Out-of-pocket expenditure in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Out-of-pocket expenditure was 14.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Out-of-pocket expenditure in Saudi Arabia, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 14.1% for out-of-pocket expenditure in 2023.
The figure is up 10.4% on the previous year and down 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-pocket expenditure in Saudi Arabia peaked at 19.4% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 10.1%, in 2020.
That places Saudi Arabia 146th out of 193 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Out-of-pocket expenditure in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 18.5% | — |
| 2001 | 18.0% | -2.3% |
| 2002 | 18.5% | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 17.9% | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 18.2% | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 16.5% | -9.1% |
| 2006 | 15.4% | -6.7% |
| 2007 | 16.7% | +8.7% |
| 2008 | 19.4% | +15.7% |
| 2009 | 18.4% | -5.3% |
| 2010 | 18.9% | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 15.6% | -17.5% |
| 2012 | 15.2% | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 14.4% | -5.3% |
| 2014 | 13.1% | -8.5% |
| 2015 | 14.4% | +9.5% |
| 2016 | 14.5% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 14.3% | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 15.9% | +11.0% |
| 2019 | 11.4% | -28.3% |
| 2020 | 10.1% | -11.6% |
| 2021 | 10.2% | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 12.8% | +25.9% |
| 2023 | 14.1% | +10.4% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 14.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 16.8%, 84% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 14.1% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 34.5%, 41% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17.7% | 15.4% | 19.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.8% | 11.4% | 18.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.8% | 10.1% | 14.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More health data for Saudi Arabia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8373 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.3736 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 483.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 829 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 5.31 % 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 0.0384 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 5.38 % 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 Saudi Arabia?
- Out-of-pocket expenditure in Saudi Arabia was 14.1% 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 19.4% in 2008.
- What is the lowest out-of-pocket expenditure recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.1% in 2020.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for out-of-pocket expenditure?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 146th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-pocket expenditure rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.