Out-of-pocket expenditure in Iran
Iran: Out-of-pocket expenditure was 43.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Out-of-pocket expenditure in Iran, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
Iran recorded 43.1% for out-of-pocket expenditure in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.7% on the previous year and down 9.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-pocket expenditure in Iran peaked at 59.6% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 32.8%, in 2017.
Iran ranks 51st of 193 countries on this measure, 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 Iran, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 59.6% | — |
| 2001 | 59.2% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 54.7% | -7.6% |
| 2003 | 54.1% | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 56.6% | +4.6% |
| 2005 | 56.1% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 51.7% | -7.9% |
| 2007 | 53.2% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 55.5% | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 56.0% | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 59.4% | +6.0% |
| 2011 | 57.5% | -3.2% |
| 2012 | 55.0% | -4.5% |
| 2013 | 47.9% | -12.9% |
| 2014 | 40.1% | -16.2% |
| 2015 | 39.0% | -2.9% |
| 2016 | 36.6% | -6.2% |
| 2017 | 32.8% | -10.3% |
| 2018 | 40.0% | +21.9% |
| 2019 | 39.1% | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 37.4% | -4.4% |
| 2021 | 41.7% | +11.5% |
| 2022 | 41.6% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 43.1% | +3.7% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 43.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 30.1%, 1.4× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iran's 43.1% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 34.5%, 1.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 55.7% | 51.7% | 59.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 44.7% | 32.8% | 59.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.0% | 37.4% | 43.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iran
- 48 India 43.9% compare
- 49 Burkina Faso 43.8% compare
- 50 Mauritania 43.8% compare
- 52 Benin 42.4% compare
- 53 Kyrgyzstan 42.3% compare
- 54 Palestine 42.1% compare
More health data for Iran
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.38 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.5627 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,361 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 1,070 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.88 % 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 0.0311 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.95 % 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 Iran?
- Out-of-pocket expenditure in Iran was 43.1% 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 59.6% in 2000.
- What is the lowest out-of-pocket expenditure recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.8% in 2017.
- How does Iran rank for out-of-pocket expenditure?
- Iran ranks 51st out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-pocket expenditure rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iran 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.