Out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare in Zambia
Zambia: Out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare was 25.07 current international $ in 2023. ▼ Falling
Out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare in Zambia, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in current international $.
Analysis
In 2023, out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare in Zambia stood at 25.07 current international $.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 40.5% on the previous year and up 34.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare in Zambia peaked at 36.56 current international $ in 2005 and was at its lowest, 15.58 current international $, in 2011.
That places Zambia 176th out of 193 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare in Zambia, year by year
| Year | current international $ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 32.04 current international $ | — |
| 2001 | 33.11 current international $ | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 30.76 current international $ | -7.1% |
| 2003 | 33.09 current international $ | +7.6% |
| 2004 | 35.12 current international $ | +6.1% |
| 2005 | 36.56 current international $ | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 34.08 current international $ | -6.8% |
| 2007 | 28.93 current international $ | -15.1% |
| 2008 | 24.84 current international $ | -14.1% |
| 2009 | 22.05 current international $ | -11.2% |
| 2010 | 18.23 current international $ | -17.3% |
| 2011 | 15.58 current international $ | -14.5% |
| 2012 | 16.98 current international $ | +9.0% |
| 2013 | 18.62 current international $ | +9.7% |
| 2014 | 18.21 current international $ | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 18.12 current international $ | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 17.98 current international $ | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 17.28 current international $ | -3.9% |
| 2018 | 16.87 current international $ | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 16.46 current international $ | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 16.16 current international $ | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 16.46 current international $ | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 17.84 current international $ | +8.4% |
| 2023 | 25.07 current international $ | +40.5% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 25.07 current international $ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 91.82 current international $, 27% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 25.07 current international $ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 62.04 current international $, 40% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 31.06 current international $ | 22.05 current international $ | 36.56 current international $ | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.43 current international $ | 15.58 current international $ | 18.62 current international $ | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.88 current international $ | 16.16 current international $ | 25.07 current international $ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 173 Timor-Leste 32.25 current international $ compare
- 174 Gambia 31.8 current international $ compare
- 175 Tonga 30.03 current international $ compare
- 177 Burundi 24.51 current international $ compare
- 178 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 21.95 current international $ compare
- 179 Naoero 18.1 current international $ 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 spending per capita on healthcare in Zambia?
- Out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare in Zambia was 25.07 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 36.56 current international $ in 2005.
- What is the lowest out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.58 current international $ in 2011.
- How does Zambia rank for out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare?
- Zambia ranks 176th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 34.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia 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.
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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.