Out-of-pocket expenditure in Tonga
Tonga: Out-of-pocket expenditure was 5.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Out-of-pocket expenditure in Tonga, 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 Tonga is 5.9%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 49.4% on the previous year and down 33.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-pocket expenditure in Tonga peaked at 14.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 3.9%, in 2022.
That places Tonga 185th 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 Tonga, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 14.5% | — |
| 2001 | 12.1% | -16.8% |
| 2002 | 12.4% | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 12.8% | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 10.0% | -22.0% |
| 2005 | 10.6% | +6.7% |
| 2006 | 7.9% | -25.7% |
| 2007 | 9.8% | +24.2% |
| 2008 | 7.5% | -24.0% |
| 2009 | 11.4% | +52.6% |
| 2010 | 8.5% | -25.4% |
| 2011 | 7.7% | -9.4% |
| 2012 | 4.7% | -39.4% |
| 2013 | 8.9% | +89.7% |
| 2014 | 7.2% | -18.8% |
| 2015 | 7.9% | +10.0% |
| 2016 | 6.9% | -12.9% |
| 2017 | 6.3% | -8.8% |
| 2018 | 6.1% | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 6.2% | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 6.1% | -2.3% |
| 2021 | 5.1% | -16.7% |
| 2022 | 3.9% | -22.9% |
| 2023 | 5.9% | +49.4% |
Tonga compared with similar countries
- Tonga's 5.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 30.1%, 19% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Tonga's 5.9% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 12.2%, 48% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.9% | 7.5% | 14.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.0% | 4.7% | 8.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.2% | 3.9% | 6.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Tonga
- 182 Timor-Leste 7.0% compare
- 183 South Africa 6.7% compare
- 184 Oman 6.3% compare
- 186 Botswana 4.3% compare
- 187 Rwanda 4.1% compare
- 188 Solomon Islands 3.2% compare
More health data for Tonga
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -33.33 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 2.33 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 834.5 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 2 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.42 % 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 0.0535 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.36 % 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 Tonga?
- Out-of-pocket expenditure in Tonga was 5.9% 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 Tonga?
- The highest recorded value was 14.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest out-of-pocket expenditure recorded in Tonga?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.9% in 2022.
- How does Tonga rank for out-of-pocket expenditure?
- Tonga ranks 185th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-pocket expenditure rising or falling in Tonga?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Tonga 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.