Out-of-pocket expenditure in Tanzania
Tanzania: Out-of-pocket expenditure was 27.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Out-of-pocket expenditure in Tanzania, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
Tanzania recorded 27.9% for out-of-pocket expenditure in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 15.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-pocket expenditure in Tanzania peaked at 42.5% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 20.8%, in 2018.
Tanzania ranks 96th 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 Tanzania, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 38.5% | — |
| 2001 | 40.9% | +6.3% |
| 2002 | 42.5% | +3.9% |
| 2003 | 40.0% | -5.9% |
| 2004 | 37.4% | -6.6% |
| 2005 | 33.7% | -9.8% |
| 2006 | 25.8% | -23.6% |
| 2007 | 28.5% | +10.5% |
| 2008 | 32.6% | +14.4% |
| 2009 | 34.6% | +6.3% |
| 2010 | 31.9% | -7.9% |
| 2011 | 28.0% | -12.4% |
| 2012 | 24.7% | -11.7% |
| 2013 | 24.1% | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 26.0% | +7.8% |
| 2015 | 25.8% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 21.9% | -15.2% |
| 2017 | 21.3% | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 20.8% | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 21.8% | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 29.0% | +33.1% |
| 2021 | 25.4% | -12.4% |
| 2022 | 28.0% | +9.9% |
| 2023 | 27.9% | -0.1% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 27.9% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.6%, 74% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 27.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 32.4%, 86% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 35.4% | 25.8% | 42.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.6% | 20.8% | 31.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.6% | 25.4% | 29.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
More health data for Tanzania
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.03 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7342 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 658.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 32,514 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 13 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.86 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0786 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.89 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-pocket expenditure in Tanzania?
- Out-of-pocket expenditure in Tanzania was 27.9% 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 Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 42.5% in 2002.
- What is the lowest out-of-pocket expenditure recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.8% in 2018.
- How does Tanzania rank for out-of-pocket expenditure?
- Tanzania ranks 96th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-pocket expenditure rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Tanzania 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.