Current health expenditure in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Current health expenditure was 4.1% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Current health expenditure in Africa Western and Central, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2023, current health expenditure in Africa Western and Central stood at 4.1%.
The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and up 15.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, current health expenditure in Africa Western and Central peaked at 4.4% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 2002.
That places Africa Western and Central 40th out of 47 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Current health expenditure in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3.4% | — |
| 2001 | 3.4% | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 3.1% | -9.9% |
| 2003 | 4.4% | +43.3% |
| 2004 | 4.3% | -3.8% |
| 2005 | 4.1% | -3.4% |
| 2006 | 4.0% | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 3.8% | -5.4% |
| 2008 | 3.6% | -4.9% |
| 2009 | 3.7% | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 3.5% | -6.4% |
| 2011 | 3.5% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 3.5% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 3.6% | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 3.6% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 3.8% | +5.9% |
| 2016 | 3.8% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 3.7% | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 3.3% | -11.9% |
| 2019 | 3.2% | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 3.8% | +16.6% |
| 2021 | 4.1% | +9.2% |
| 2022 | 4.2% | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 4.1% | -0.8% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Current health expenditure in Africa Western and Central changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | +43.3% | 3.1% | 4.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.8% | 3.1% | 4.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.5% | 3.2% | 3.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.1% | 3.8% | 4.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
More health data for Africa Western and Central
- Population ages 35-39, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, annual growth rate 2.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, per capita 0.0237 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, annual growth rate 2.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, per capita 0.0278 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, annual growth rate 2.24 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, female, per capita 0.0277 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, annual growth rate 2.27 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is current health expenditure in Africa Western and Central?
- Current health expenditure in Africa Western and Central was 4.1% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest current health expenditure recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 4.4% in 2003.
- What is the lowest current health expenditure recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 2002.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for current health expenditure?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 40th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is current health expenditure rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Current health expenditure (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Level of current health expenditure expressed as a percentage of GDP. Estimates of current health expenditures include healthcare goods and services consumed during each year. This indicator does not include capital health expenditures such as buildings, machinery, IT and stocks of vaccines for emergency or outbreaks.