WORLD Policy Analysis Center

Does the constitution explicitly guarantee citizens’ right to health?

This map tells us whether nations include provisions to protect the overall right to health for citizens in their constitution.

Only constitutional provisions are included in this map. Legislative protections are not shown here. Read more about why constitutions matter.

The right to health includes language such as the right to “health,” “health security,” and "overall well-being”.

No specific provision means that the constitution does not explicitly mention the right to health. This does not mean that the constitution denies these protections, but that it does not explicitly include them.

Aspirational or subject to progressive realization means that the constitution protects the right to health but does not use language strong enough to be considered a guarantee, or states that these rights will be implemented progressively or within a certain time period. For example, the nation will endeavor to ensure the right to health or will promote the right to health within three years.

Guaranteed right means that the constitution explicitly guarantees the right to health to citizens in authoritative language. For example, constitutions in this category might guarantee citizens’ right to health or make it the State’s responsibility to ensure the protection of health.

Countries

Antigua and Barbuda - No specific provision

Argentina - No specific provision

Australia - No specific provision

Austria - No specific provision

Bahamas - No specific provision

Bahrain - No specific provision

Bangladesh - No specific provision

Barbados - No specific provision

Bhutan - No specific provision

Botswana - No specific provision

Brunei - No specific provision

Cameroon - No specific provision

Canada - No specific provision

Chad - No specific provision

Republic of the Congo - No specific provision

Costa Rica - No specific provision

Cote d'Ivoire - No specific provision

Cyprus - No specific provision

Denmark - No specific provision

Djibouti - No specific provision

Dominica - No specific provision

Equatorial Guinea - No specific provision

Eritrea - No specific provision

The Gambia - No specific provision

Georgia - No specific provision

Germany - No specific provision

Greenland - No specific provision

Grenada - No specific provision

Guyana - No specific provision

India - No specific provision

Indonesia - No specific provision

Iran - No specific provision

Ireland - No specific provision

Israel - No specific provision

Jamaica - No specific provision

Japan - No specific provision

Jordan - No specific provision

Kiribati - No specific provision

Kuwait - No specific provision

Lebanon - No specific provision

Liberia - No specific provision

Libya - No specific provision

Liechtenstein - No specific provision

Luxembourg - No specific provision

Malaysia - No specific provision

Maldives - No specific provision

Malta - No specific provision

Marshall Islands - No specific provision

Mauritania - No specific provision

Mauritius - No specific provision

Micronesia, Federated States of - No specific provision

Monaco - No specific provision

Montenegro - No specific provision

Morocco - No specific provision

Namibia - No specific provision

Nauru - No specific provision

The Netherlands - No specific provision

New Zealand - No specific provision

Nigeria - No specific provision

Norway - No specific provision

Oman - No specific provision

Pakistan - No specific provision

Papua New Guinea - No specific provision

Qatar - No specific provision

Samoa - No specific provision

San Marino - No specific provision

Saudi Arabia - No specific provision

Sierra Leone - No specific provision

Singapore - No specific provision

Slovenia - No specific provision

Solomon Islands - No specific provision

Somalia - No specific provision

South Africa - No specific provision

South Sudan - No specific provision

Sri Lanka - No specific provision

St. Kitts and Nevis - No specific provision

St. Lucia - No specific provision

St. Vincent and the Grenadines - No specific provision

Sudan - No specific provision

Eswatini - No specific provision

Sweden - No specific provision

Thailand - No specific provision

Tonga - No specific provision

