Out-of-pocket expenditure in North America
North America: Out-of-pocket expenditure was 11.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Out-of-pocket expenditure in North America, 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 North America is 11.1%, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 10.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-pocket expenditure in North America peaked at 15.2% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 10.3%, in 2020.
North America ranks 46th of 47 groups 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 North America, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 15.2% | — |
| 2001 | 14.5% | -4.6% |
| 2002 | 14.4% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 14.2% | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 14.0% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 14.0% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 13.8% | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 13.7% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 13.5% | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 12.8% | -5.2% |
| 2010 | 12.6% | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 12.5% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 12.5% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 12.4% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 12.1% | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 11.9% | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 11.8% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 11.6% | -2.1% |
| 2018 | 11.5% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 11.5% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 10.3% | -11.0% |
| 2021 | 10.9% | +6.6% |
| 2022 | 11.2% | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 11.1% | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 14.0% | 12.8% | 15.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.1% | 11.5% | 12.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.9% | 10.3% | 11.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near North America
- 43 Central African Republic 45.0% compare
- 44 Algeria 45.0% compare
- 45 Laos 44.8% compare
- 46 Philippines 44.4% compare
- 47 Senegal 44.3% compare
- 48 India 43.9% compare
- 49 Burkina Faso 43.8% compare
More health data for North America
- Population ages 55-59, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per capita 0.0297 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, male, annual growth rate -0.5946 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, female, per capita 0.0314 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, annual growth rate -0.6806 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, male, annual growth rate 0.3175 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, male, per capita 0.0301 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-pocket expenditure in North America?
- Out-of-pocket expenditure in North America was 11.1% 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 North America?
- The highest recorded value was 15.2% in 2000.
- What is the lowest out-of-pocket expenditure recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.3% in 2020.
- How does North America rank for out-of-pocket expenditure?
- North America ranks 46th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-pocket expenditure rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North America 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.