Out-of-pocket expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Out-of-pocket expenditure was 30.4% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Out-of-pocket expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa, 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 Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 30.4%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.1% on the previous year and down 8.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-pocket expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 35.8% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 29.4%, in 2019.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 25th out of 47 groups with data for 2023, putting it 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 Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 31.8% | — |
| 2001 | 33.1% | +4.3% |
| 2002 | 34.9% | +5.5% |
| 2003 | 35.4% | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 32.5% | -8.3% |
| 2005 | 32.5% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 34.3% | +5.4% |
| 2007 | 34.4% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 35.8% | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 32.4% | -9.5% |
| 2010 | 31.2% | -3.8% |
| 2011 | 30.5% | -2.1% |
| 2012 | 31.0% | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 33.3% | +7.4% |
| 2014 | 34.0% | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 34.5% | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 34.0% | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 31.4% | -7.5% |
| 2018 | 29.4% | -6.6% |
| 2019 | 29.4% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 30.4% | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 30.5% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 32.0% | +5.0% |
| 2023 | 30.4% | -5.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 33.7% | 31.8% | 35.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.9% | 29.4% | 34.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.8% | 30.4% | 32.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Population ages 15-64, male, annual growth rate 3.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, total, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, total, per capita 0.4038 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, annual growth rate 2.96 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, per capita 0.2837 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, annual growth rate 3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, per capita 0.2801 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-pocket expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Out-of-pocket expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa was 30.4% 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 Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 35.8% in 2008.
- What is the lowest out-of-pocket expenditure recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.4% in 2019.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for out-of-pocket expenditure?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 25th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-pocket expenditure rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa 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.