Trinidad and Tobago - No specific provision

Turkmenistan - No specific provision

Tuvalu - No specific provision

Uganda - No specific provision

United Arab Emirates - No specific provision

United Kingdom - No specific provision

United States of America - No specific provision

Uruguay - No specific provision

Uzbekistan - No specific provision

Vanuatu - No specific provision

Zambia - No specific provision

Zimbabwe - No specific provision

Afghanistan - Guaranteed for some groups, not universally

Belarus - Guaranteed for some groups, not universally

Central African Republic - Guaranteed for some groups, not universally

Ethiopia - Guaranteed for some groups, not universally

Ghana - Guaranteed for some groups, not universally

Iceland - Guaranteed for some groups, not universally

Kyrgyzstan - Guaranteed for some groups, not universally

Mozambique - Guaranteed for some groups, not universally

Nepal - Guaranteed for some groups, not universally

Albania - Aspirational or subject to progressive realization

Angola - Aspirational or subject to progressive realization

Belize - Aspirational or subject to progressive realization

Burundi - Aspirational or subject to progressive realization

China - Aspirational or subject to progressive realization

Colombia - Aspirational or subject to progressive realization

Fiji - Aspirational or subject to progressive realization

Finland - Aspirational or subject to progressive realization

Gabon - Aspirational or subject to progressive realization

Guinea-Bissau - Aspirational or subject to progressive realization

Kenya - Aspirational or subject to progressive realization

Democratic People's Republic of Korea - Aspirational or subject to progressive realization

Laos - Aspirational or subject to progressive realization

Lesotho - Aspirational or subject to progressive realization

Malawi - Aspirational or subject to progressive realization

Myanmar - Aspirational or subject to progressive realization

Palau - Aspirational or subject to progressive realization

Switzerland - Aspirational or subject to progressive realization

Tanzania - Aspirational or subject to progressive realization

Türkiye - Aspirational or subject to progressive realization

Yemen - Aspirational or subject to progressive realization

Algeria - Guaranteed right

Andorra - Guaranteed right

Armenia - Guaranteed right

Azerbaijan - Guaranteed right

Belgium - Guaranteed right

Benin - Guaranteed right

Bolivia - Guaranteed right

Bosnia and Herzegovina - Guaranteed right

Brazil - Guaranteed right

Bulgaria - Guaranteed right

Burkina Faso - Guaranteed right

Cambodia - Guaranteed right

Cabo Verde - Guaranteed right

Chile - Guaranteed right

Comoros - Guaranteed right

Democratic Republic of the Congo - Guaranteed right

Croatia - Guaranteed right

Cuba - Guaranteed right

Czech Republic - Guaranteed right

Dominican Republic - Guaranteed right

Ecuador - Guaranteed right

Egypt - Guaranteed right

El Salvador - Guaranteed right

Estonia - Guaranteed right

France - Guaranteed right

Greece - Guaranteed right

Guatemala - Guaranteed right

Guinea - Guaranteed right

Haiti - Guaranteed right

Honduras - Guaranteed right

Hungary - Guaranteed right

Iraq - Guaranteed right

Italy - Guaranteed right

Kazakhstan - Guaranteed right

Republic of Korea - Guaranteed right

Latvia - Guaranteed right

Lithuania - Guaranteed right

North Macedonia - Guaranteed right

Madagascar - Guaranteed right

Mali - Guaranteed right

Mexico - Guaranteed right

Moldova - Guaranteed right

Mongolia - Guaranteed right

Nicaragua - Guaranteed right

Niger - Guaranteed right

Panama - Guaranteed right

Paraguay - Guaranteed right

Peru - Guaranteed right

The Philippines - Guaranteed right

Poland - Guaranteed right

Portugal - Guaranteed right

Romania - Guaranteed right

Russian Federation - Guaranteed right

Rwanda - Guaranteed right

Sao Tome and Principe - Guaranteed right

Senegal - Guaranteed right

Serbia - Guaranteed right

Seychelles - Guaranteed right

Slovakia - Guaranteed right

Spain - Guaranteed right

Suriname - Guaranteed right

Syria - Guaranteed right

Tajikistan - Guaranteed right

Timor-Leste - Guaranteed right

Togo - Guaranteed right

Tunisia - Guaranteed right

Ukraine - Guaranteed right

Venezuela - Guaranteed right

Vietnam - Guaranteed right