External health expenditure in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: External health expenditure was 13.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising
External 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 current health expenditure.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external health expenditure in Africa Western and Central is 13.6%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 25.5% on the previous year and down 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external health expenditure in Africa Western and Central peaked at 15.1% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 7.5%, in 2003.
Africa Western and Central ranks 12th of 42 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.
External health expenditure in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 12.3% | — |
| 2001 | 7.8% | -36.6% |
| 2002 | 9.0% | +16.3% |
| 2003 | 7.5% | -17.3% |
| 2004 | 8.1% | +8.8% |
| 2005 | 8.4% | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 8.2% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 8.9% | +8.5% |
| 2008 | 9.1% | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 9.7% | +6.2% |
| 2010 | 10.1% | +4.4% |
| 2011 | 11.3% | +12.1% |
| 2012 | 11.3% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 14.0% | +24.2% |
| 2014 | 15.1% | +8.2% |
| 2015 | 14.5% | -4.3% |
| 2016 | 13.4% | -7.5% |
| 2017 | 11.2% | -16.1% |
| 2018 | 11.2% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 12.6% | +12.5% |
| 2020 | 12.5% | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 11.4% | -9.0% |
| 2022 | 10.9% | -4.6% |
| 2023 | 13.6% | +25.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.9% | 7.5% | 12.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.5% | 10.1% | 15.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.1% | 10.9% | 13.6% | 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 external health expenditure in Africa Western and Central?
- External health expenditure in Africa Western and Central was 13.6% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest external health expenditure recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 15.1% in 2014.
- What is the lowest external health expenditure recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.5% in 2003.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for external health expenditure?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 12th out of 42 groups with data for 2023.
- Is external health expenditure rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 External health expenditure (% of current health expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Share of current health expenditures funded from external sources. External sources compose of direct foreign transfers and foreign transfers distributed by government encompassing all financial inflows into the national health system from outside the country. External sources either flow through the government scheme or are channeled through non-governmental organizations or other schemes.