Out-of-pocket expenditure in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Out-of-pocket expenditure was 46.3% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Out-of-pocket expenditure in Ethiopia, 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 Ethiopia is 46.3%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 3.7% on the previous year and up 9.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-pocket expenditure in Ethiopia peaked at 46.5% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 31.3%, in 2005.
That places Ethiopia 39th out of 193 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Out-of-pocket expenditure in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 36.0% | — |
| 2001 | 34.6% | -3.9% |
| 2002 | 37.5% | +8.4% |
| 2003 | 34.5% | -8.0% |
| 2004 | 34.9% | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 31.3% | -10.1% |
| 2006 | 38.8% | +23.7% |
| 2007 | 37.0% | -4.6% |
| 2008 | 38.5% | +4.0% |
| 2009 | 41.5% | +8.0% |
| 2010 | 42.3% | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 46.5% | +10.0% |
| 2012 | 42.2% | -9.4% |
| 2013 | 42.4% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 38.5% | -9.3% |
| 2015 | 36.7% | -4.5% |
| 2016 | 35.4% | -3.6% |
| 2017 | 34.4% | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 35.5% | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 37.8% | +6.6% |
| 2020 | 33.1% | -12.5% |
| 2021 | 37.0% | +11.9% |
| 2022 | 44.6% | +20.5% |
| 2023 | 46.3% | +3.8% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 46.3% is above the median for low income countries, which is 45.6%, 1.0× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 46.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 32.4%, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 36.4% | 31.3% | 41.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.2% | 34.4% | 46.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.2% | 33.1% | 46.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More health data for Ethiopia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9494 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 744.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 19,997 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 148 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.34 % 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 0.0709 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.36 % 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 expenditure in Ethiopia?
- Out-of-pocket expenditure in Ethiopia was 46.3% 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 46.5% in 2011.
- What is the lowest out-of-pocket expenditure recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.3% in 2005.
- How does Ethiopia rank for out-of-pocket expenditure?
- Ethiopia ranks 39th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-pocket expenditure rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.