Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in China
China: Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care was 3.7% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in China, 2003–2022
Source: Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), Harvard Medical School. Measured in % of people at risk.
Analysis
In 2022, risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in China stood at 3.7%. That is the lowest value across all 20 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 50.7% on the previous year and down 84.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in China peaked at 73.8% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 2022.
China ranks 90th of 134 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in China, year by year
| Year | % of people at risk | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 73.8% | — |
| 2004 | 70.6% | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 65.6% | -7.1% |
| 2006 | 59.7% | -9.0% |
| 2007 | 48.5% | -18.8% |
| 2008 | 45.1% | -7.0% |
| 2009 | 38.0% | -15.7% |
| 2010 | 32.7% | -13.9% |
| 2011 | 26.7% | -18.3% |
| 2012 | 23.3% | -12.7% |
| 2013 | 17.6% | -24.5% |
| 2014 | 14.4% | -18.2% |
| 2015 | 11.4% | -20.8% |
| 2016 | 10.4% | -8.8% |
| 2017 | 9.7% | -6.7% |
| 2018 | 8.0% | -17.5% |
| 2019 | 6.7% | -16.2% |
| 2020 | 6.2% | -7.5% |
| 2021 | 7.5% | +21.0% |
| 2022 | 3.7% | -50.7% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 3.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10.4%, 36% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
- China's 3.7% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.4%, 1.6× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 57.3% | 38.0% | 73.8% | 7 |
| 2010s | 16.1% | 6.7% | 32.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.8% | 3.7% | 7.5% | 3 |
Countries ranked near China
More health data for China
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0985 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,029 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,642 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 10 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -8.22 % 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 0.0159 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -8.73 % 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 risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in China?
- Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in China was 3.7% in 2022, according to Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), Harvard Medical School.
- What is the highest risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 73.8% in 2003.
- What is the lowest risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 2022.
- How does China rank for risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care?
- China ranks 90th out of 134 countries with data for 2022.
- Is risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 84.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), Harvard Medical School, published as part of Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care (% of people at risk). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The proportion of population at risk of catastrophic expenditure when surgical care is required. Catastrophic expenditure is defined as direct out of pocket payments for surgical and anaesthesia care exceeding 10% of total income.