Out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure in Zambia
Zambia: Out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure was 10.3% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
10.3%
Change on year
up 15.4%
World rank
167th
of 194 countries
All-time high
45.5%
in 2000
All-time low
7.1%
in 2021
Years of data
24
2000–2023
Out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure in Zambia, 2000–2023
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2023, out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure in Zambia stood at 10.3%.
That represents a change of up 15.4% on the previous year and down 12.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure in Zambia peaked at 45.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 7.1%, in 2021.
That places Zambia 167th out of 194 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 45.5% | — |
| 2001 | 38.8% | -14.7% |
| 2002 | 28.4% | -26.7% |
| 2003 | 28.4% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 31.1% | +9.3% |
| 2005 | 26.1% | -16.0% |
| 2006 | 25.7% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 24.8% | -3.4% |
| 2008 | 20.4% | -17.8% |
| 2009 | 14.7% | -28.0% |
| 2010 | 14.2% | -3.1% |
| 2011 | 12.2% | -14.3% |
| 2012 | 12.6% | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 11.7% | -7.3% |
| 2014 | 13.8% | +18.0% |
| 2015 | 12.3% | -11.3% |
| 2016 | 12.1% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 10.7% | -12.2% |
| 2018 | 10.3% | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 7.3% | -29.4% |
| 2020 | 8.1% | +11.9% |
| 2021 | 7.1% | -12.8% |
| 2022 | 8.9% | +26.0% |
| 2023 | 10.3% | +15.4% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 10.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.6%, 27% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 10.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 32.4%, 32% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 28.4% | 14.7% | 45.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.7% | 7.3% | 14.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.6% | 7.1% | 10.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 164 United States 10.9% compare
- 165 Zimbabwe 10.6% compare
- 166 Mozambique 10.4% compare
- 168 Kuwait 10.0% compare
- 169 Thailand 9.9% compare
- 170 United Arab Emirates 9.7% compare
More health data for Zambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7971 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 809.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,894 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.68 % 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 0.0743 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.69 % 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 out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure in Zambia?
- Out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure in Zambia was 10.3% in 2023, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 45.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.1% in 2021.
- How does Zambia rank for out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure?
- Zambia ranks 167th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Out-of-pocket expenditure as percentage of current health expenditure (CHE) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO).