Out-of-pocket expenditure in Australia
Australia: Out-of-pocket expenditure was 15.8% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Out-of-pocket expenditure in Australia, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
In 2023, out-of-pocket expenditure in Australia stood at 15.8%.
The figure is up 4.7% on the previous year and down 18.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-pocket expenditure in Australia peaked at 21.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 14.5%, in 2021.
That places Australia 141st out of 193 countries 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 Australia, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 21.0% | — |
| 2001 | 20.4% | -2.7% |
| 2002 | 19.9% | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 19.1% | -3.9% |
| 2004 | 19.2% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 19.6% | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 19.7% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 19.0% | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 19.0% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 19.1% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 19.7% | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 19.2% | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 19.9% | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 19.5% | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 17.8% | -8.6% |
| 2015 | 16.9% | -5.2% |
| 2016 | 16.6% | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 16.3% | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 16.5% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 15.0% | -8.9% |
| 2020 | 15.2% | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 14.5% | -5.1% |
| 2022 | 15.1% | +4.6% |
| 2023 | 15.8% | +4.7% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 15.8% is below the median for high income countries, which is 16.8%, 94% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Australia's 15.8% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 12.2%, 1.3× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 19.6% | 19.0% | 21.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.8% | 15.0% | 19.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.2% | 14.5% | 15.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More health data for Australia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.83 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.9072 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 906.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 215 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2021)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.45 % 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 0.0279 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.35 % 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 expenditure in Australia?
- Out-of-pocket expenditure in Australia was 15.8% 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 Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 21.0% in 2000.
- What is the lowest out-of-pocket expenditure recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.5% in 2021.
- How does Australia rank for out-of-pocket expenditure?
- Australia ranks 141st out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-pocket expenditure rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Australia 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.