The current decline in life expectancy, the increase in mortality and the fall in the birth rate requires an in-depth study of the health indicators of the Ukrainian nation. The state and dynamics of Ukrainian citizens' health, which have been observed over the past decades, testify to the dramatic. Under the conditions of building a socially-oriented economy in Ukraine, the issue of social protection of the population of the country as the basis for strengthening the health of each citizen, increasing the health capital becomes relevant. The purpose of the study is to analyze the socio-economic content of the term "health" for the implementation of effective social protection - investment in a person in order to form, support and strengthen his health. Research Methods. The study was performed using general and special scientific methods: analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction - to reveal theoretical foundations of health capital; statistical, analytical grouping - to study trends in life expectancy of Ukrainian citizens; economic and mathematical modeling - in identifying patterns and dynamics of human life expectancy as an indicator of health. Results. The health in its broad sense (the public health), as well as in its narrow sense (the individual health of each person) has been considered. The multidimensionality of "health" category has been investigated, and the integrated approach to the definition of the special role of health in ensuring socioeconomic development of the country has been proposed. The bio-socio-economic model of health taking into account the economic component was formed. The dependence of the country's GDP on life expectancy, the number of deaths, as well as the dependence of changes in the country's GDP on the natural increase/decrease in population was investigated. The concept of public education to promote public health as a triad was proposed: education in childhood - education at school and institutions of higher education - education in adulthood. Analysis of the experience of developed countries has allowed to propose a strategy for