External health expenditure in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: External health expenditure was 26.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising
External health expenditure in Ethiopia, 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 Ethiopia is 26.9%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.1% on the previous year and up 15.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external health expenditure in Ethiopia peaked at 46.8% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 12.7%, in 2002.
That places Ethiopia 26th out of 177 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
External health expenditure in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 16.3% | — |
| 2001 | 17.1% | +5.0% |
| 2002 | 12.7% | -25.6% |
| 2003 | 14.2% | +11.8% |
| 2004 | 29.6% | +108.8% |
| 2005 | 22.2% | -25.0% |
| 2006 | 32.4% | +45.5% |
| 2007 | 33.3% | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 46.8% | +40.2% |
| 2009 | 33.6% | -28.2% |
| 2010 | 34.4% | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 37.5% | +9.0% |
| 2012 | 27.9% | -25.5% |
| 2013 | 23.3% | -16.7% |
| 2014 | 23.4% | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 18.3% | -22.1% |
| 2016 | 20.2% | +10.8% |
| 2017 | 35.4% | +74.7% |
| 2018 | 36.1% | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 34.3% | -5.0% |
| 2020 | 34.4% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 28.3% | -17.9% |
| 2022 | 25.3% | -10.5% |
| 2023 | 26.9% | +6.1% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 26.9% is below the median for low income countries, which is 27.7%, 97% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 26.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 20.5%, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 25.8% | 12.7% | 46.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.1% | 18.3% | 37.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.7% | 25.3% | 34.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More health data for Ethiopia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9494 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 744.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 19,997 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 148 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0709 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.36 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external health expenditure in Ethiopia?
- External health expenditure in Ethiopia was 26.9% 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 46.8% in 2008.
- What is the lowest external health expenditure recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.7% in 2002.
- How does Ethiopia rank for external health expenditure?
- Ethiopia ranks 26th out of 177 countries with data for 2023.
- Is external health expenditure rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.
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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.