Out-of-pocket expenditure in South Asia
South Asia: Out-of-pocket expenditure was 46.6% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Out-of-pocket expenditure in South Asia, 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 South Asia is 46.6%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 31.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-pocket expenditure in South Asia peaked at 72.3% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 46.6%, in 2023.
South Asia ranks 10th of 47 groups 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 South Asia, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 69.8% | — |
| 2001 | 72.3% | +3.6% |
| 2002 | 71.4% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 71.5% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 70.7% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 71.4% | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 70.5% | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 69.6% | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 68.1% | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 66.0% | -3.1% |
| 2010 | 64.7% | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 62.0% | -4.2% |
| 2012 | 62.7% | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 68.2% | +8.8% |
| 2014 | 66.3% | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 64.3% | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 63.0% | -2.1% |
| 2017 | 55.9% | -11.2% |
| 2018 | 54.3% | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 53.5% | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 51.2% | -4.4% |
| 2021 | 47.3% | -7.5% |
| 2022 | 47.1% | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 46.6% | -1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 70.1% | 66.0% | 72.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 61.5% | 53.5% | 68.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.1% | 46.6% | 51.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 7 Myanmar 71.1% compare
- 8 Yemen 69.1% compare
- 9 Cameroon 67.7% compare
- 10 Equatorial Guinea 66.0% compare
- 11 Azerbaijan 64.6% compare
- 12 Togo 64.3% compare
- 13 Uzbekistan 64.1% compare
More health data for South Asia
- Population ages 65-69, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, male, annual growth rate 0.1112 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, per capita 0.0146 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, annual growth rate 2.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per capita 0.043 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 4.29 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, annual growth rate 2.63 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-pocket expenditure in South Asia?
- Out-of-pocket expenditure in South Asia was 46.6% 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 72.3% in 2001.
- What is the lowest out-of-pocket expenditure recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.6% in 2023.
- How does South Asia rank for out-of-pocket expenditure?
- South Asia ranks 10th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-pocket expenditure rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Asia 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.