External health expenditure in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: External health expenditure was 6.0% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
External health expenditure in Sri Lanka, 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 Sri Lanka stood at 6.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 46.5% on the previous year and up 836.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external health expenditure in Sri Lanka peaked at 11.3% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 2002.
That places Sri Lanka 72nd 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 in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.9% | — |
| 2001 | 0.7% | -21.2% |
| 2002 | 0.2% | -72.5% |
| 2003 | 1.1% | +435.9% |
| 2004 | 0.5% | -51.9% |
| 2005 | 0.8% | +65.7% |
| 2006 | 2.5% | +193.6% |
| 2007 | 1.1% | -55.4% |
| 2008 | 0.9% | -22.4% |
| 2009 | 1.2% | +40.7% |
| 2010 | 1.2% | -3.9% |
| 2011 | 0.5% | -56.0% |
| 2012 | 0.4% | -25.6% |
| 2013 | 0.6% | +69.8% |
| 2014 | 1.2% | +87.1% |
| 2015 | 1.4% | +13.4% |
| 2016 | 0.9% | -36.6% |
| 2017 | 2.9% | +238.4% |
| 2018 | 1.5% | -49.1% |
| 2019 | 2.1% | +43.3% |
| 2020 | 5.5% | +157.4% |
| 2021 | 10.5% | +91.2% |
| 2022 | 11.3% | +7.2% |
| 2023 | 6.0% | -46.5% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 6.0% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.0%, 5.8× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 6.0% is above the median for South Asia, which is 4.8%, 1.3× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.0% | 0.2% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.3% | 0.4% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.3% | 5.5% | 11.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More health data for Sri Lanka
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.62 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7332 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,250 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 304 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.13 % 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 0.0339 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.12 % 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 external health expenditure in Sri Lanka?
- External health expenditure in Sri Lanka was 6.0% 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 11.3% in 2022.
- What is the lowest external health expenditure recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 2002.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for external health expenditure?
- Sri Lanka ranks 72nd out of 177 countries with data for 2023.
- Is external health expenditure rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 836.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.