Out-of-pocket expenditure in Kenya
Kenya: Out-of-pocket expenditure was 24.2% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Out-of-pocket expenditure in Kenya, 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 Kenya stood at 24.2%.
The figure is up 1.0% on the previous year and down 24.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-pocket expenditure in Kenya peaked at 47.3% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 22.7%, in 2021.
Kenya ranks 116th 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 Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 47.3% | — |
| 2001 | 46.4% | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 44.6% | -3.8% |
| 2003 | 45.3% | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 44.5% | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 45.2% | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 39.2% | -13.3% |
| 2007 | 36.5% | -7.0% |
| 2008 | 34.1% | -6.5% |
| 2009 | 31.4% | -8.0% |
| 2010 | 30.2% | -3.8% |
| 2011 | 31.0% | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 31.6% | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 32.1% | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 29.2% | -9.1% |
| 2015 | 26.9% | -8.0% |
| 2016 | 25.0% | -7.1% |
| 2017 | 23.3% | -6.9% |
| 2018 | 23.4% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 24.3% | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 23.3% | -4.0% |
| 2021 | 22.7% | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 24.0% | +6.0% |
| 2023 | 24.2% | +1.0% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 24.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.6%, 64% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 24.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 32.4%, 75% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 41.4% | 31.4% | 47.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.7% | 23.3% | 32.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.6% | 22.7% | 24.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More health data for Kenya
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6026 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,119 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 16,059 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 89 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 0.0621 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 Kenya?
- Out-of-pocket expenditure in Kenya was 24.2% 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 47.3% in 2000.
- What is the lowest out-of-pocket expenditure recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.7% in 2021.
- How does Kenya rank for out-of-pocket expenditure?
- Kenya ranks 116th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-pocket expenditure rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya 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.