Out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare in Malaysia
Malaysia: Out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare was 534.6 current international $ in 2023. ▲ Rising
Out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare in Malaysia, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in current international $.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 534.6 current international $ for out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare in 2023. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.3% on the previous year and up 92.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare in Malaysia peaked at 534.6 current international $ in 2023 and was at its lowest, 135.95 current international $, in 2001.
That places Malaysia 69th out of 193 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | current international $ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 145.22 current international $ | — |
| 2001 | 135.95 current international $ | -6.4% |
| 2002 | 137.51 current international $ | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 158.08 current international $ | +15.0% |
| 2004 | 173.39 current international $ | +9.7% |
| 2005 | 181.81 current international $ | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 197.1 current international $ | +8.4% |
| 2007 | 210.29 current international $ | +6.7% |
| 2008 | 218.03 current international $ | +3.7% |
| 2009 | 208.07 current international $ | -4.6% |
| 2010 | 221.13 current international $ | +6.3% |
| 2011 | 243.82 current international $ | +10.3% |
| 2012 | 262.3 current international $ | +7.6% |
| 2013 | 277.82 current international $ | +5.9% |
| 2014 | 302.25 current international $ | +8.8% |
| 2015 | 315.98 current international $ | +4.5% |
| 2016 | 336.4 current international $ | +6.5% |
| 2017 | 352.61 current international $ | +4.8% |
| 2018 | 382.85 current international $ | +8.6% |
| 2019 | 400.67 current international $ | +4.7% |
| 2020 | 384.13 current international $ | -4.1% |
| 2021 | 418.52 current international $ | +9.0% |
| 2022 | 507.63 current international $ | +21.3% |
| 2023 | 534.6 current international $ | +5.3% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 534.6 current international $ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 382.2 current international $, 1.4× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 534.6 current international $ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 129.49 current international $, 4.1× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 176.55 current international $ | 135.95 current international $ | 218.03 current international $ | 10 |
| 2010s | 309.58 current international $ | 221.13 current international $ | 400.67 current international $ | 10 |
| 2020s | 461.22 current international $ | 384.13 current international $ | 534.6 current international $ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 66 Mongolia 541.16 current international $ compare
- 67 Uruguay 536.07 current international $ compare
- 68 Guatemala 534.85 current international $ compare
- 70 Paraguay 533.75 current international $ compare
- 71 Egypt 517.42 current international $ compare
- 72 Saudi Arabia 490.54 current international $ compare
More health data for Malaysia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.9119 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.2888 % 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 1 652 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 18 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7207 % 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 0.0297 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5991 % 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 out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare in Malaysia?
- Out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare in Malaysia was 534.6 current international $ in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 534.6 current international $ in 2023.
- What is the lowest out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 135.95 current international $ in 2001.
- How does Malaysia rank for out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare?
- Malaysia ranks 69th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 92.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Out-of-pocket spending is defined as direct payments made by individuals to health care providers at the time of service use. This data is adjusted for differences in living costs between countries, but it is not adjusted for inflation.