How many years of comparable data are there for European Union and Iran?

20 years are reported by both, from 2003 to 2022.

Where does this data come from?

Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), Harvard Medical School, published as Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care (% of people at risk). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

European Union vs Iran: Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care

European Union

1.7%

in 2022

Iran

43.7%

in 2022

European Union rank

35th

Iran rank

33rd

Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care over time

European Union
Iran

How they compare

Iran currently reports 43.7% against 1.7% in European Union, a difference of 42.0%.

That makes Iran's figure about 26.3 times European Union's.

Across all 20 years both countries report, Iran has been ahead every year.

European Union ranks 35th and Iran ranks 33rd of 39 groups.

Iran has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	European Union	Iran	Difference	Ahead
2000s	2.8%	45.3%	42.5%	Iran
2010s	2.6%	35.0%	32.4%	Iran
2020s	1.7%	36.4%	34.7%	Iran

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care, European Union or Iran?: Iran, at 43.7% against 1.7% in European Union as of 2022.
What is the difference in risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care between European Union and Iran?: 42.0%, with Iran ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for European Union and Iran?: 20 years are reported by both, from 2003 to 2022.
How do European Union and Iran rank globally for risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care?: European Union ranks 35th and Iran ranks 33rd of 39 groups.
Where does this data come from?: Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), Harvard Medical School, published as Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care (% of people at risk). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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European Union vs Iran: Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care. Statizoid, drawing on Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), Harvard Medical School. Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/compare/risk-of-catastrophic-expenditure-for-surgical-care-percent-of-people-at-risk/european-union/iran-islamic-rep/

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<a href="https://health.statizoid.com/compare/risk-of-catastrophic-expenditure-for-surgical-care-percent-of-people-at-risk/european-union/iran-islamic-rep/">European Union vs Iran: Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care (% of people at risk)
Unit: % of people at risk
Source: Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), Harvard Medical School
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 173 places, 3,065 data points, 2003–2022
Last refreshed: 17 September 2026

The proportion of population at risk of catastrophic expenditure when surgical care is required. Catastrophic expenditure is defined as direct out of pocket payments for surgical and anaesthesia care exceeding 10% of total income.