Out-of-pocket expenditure in Nigeria
Nigeria: Out-of-pocket expenditure was 71.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Out-of-pocket expenditure in Nigeria, 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 Nigeria stood at 71.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.1% on the previous year and up 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-pocket expenditure in Nigeria peaked at 77.4% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 60.2%, in 2000.
Nigeria ranks 6th of 193 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Out-of-pocket expenditure in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 60.2% | — |
| 2001 | 60.7% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 65.0% | +7.1% |
| 2003 | 72.8% | +11.9% |
| 2004 | 64.5% | -11.4% |
| 2005 | 66.0% | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 70.5% | +6.8% |
| 2007 | 70.9% | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 72.8% | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 74.5% | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 76.9% | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 74.7% | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 72.8% | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 70.9% | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 71.9% | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 71.9% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 75.2% | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 77.4% | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 75.9% | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 71.5% | -5.9% |
| 2020 | 74.7% | +4.4% |
| 2021 | 76.2% | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 75.7% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 71.9% | -5.1% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 71.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.6%, 1.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 71.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 32.4%, 2.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 67.8% | 60.2% | 74.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 73.9% | 70.9% | 77.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 74.6% | 71.9% | 76.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More health data for Nigeria
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8137 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,301 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 257,921 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 14 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.14 % 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 0.0711 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.17 % 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 Nigeria?
- Out-of-pocket expenditure in Nigeria was 71.9% 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 77.4% in 2017.
- What is the lowest out-of-pocket expenditure recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 60.2% in 2000.
- How does Nigeria rank for out-of-pocket expenditure?
- Nigeria ranks 6th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-pocket expenditure rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.