Cleveland Clinic, and Johns Hopkins among others.
   
• Additionally, NIH funding exceeding USD 45 billion per year reinforces the country’s innovation edge and breadth of programs. However, procedure prices that may run 200%–300% above many international destinations coupled with complex insurance and visa processes limit broader inbound competitiveness.
   
• Further, outbound flows are substantial as about 1.4 million Americans spend roughly USD 8.5 billion abroad, led by Mexico, Costa Rica, Thailand, India, and Colombia among other countries for dental, cosmetic, and select surgical care.
   

Europe Medical Tourism Market
 

Europe accounted for a significant share of the global market and was valued at USD 21.7 billion in 2025.
 

• The Europe market is substantial in value, enabled by EU cross border healthcare rules and proximity that supports shorter trips. For example, Germany and Switzerland draw high acuity oncology, orthopedic, and cardiovascular cases whereas Spain’s fertility clinics attract patients from across the region.
   
• The European Commission’s cross border health framework underpins predictable reimbursement pathways for planned care, which stabilizes intra EU flows.
   
• In addition, this architecture, plus rigorous quality norms, sustains steady growth even as outbound travel from Europe to Asia remains attractive for cost sensitive procedures.
   

Germany held significant share of the European medical tourism market, showcasing strong growth potential.
 

• Germany stands as a leading European destination, by treating more than 250,000 foreign patients annually across university medical centers and specialty clinics. The country benefits from EU cross border healthcare mechanisms, over half of inbound patients come from EU members leveraging reciprocity frameworks while sizable shares arrive from the Middle East, CIS, and North America for complex oncology, orthopedic, neurosurgical, and cardiovascular care.
   
• With approximately 1,900 hospitals, including prominent academic centers, Germany competes on technology depth, outcomes transparency, and rigorous quality management. Pricing typically runs about 40%–60% below U.S. levels but 150%–200% above India/Thailand, positioning Germany as a quality first option for high complexity cases.
   
• Further, dedicated international offices at leading hospitals streamline logistics and clinical navigation for global patients via multilingual teams, second opinion programs, and structured rehab pathways.
   

Asia Pacific Medical Tourism Market

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The Asia Pacific market accounted for a leading share of the market and was valued at USD 33.7 billion in 2025.
 

• The Asia Pacific market leads in volume growth and specialization. Thailand, India, Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea anchor the region with deep hospital networks, multilingual staff, and destination specific strengths from cardiac and ortho to advanced oncology and aesthetics.
   
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and regional policy analyses point to strong public private investment in digital health and smart tourism ecosystems that support seamless international patient journeys.
   
• Moreover, as accreditation density rises and telehealth scales, APAC hubs are expanding pre/post virtual care and integrated wellness programs, further strengthening the region’s appeal.
   

Thailand medical tourism market is estimated to grow with a robust CAGR, in the Asia Pacific market.
 

• Thailand is among the world’s premier destinations, with more than 3.5 million international patients annually under its long running ‘Medical Hub of Asia’ strategy.
   
• The ecosystem includes 60+ JCI accredited hospitals, one of the highest concentrations in Southeast Asia plus internationally trained physicians and mature international patient departments across Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai.
   
• Additionally, source markets are diversified across the Middle East, North America, Europe, Australia/New Zealand, Japan, and intra ASEAN flows, with sizable shares seeking aesthetic, dental, ortho, bariatric, fertility, and gender affirmation surgery, where Thailand is widely recognized for expertise.
   
• Flagship providers such as Bumrungrad International, Bangkok Hospital Group, and Samitivej Hospitals combine specialty centers, multilingual support in 30+ languages, and bundled packages that integrate logistics and recovery.
   

Latin America Medical Tourism Market
 

Brazil leads the Latin American market, exhibiting remarkable growth during the analysis period.
 

• Brazil is Latin America’s leading country for aesthetic medicine, with more than 450,000 international patients annually as cosmetic surgery, dental work, and bariatrics drive volumes in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Brasília.
   
• Competitive strengths include world renowned plastic and reconstructive surgery expertise techniques pioneered locally are widely adopted globally plus significant cost advantages of roughly 50%–60% compared to U.S. prices.
   
• Source markets span North America, neighboring South American countries, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, reflecting both proximity and cultural ties for inbound travel. Typical packages cover breast augmentation, liposuction, abdominoplasty, facial rejuvenation, and dental implants, with growing interest in weight loss surgery and regenerative treatments.
   
