Statistics on Americans without health insurance

(Reuters) - Nearly 45 million people in the United States, or about 15 percent of the population, were without health insurance in 2005, a number expected to grow as medical costs explode, employers scale back worker benefits and insurers cut coverage and cherry-pick customers.

Meanwhile, U.S. health care spending hit $2 trillion in 2005, more than any other industrialized nation.

* U.S. population: 300 million

* Number of U.S. residents without insurance:

2005: 44.8 million

2004: 43.5 million

(Source: U.S. Census Bureau)

* U.S. states with highest percentage of uninsured:

1. Texas

2. New Mexico

3. Florida

4. Oklahoma

5. California

(Source: U.S. Census Bureau)

* Per capita health spending, 2004

United States: $6,102

Canada: $3,165

Germany: $3,005

Australia: $2,876

Britain: $2,546

(Source: Commonwealth Fund)

(Compiled by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles)