Out-of-pocket expenditure in Mauritania
Mauritania: Out-of-pocket expenditure was 43.8% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Out-of-pocket expenditure in Mauritania, 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 Mauritania is 43.8%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.9% on the previous year and down 12.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-pocket expenditure in Mauritania peaked at 77.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 41.7%, in 2022.
That places Mauritania 50th 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 Mauritania, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 77.8% | — |
| 2001 | 77.1% | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 70.0% | -9.3% |
| 2003 | 68.4% | -2.3% |
| 2004 | 70.5% | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 67.1% | -4.8% |
| 2006 | 68.2% | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 65.3% | -4.2% |
| 2008 | 60.9% | -6.7% |
| 2009 | 62.8% | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 62.6% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 58.4% | -6.8% |
| 2012 | 55.4% | -5.1% |
| 2013 | 50.2% | -9.4% |
| 2014 | 47.6% | -5.2% |
| 2015 | 47.7% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 55.7% | +16.8% |
| 2017 | 54.1% | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 65.0% | +20.1% |
| 2019 | 60.3% | -7.2% |
| 2020 | 61.5% | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 48.2% | -21.7% |
| 2022 | 41.7% | -13.4% |
| 2023 | 43.8% | +4.9% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's 43.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.6%, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's 43.8% 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 | 68.8% | 60.9% | 77.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.7% | 47.6% | 65.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.8% | 41.7% | 61.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Mauritania
- 47 Senegal 44.3% compare
- 48 India 43.9% compare
- 49 Burkina Faso 43.8% compare
- 51 Iran, Islamic Republic of 43.1% compare
- 52 Benin 42.4% compare
- 53 Kyrgyzstan 42.3% compare
More health data for Mauritania
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8878 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.19 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 653 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 1,563 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.77 % 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 0.077 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.77 % 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 Mauritania?
- Out-of-pocket expenditure in Mauritania was 43.8% 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 Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 77.8% in 2000.
- What is the lowest out-of-pocket expenditure recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.7% in 2022.
- How does Mauritania rank for out-of-pocket expenditure?
- Mauritania ranks 50th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-pocket expenditure rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Mauritania 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.