• Furthermore, premium hospitals such as Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein and Sírio Libanês alongside specialized clinics anchor international programs with multilingual coordination and transparent pricing.
   

Middle East and Africa Medical Tourism Market
 

UAE market to experience substantial growth in the Middle East and Africa market in 2025.
 

• The UAE has quickly established Dubai and Abu Dhabi as premium hubs that blend world class healthcare and luxury hospitality, from 500,000+ international patients annually with targets to approach one million by 2030.
   
• Additionally, strategic investments free zone ecosystems such as Dubai Healthcare City with 150+ facilities, advanced tertiary centers such as Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and streamlined medical visas reinforce the UAE’s positioning as a regional referral center.
   
• The source markets include neighboring GCC nations, followed by Africa, South Asia, and CIS countries, with a growing share from Europe that pairs treatment with premium tourism.
   
• Strengths include seamless international connectivity via Emirates and Etihad, multilingual clinical teams, and specialization spanning orthopedics, cardiovascular, oncology, fertility, pediatrics, and aesthetics.
  
   

Medical Tourism Market Share

The market is fragmented in nature. The industry fragmentation is structural as care is delivered locally, licenses are jurisdiction bound, specialties vary widely by site, and patient preferences cluster around language and cultural familiarity. Leading hospitals often have focused strategies including specialization, accreditation, multilingual international patient services, direct billing ties to global insurers, and strong digital engagement.
 

For example, Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok positions as a global flagship with international patient centers and long standing accreditation, treating a large international cohort each year and maintaining focused Centers of Excellence. Similarly, Apollo Hospitals Group uses network scale across India and selected international sites to compete on breadth and value, serving hundreds of thousands of international patients with bundled programs and cost transparency. In addition, premium U.S. providers such as Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic attract complex inbound cases and have built international outposts and tele enabled services to serve regional demand without requiring long haul travel.
 

Further, the mergers and acquisition activity centers on regional consolidation, specialty roll ups (notably in cosmetic/dental chains), facilitator platform acquisitions by hospital groups to internalize patient acquisition, and investment into destination infrastructure. Digital transformation is a key variable as hospitals differentiate on virtual consults, patient apps, real time translation, and outcomes transparency, capabilities that bolster trust for international patients.
 

Medical Tourism Market Companies

A few of the prominent players operating in the global medical tourism industry include:
 

• Anadolu Medical Center
• Apollo Hospitals Group
• Asklepios Kliniken GmbH & Co. KGaA
• Bumrungrad International Hospital
• Clemenceau Medical Center
• Cleveland Clinic
• Fortis Healthcare Limited
• Gleneagles Hospital
• Johns Hopkins Hospital
• Karolinska University Hospital
• KPJ Healthcare Berhad
• Mahkota Medical Centre
• Makati Medical Center
• MANIPAL HEALTH ENTERPRISES PVT LTD
• Max Healthcare
• Mayo Clinic
• Mount Elizabeth Hospitals
• Narayana Health
• Proton Therapy Center
• Raffles Medical Group
• Samitivej Hospital
• Shouldice Hospital
• St. Luke's Medical Center
• Vera Smile
• Vera Clinic
  
   
• Bumrungrad International Hospital

Bumrungrad focuses on a transformation-driven strategy built on five pillars clinical, safety, operational, service excellence, and people transformation aimed at elevating global competitiveness and securing a position among the world’s top hospitals.
 

• Johns Hopkins Hospital

Johns Hopkins strengthens global presence through long-term international collaborations, elevating healthcare standards worldwide while offering specialized services for international patients, supported by culturally tailored care coordination and globally aligned clinical, educational, and research initiatives.
 

• Gleneagles Hospital

Gleneagles enhances medical tourism appeal by forming strategic accommodation partnerships to improve patient convenience, emphasizing holistic support, comfort, and seamless medical travel experiences that reinforce Malaysia’s position as a high-quality, accessible healthcare destination.
 

Medical Tourism Industry News:

• In November 2024, Apollo Hospitals signs an MoU to build a 300 bed multispecialty hospital in Nairobi, targeting East African demand for advanced procedures. This development may enable the company to improve its presence in the African market and better its sales prospects.
   
• In September 2024, Fortis partners with a major facilitator platform to deploy AI driven patient matching, aiming for lower acquisition costs and higher conversion. This development allowed the company to further expand its presence in the industry.
   
• In July 2024, Mayo Clinic expands International Patient Services staffing for Arabic, Mandarin, and Spanish, reflecting strong growth in inbound demand. This development helped the company to improve its position in the market through enhanced product offerings.