Out-of-pocket expenditure in Singapore
Singapore: Out-of-pocket expenditure was 25.4% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Out-of-pocket expenditure in Singapore, 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 Singapore is 25.4%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 8.2% on the previous year and down 29.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-pocket expenditure in Singapore peaked at 55.6% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 23.5%, in 2021.
Singapore ranks 112th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Out-of-pocket expenditure in Singapore, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 48.2% | — |
| 2001 | 55.6% | +15.4% |
| 2002 | 53.1% | -4.5% |
| 2003 | 48.5% | -8.7% |
| 2004 | 51.0% | +5.3% |
| 2005 | 50.0% | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 48.8% | -2.3% |
| 2007 | 48.5% | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 46.5% | -4.1% |
| 2009 | 43.3% | -6.7% |
| 2010 | 41.5% | -4.2% |
| 2011 | 39.6% | -4.7% |
| 2012 | 37.7% | -4.7% |
| 2013 | 36.2% | -4.0% |
| 2014 | 33.3% | -8.0% |
| 2015 | 33.1% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 32.6% | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 32.1% | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 29.1% | -9.3% |
| 2019 | 28.4% | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 24.4% | -14.2% |
| 2021 | 23.5% | -3.6% |
| 2022 | 23.5% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 25.4% | +8.2% |
Singapore compared with similar countries
- Singapore's 25.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 16.8%, 1.5× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Singapore's 25.4% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 12.2%, 2.1× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 49.3% | 43.3% | 55.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.4% | 28.4% | 41.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.2% | 23.5% | 25.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Singapore
More health data for Singapore
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.5225 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,924 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 13 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.93 % 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 0.0196 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 2.52 % 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 Singapore?
- Out-of-pocket expenditure in Singapore was 25.4% 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 Singapore?
- The highest recorded value was 55.6% in 2001.
- What is the lowest out-of-pocket expenditure recorded in Singapore?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.5% in 2021.
- How does Singapore rank for out-of-pocket expenditure?
- Singapore ranks 112th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-pocket expenditure rising or falling in Singapore?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Singapore 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.