Classification of OECD Countries with Cluster Analysis Based on GHSI Data

This study aims to classify the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries through cluster analysis according to the Global Health Security Index (GHSI) 2019 and 2021 data. Within the scope of the research, the dimensions of the GHSI were determined as variables. First, the appropriate number of clusters was determined using Ward’s method, which is one of the hierarchical cluster analyses, and then the countries were divided into clusters using the K-means method, which is a non-hierarchical cluster analyses methods. Differences between variables according to clusters were determined with the analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. As a result of the cluster analysis of the GHSI 2019 data, it was determined that there were 14 countries in the 1st cluster, 11 countries in the 2nd cluster and 13 countries in the 3rd cluster. As a result of the cluster analysis of the GHSI 2021 data, it was determined that there were 9 countries in the 1st cluster, 14 countries in the 2nd cluster, 4 countries in the 3rd cluster and 11 countries in the 4th cluster. According to both data sets, it was observed that there was a statistically significant difference between the countries in terms of all variables. In the cluster analysis results of the GHSI 2019 and 2021 statistics, it was seen that similar countries were in the same cluster. It was observed that countries that were prepared for health emergencies according to the 2019 data were not prepared due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the 2021 data.