Current health expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): Current health expenditure was 4.9% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Current health expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for current health expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) is 4.9%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, current health expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 5.4% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 4.5%, in 2002.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 34th out of 47 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Current health expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4.9% | — |
| 2001 | 4.9% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 4.5% | -9.2% |
| 2003 | 5.4% | +21.3% |
| 2004 | 5.4% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 5.2% | -3.2% |
| 2006 | 5.1% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 5.0% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 4.8% | -4.3% |
| 2009 | 5.2% | +8.2% |
| 2010 | 5.2% | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 5.1% | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 4.9% | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 4.9% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 4.7% | -4.1% |
| 2015 | 4.9% | +4.8% |
| 2016 | 5.0% | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 5.0% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 4.7% | -6.1% |
| 2019 | 4.5% | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 4.9% | +8.3% |
| 2021 | 5.1% | +4.2% |
| 2022 | 4.9% | -3.1% |
| 2023 | 4.9% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.0% | 4.5% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.9% | 4.5% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.9% | 4.9% | 5.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Population ages 35-39, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, annual growth rate 3.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, per capita 0.024 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 3.23 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, per capita 0.0282 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 2.8 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, female, per capita 0.0287 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, annual growth rate 2.69 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is current health expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Current health expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) was 4.9% 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 Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 5.4% in 2003.
- What is the lowest current health expenditure recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.5% in 2002.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for current health expenditure?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 34th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is current health expenditure rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 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.