Domestic general government health expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Domestic general government health expenditure was 40.0% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Domestic general government health expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
In 2023, domestic general government health expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 40.0%.
That represents a change of down 0.8% on the previous year and up 13.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, domestic general government health expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 42.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 31.6%, in 2002.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 34th of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Domestic general government health expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 32.0% | — |
| 2001 | 32.4% | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 31.6% | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 33.3% | +5.4% |
| 2004 | 34.5% | +3.7% |
| 2005 | 34.7% | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 35.9% | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 36.2% | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 35.2% | -3.0% |
| 2009 | 36.8% | +4.5% |
| 2010 | 37.3% | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 37.6% | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 37.6% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 35.3% | -6.1% |
| 2014 | 35.8% | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 36.0% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 36.2% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 38.9% | +7.6% |
| 2018 | 39.8% | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 39.8% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 42.7% | +7.2% |
| 2021 | 42.0% | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 40.3% | -4.0% |
| 2023 | 40.0% | -0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 34.3% | 31.6% | 36.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.4% | 35.3% | 39.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.2% | 40.0% | 42.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Population ages 65 and above, total, annual growth rate 3.67 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male, annual growth rate 3.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male, per capita 0.0142 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, total, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population, female, annual growth rate 2.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, total, per capita 0.0323 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, per capita 0.0181 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate 3.35 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is domestic general government health expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Domestic general government health expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa was 40.0% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest domestic general government health expenditure recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 42.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest domestic general government health expenditure recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.6% in 2002.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for domestic general government health expenditure?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 34th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is domestic general government health expenditure rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Domestic general government health expenditure (% of current health expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of current health expenditures funded from domestic public sources for health. Domestic public sources include domestic revenue as internal transfers and grants, transfers, subsidies to voluntary health insurance beneficiaries, non-profit institutions serving households (NPISH) or enterprise financing schemes as well as compulsory prepayment and social health insurance contributions. They do not include external resources spent by governments on health.