Out-of-pocket expenditure in Malawi
Malawi: Out-of-pocket expenditure was 12.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Out-of-pocket expenditure in Malawi, 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 Malawi is 12.0%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.6% on the previous year and up 79.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-pocket expenditure in Malawi peaked at 18.5% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 6.7%, in 2013.
Malawi ranks 158th of 193 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Out-of-pocket expenditure in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 16.8% | — |
| 2001 | 18.5% | +10.6% |
| 2002 | 15.0% | -19.2% |
| 2003 | 12.1% | -19.5% |
| 2004 | 9.7% | -19.6% |
| 2005 | 9.1% | -6.2% |
| 2006 | 8.9% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 11.7% | +31.3% |
| 2008 | 10.4% | -11.5% |
| 2009 | 11.2% | +8.3% |
| 2010 | 10.9% | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 9.0% | -18.0% |
| 2012 | 10.2% | +14.3% |
| 2013 | 6.7% | -34.5% |
| 2014 | 8.2% | +22.0% |
| 2015 | 11.0% | +34.2% |
| 2016 | 12.4% | +13.0% |
| 2017 | 12.7% | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 12.8% | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 11.9% | -7.4% |
| 2020 | 12.5% | +5.5% |
| 2021 | 11.5% | -7.8% |
| 2022 | 12.6% | +9.1% |
| 2023 | 12.0% | -4.6% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 12.0% is below the median for low income countries, which is 45.6%, 26% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 12.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 32.4%, 37% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12.3% | 8.9% | 18.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.6% | 6.7% | 12.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.2% | 11.5% | 12.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More health data for Malawi
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8368 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9312 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 856.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,399 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.61 % 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 0.0714 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.63 % 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 Malawi?
- Out-of-pocket expenditure in Malawi was 12.0% 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 Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 18.5% in 2001.
- What is the lowest out-of-pocket expenditure recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.7% in 2013.
- How does Malawi rank for out-of-pocket expenditure?
- Malawi ranks 158th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-pocket expenditure rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 79.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi 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.