Out-of-pocket expenditure in Palau
Palau: Out-of-pocket expenditure was 12.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Out-of-pocket expenditure in Palau, 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 Palau is 12.1%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is down 25.8% on the previous year and down 24.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-pocket expenditure in Palau peaked at 19.6% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 12.1%, in 2023.
Palau ranks 157th of 193 countries 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 Palau, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 16.2% | — |
| 2001 | 16.9% | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 18.5% | +9.7% |
| 2003 | 18.0% | -2.8% |
| 2004 | 15.6% | -13.5% |
| 2005 | 16.6% | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 17.6% | +6.5% |
| 2007 | 18.1% | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 19.4% | +7.5% |
| 2009 | 19.6% | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 17.7% | -9.6% |
| 2011 | 18.5% | +4.6% |
| 2012 | 16.6% | -10.2% |
| 2013 | 16.0% | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 15.7% | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 17.3% | +9.9% |
| 2016 | 17.2% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 17.0% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 16.5% | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 14.8% | -10.4% |
| 2020 | 16.1% | +8.5% |
| 2021 | 16.1% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 16.3% | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 12.1% | -25.8% |
Palau compared with similar countries
- Palau's 12.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 16.8%, 72% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Palau's 12.1% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 12.2%, 99% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17.6% | 15.6% | 19.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.7% | 14.8% | 18.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.1% | 12.1% | 16.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Palau
- 154 San Marino 13.1% compare
- 155 New Zealand 12.7% compare
- 156 Japan 12.2% compare
- 158 Malawi 12.0% compare
- 159 Netherlands 11.8% compare
- 160 Slovenia 11.7% compare
More health data for Palau
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,529 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.2689 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2087)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 0 deaths (2100)
- Age population, age 09, male, interpolated 117 (2025)
- Population, male 9,506 (2025)
- Age population, age 09, female, interpolated 103 (2025)
- Age population, age 08, male, interpolated 112 (2025)
- Age population, age 08, female, interpolated 101 (2025)
- Age population, age 07, male, interpolated 106 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-pocket expenditure in Palau?
- Out-of-pocket expenditure in Palau was 12.1% 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 Palau?
- The highest recorded value was 19.6% in 2009.
- What is the lowest out-of-pocket expenditure recorded in Palau?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.1% in 2023.
- How does Palau rank for out-of-pocket expenditure?
- Palau ranks 157th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-pocket expenditure rising or falling in Palau?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Palau 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.