Out-of-pocket expenditure in Uganda
Uganda: Out-of-pocket expenditure was 32.2% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Out-of-pocket expenditure in Uganda, 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 Uganda stood at 32.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.9% on the previous year and down 24.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-pocket expenditure in Uganda peaked at 54.5% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 27.4%, in 2021.
Uganda ranks 77th 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 Uganda, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 43.0% | — |
| 2001 | 43.4% | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 44.0% | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 45.4% | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 38.4% | -15.5% |
| 2005 | 48.6% | +26.6% |
| 2006 | 54.1% | +11.2% |
| 2007 | 54.5% | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 52.7% | -3.2% |
| 2009 | 42.8% | -18.8% |
| 2010 | 37.4% | -12.7% |
| 2011 | 33.0% | -11.7% |
| 2012 | 37.5% | +13.6% |
| 2013 | 42.5% | +13.3% |
| 2014 | 40.1% | -5.6% |
| 2015 | 39.5% | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 40.6% | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 38.1% | -6.2% |
| 2018 | 35.6% | -6.5% |
| 2019 | 38.3% | +7.4% |
| 2020 | 29.9% | -21.8% |
| 2021 | 27.4% | -8.6% |
| 2022 | 33.8% | +23.7% |
| 2023 | 32.2% | -4.9% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 32.2% is below the median for low income countries, which is 45.6%, 70% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 32.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 32.4%, 99% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 46.7% | 38.4% | 54.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.3% | 33.0% | 42.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.8% | 27.4% | 33.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More health data for Uganda
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.34 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 853.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,666 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 111 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 0.0787 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.34 % 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 Uganda?
- Out-of-pocket expenditure in Uganda was 32.2% 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 Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 54.5% in 2007.
- What is the lowest out-of-pocket expenditure recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.4% in 2021.
- How does Uganda rank for out-of-pocket expenditure?
- Uganda ranks 77th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-pocket expenditure rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Uganda 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.