A taxonomic approach using cluster analysis and principal component analysis has grouped the countries of the world in eight clusters, in an initial attempt to propose a worldwide spatial classification based on the following health-related indicators: (a) those directly related to the health status of the population; (b) those measuring the provision of health care; (c) those linked to population characteristics; and (d) those reflecting economic parameters. The cartographic representation was based on demographic maps which display the area of each country in proportion to its population size.