External health expenditure (% of current health expenditure) in India
India: External health expenditure (% of current health expenditure) was 2.4% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
External health expenditure in India, 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 India is 2.4%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 111.2% on the previous year and up 793.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external health expenditure in India peaked at 2.7% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 2013.
That places India 87th out of 177 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External health expenditure (% of current health expenditure) in India, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2.7% | — |
| 2001 | 2.3% | -13.1% |
| 2002 | 2.5% | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 1.5% | -38.1% |
| 2004 | 2.2% | +47.1% |
| 2005 | 1.5% | -31.4% |
| 2006 | 1.4% | -6.3% |
| 2007 | 1.5% | +5.4% |
| 2008 | 1.9% | +23.6% |
| 2009 | 1.0% | -45.6% |
| 2010 | 1.0% | -4.7% |
| 2011 | 0.9% | -10.4% |
| 2012 | 0.9% | +8.4% |
| 2013 | 0.3% | -71.3% |
| 2014 | 0.7% | +176.7% |
| 2015 | 0.7% | -4.8% |
| 2016 | 0.6% | -9.8% |
| 2017 | 0.6% | -8.3% |
| 2018 | 0.5% | -21.6% |
| 2019 | 0.6% | +20.6% |
| 2020 | 0.7% | +17.5% |
| 2021 | 1.0% | +54.9% |
| 2022 | 1.1% | +12.8% |
| 2023 | 2.4% | +111.2% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 2.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.8%, 20% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 2.4% is below the median for South Asia, which is 4.8%, 51% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External health expenditure (% of current health expenditure) in India changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | +176.7% | 0.3% | 0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.9% | 1.0% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7% | 0.3% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.3% | 0.7% | 2.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near India
More health data for India
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4372 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 44,822 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.3809 % 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 0.0372 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5922 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.04 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external health expenditure in India?
- External health expenditure in India was 2.4% 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 2.7% in 2000.
- What is the lowest external health expenditure recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 2013.
- How does India rank for external health expenditure?
- India ranks 87th out of 177 countries with data for 2023.
- Is external health expenditure rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 793.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India 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.