External health expenditure in South Asia
South Asia: External health expenditure was 2.6% in 2023. ▼ Falling
External health expenditure in South Asia, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
In 2023, external health expenditure in South Asia stood at 2.6%.
The figure is up 50.8% on the previous year and up 196.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external health expenditure in South Asia peaked at 3.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 2013.
That places South Asia 17th out of 42 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
External health expenditure in South Asia, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3.1% | — |
| 2001 | 2.9% | -4.8% |
| 2002 | 3.0% | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 2.2% | -27.4% |
| 2004 | 2.8% | +30.8% |
| 2005 | 2.1% | -24.6% |
| 2006 | 2.0% | -4.0% |
| 2007 | 1.9% | -5.5% |
| 2008 | 2.3% | +17.4% |
| 2009 | 1.6% | -28.6% |
| 2010 | 1.6% | -3.8% |
| 2011 | 1.4% | -10.2% |
| 2012 | 1.5% | +9.3% |
| 2013 | 0.9% | -41.6% |
| 2014 | 1.4% | +54.8% |
| 2015 | 1.4% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 1.2% | -12.9% |
| 2017 | 1.3% | +11.7% |
| 2018 | 1.1% | -14.2% |
| 2019 | 1.1% | -8.0% |
| 2020 | 1.3% | +20.2% |
| 2021 | 1.9% | +47.6% |
| 2022 | 1.8% | -5.8% |
| 2023 | 2.6% | +50.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.4% | 1.6% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.3% | 0.9% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.9% | 1.3% | 2.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 14 Tanzania, United Republic of 39.4% compare
- 15 Benin 38.4% compare
- 16 Madagascar 38.1% compare
- 17 Rwanda 37.0% compare
- 18 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 37.0% compare
- 19 Solomon Islands 33.9% compare
- 20 Vanuatu 32.0% compare
More health data for South Asia
- Population ages 65-69, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, male, annual growth rate 0.1112 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, per capita 0.0146 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, annual growth rate 2.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per capita 0.043 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 4.29 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, annual growth rate 2.63 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external health expenditure in South Asia?
- External health expenditure in South Asia was 2.6% 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest external health expenditure recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 2013.
- How does South Asia rank for external health expenditure?
- South Asia ranks 17th out of 42 groups with data for 2023.
- Is external health expenditure rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 196.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Asia 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.