Out-of-pocket expenditure in Arab World
Arab World: Out-of-pocket expenditure was 26.3% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Out-of-pocket expenditure in Arab World, 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 Arab World is 26.3%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 0.3% on the previous year and down 14.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-pocket expenditure in Arab World peaked at 37.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 25.2%, in 2021.
That places Arab World 33rd out of 47 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Out-of-pocket expenditure in Arab World, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 37.8% | — |
| 2001 | 36.0% | -4.8% |
| 2002 | 36.5% | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 35.9% | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 35.6% | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 35.2% | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 34.4% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 34.8% | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 34.6% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 32.0% | -7.6% |
| 2010 | 32.9% | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 30.8% | -6.3% |
| 2012 | 31.4% | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 30.6% | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 29.3% | -4.5% |
| 2015 | 31.5% | +7.6% |
| 2016 | 29.2% | -7.3% |
| 2017 | 28.4% | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 29.2% | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 27.3% | -6.5% |
| 2020 | 25.8% | -5.6% |
| 2021 | 25.2% | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 26.2% | +4.1% |
| 2023 | 26.3% | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 35.3% | 32.0% | 37.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.1% | 27.3% | 32.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.9% | 25.2% | 26.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Arab World
More health data for Arab World
- Population ages 40-44, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, annual growth rate 3.67 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per capita 0.0342 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, male, annual growth rate 0.0711 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, annual growth rate 2.95 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, per capita 0.0298 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, female, per capita 0.0338 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-pocket expenditure in Arab World?
- Out-of-pocket expenditure in Arab World was 26.3% 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 Arab World?
- The highest recorded value was 37.8% in 2000.
- What is the lowest out-of-pocket expenditure recorded in Arab World?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.2% in 2021.
- How does Arab World rank for out-of-pocket expenditure?
- Arab World ranks 33rd out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-pocket expenditure rising or falling in Arab World?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Arab World 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.