Domestic private health expenditure in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Domestic private health expenditure was 18.2% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Domestic private health expenditure in United Kingdom, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 18.2% for domestic private health expenditure in 2023.
The figure is up 1.7% on the previous year and down 11.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, domestic private health expenditure in United Kingdom peaked at 24.2% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 15.9%, in 2020.
United Kingdom ranks 161st of 193 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Domestic private health expenditure in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 24.2% | — |
| 2001 | 24.1% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 23.2% | -3.8% |
| 2003 | 21.6% | -6.5% |
| 2004 | 19.8% | -8.3% |
| 2005 | 18.7% | -5.6% |
| 2006 | 17.6% | -6.0% |
| 2007 | 19.5% | +11.0% |
| 2008 | 18.7% | -4.3% |
| 2009 | 17.2% | -7.8% |
| 2010 | 18.0% | +4.1% |
| 2011 | 18.2% | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 19.0% | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 20.5% | +8.1% |
| 2014 | 20.4% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 20.4% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 19.9% | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 20.3% | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 20.5% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 20.3% | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 15.9% | -21.6% |
| 2021 | 16.2% | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 17.9% | +10.3% |
| 2023 | 18.2% | +1.7% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 18.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 26.8%, 68% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 18.2% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 28.8%, 63% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 20.5% | 17.2% | 24.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.7% | 18.0% | 20.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.1% | 15.9% | 18.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More health data for United Kingdom
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,134 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 461 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7128 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0247 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7724 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is domestic private health expenditure in United Kingdom?
- Domestic private health expenditure in United Kingdom was 18.2% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest domestic private health expenditure recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 24.2% in 2000.
- What is the lowest domestic private health expenditure recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.9% in 2020.
- How does United Kingdom rank for domestic private health expenditure?
- United Kingdom ranks 161st out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is domestic private health expenditure rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Domestic private 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 private sources. Domestic private sources include funds from households, corporations and non-profit organizations. Such expenditures can be either prepaid to voluntary health insurance or paid directly to healthcare providers.