Out-of-pocket expenditure in Pakistan
Pakistan: Out-of-pocket expenditure was 52.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Out-of-pocket expenditure in Pakistan, 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 Pakistan stood at 52.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 11.8% on the previous year and down 15.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-pocket expenditure in Pakistan peaked at 72.8% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 47.4%, in 2022.
Pakistan ranks 29th of 193 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Out-of-pocket expenditure in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 57.3% | — |
| 2001 | 55.8% | -2.7% |
| 2002 | 51.0% | -8.7% |
| 2003 | 60.5% | +18.6% |
| 2004 | 60.8% | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 65.9% | +8.4% |
| 2006 | 72.8% | +10.6% |
| 2007 | 71.7% | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 70.0% | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 67.9% | -3.0% |
| 2010 | 67.8% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 65.3% | -3.6% |
| 2012 | 61.2% | -6.4% |
| 2013 | 62.7% | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 65.5% | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 64.4% | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 62.1% | -3.6% |
| 2017 | 57.8% | -6.9% |
| 2018 | 56.2% | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 56.1% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 55.2% | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 50.7% | -8.3% |
| 2022 | 47.4% | -6.5% |
| 2023 | 52.9% | +11.8% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 52.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.6%, 1.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 52.9% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 34.5%, 1.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 63.4% | 51.0% | 72.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 61.9% | 56.1% | 67.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.6% | 47.4% | 55.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More health data for Pakistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.14 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8219 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 944.5 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 55,286 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 335 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.5028 % 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 0.0616 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.4109 % 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 Pakistan?
- Out-of-pocket expenditure in Pakistan was 52.9% 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 72.8% in 2006.
- What is the lowest out-of-pocket expenditure recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.4% in 2022.
- How does Pakistan rank for out-of-pocket expenditure?
- Pakistan ranks 29th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-pocket expenditure rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.