Out-of-pocket expenditure in New Zealand
New Zealand: Out-of-pocket expenditure was 12.7% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Out-of-pocket expenditure in New Zealand, 2000–2024
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 New Zealand is 12.7%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% on the previous year and down 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-pocket expenditure in New Zealand peaked at 17.0% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 11.5%, in 2007.
New Zealand ranks 155th of 193 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Out-of-pocket expenditure in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 15.4% | — |
| 2001 | 17.0% | +10.6% |
| 2002 | 16.1% | -5.5% |
| 2003 | 15.4% | -4.2% |
| 2004 | 14.1% | -8.3% |
| 2005 | 14.1% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 13.8% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 11.5% | -17.2% |
| 2008 | 12.9% | +12.4% |
| 2009 | 12.0% | -6.5% |
| 2010 | 11.8% | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 11.7% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 11.8% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 11.9% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 12.8% | +8.3% |
| 2015 | 13.8% | +7.5% |
| 2016 | 14.6% | +5.9% |
| 2017 | 14.5% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 14.6% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 14.4% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 14.2% | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 13.6% | -4.4% |
| 2022 | 11.9% | -12.1% |
| 2023 | 12.6% | +5.6% |
| 2024 | 12.7% | +0.7% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 12.7% is below the median for high income countries, which is 16.8%, 76% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 12.7% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 12.2%, 1.0× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 14.2% | 11.5% | 17.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.2% | 11.7% | 14.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.0% | 11.9% | 14.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More health data for New Zealand
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.94 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.4815 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,116 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 33 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.1187 % 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 0.0277 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.018 % 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 New Zealand?
- Out-of-pocket expenditure in New Zealand was 12.7% in 2024, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest out-of-pocket expenditure recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 17.0% in 2001.
- What is the lowest out-of-pocket expenditure recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.5% in 2007.
- How does New Zealand rank for out-of-pocket expenditure?
- New Zealand ranks 155th out of 193 countries with data for 2024.
- Is out-of-pocket expenditure rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand 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.