Out-of-pocket expenditure in Thailand
Thailand: Out-of-pocket expenditure was 9.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Out-of-pocket expenditure in Thailand, 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 Thailand is 9.9%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 7.8% on the previous year and down 20.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-pocket expenditure in Thailand peaked at 34.2% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 8.7%, in 2019.
That places Thailand 170th 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 Thailand, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 34.2% | — |
| 2001 | 34.0% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 27.9% | -17.9% |
| 2003 | 27.2% | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 26.4% | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 27.6% | +4.4% |
| 2006 | 17.7% | -36.0% |
| 2007 | 14.8% | -16.1% |
| 2008 | 14.7% | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 15.9% | +8.2% |
| 2010 | 14.5% | -8.8% |
| 2011 | 13.0% | -10.3% |
| 2012 | 13.4% | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 12.5% | -6.6% |
| 2014 | 12.9% | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 11.9% | -7.4% |
| 2016 | 10.8% | -9.2% |
| 2017 | 11.8% | +9.5% |
| 2018 | 10.1% | -14.6% |
| 2019 | 8.7% | -14.3% |
| 2020 | 10.5% | +21.6% |
| 2021 | 9.0% | -14.2% |
| 2022 | 9.2% | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 9.9% | +7.8% |
Thailand compared with similar countries
- Thailand's 9.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 30.1%, 33% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Thailand's 9.9% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 12.2%, 81% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 24.0% | 14.7% | 34.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.0% | 8.7% | 14.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.7% | 9.0% | 10.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
More health data for Thailand
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.6 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0316 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,582 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 677 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.01 % 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 0.0201 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.97 % 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 Thailand?
- Out-of-pocket expenditure in Thailand was 9.9% 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 Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 34.2% in 2000.
- What is the lowest out-of-pocket expenditure recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.7% in 2019.
- How does Thailand rank for out-of-pocket expenditure?
- Thailand ranks 170th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-pocket expenditure rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Thailand 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.