Out-of-pocket expenditure in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Out-of-pocket expenditure was 57.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Out-of-pocket expenditure in Africa Western and Central, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
The most recent figure for out-of-pocket expenditure in Africa Western and Central is 57.0%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.8% on the previous year and down 7.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-pocket expenditure in Africa Western and Central peaked at 67.5% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 57.0%, in 2023.
Africa Western and Central ranks 1st of 47 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Out-of-pocket expenditure in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 61.9% | — |
| 2001 | 61.2% | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 62.8% | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 67.5% | +7.5% |
| 2004 | 62.4% | -7.6% |
| 2005 | 61.4% | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 64.5% | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 64.6% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 65.4% | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 64.5% | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 65.1% | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 63.4% | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 62.9% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 61.9% | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 62.3% | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 61.7% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 63.0% | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 63.5% | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 62.4% | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 59.3% | -5.1% |
| 2020 | 58.2% | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 60.2% | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 61.2% | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 57.0% | -6.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 63.6% | 61.2% | 67.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 62.5% | 59.3% | 65.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 59.1% | 57.0% | 61.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
- 1 Armenia 80.5% compare
- 2 Bangladesh 79.3% compare
- 3 Turkmenistan 77.4% compare
- 4 Afghanistan 77.1% compare
More health data for Africa Western and Central
- Population ages 35-39, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, annual growth rate 2.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, per capita 0.0237 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, annual growth rate 2.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, per capita 0.0278 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, annual growth rate 2.24 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, female, per capita 0.0277 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, annual growth rate 2.27 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-pocket expenditure in Africa Western and Central?
- Out-of-pocket expenditure in Africa Western and Central was 57.0% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest out-of-pocket expenditure recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 67.5% in 2003.
- What is the lowest out-of-pocket expenditure recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.0% in 2023.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for out-of-pocket expenditure?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 1st out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-pocket expenditure rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Out-of-pocket expenditure (% of current health expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of out-of-pocket payments of total current health expenditures. Out-of-pocket payments are spending on health directly out-of-pocket by households.