Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in India
India: Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care was 20.4% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in India, 2003–2022
Source: Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), Harvard Medical School. Measured in % of people at risk.
Analysis
The most recent figure for risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in India is 20.4%, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 20 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.5% on the previous year and down 60.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in India peaked at 81.0% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 20.4%, in 2022.
That places India 52nd out of 134 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 20 years of available data.
Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in India, year by year
| Year | % of people at risk | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 81.0% | — |
| 2004 | 78.3% | -3.3% |
| 2005 | 76.9% | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 73.8% | -4.0% |
| 2007 | 70.5% | -4.5% |
| 2008 | 67.2% | -4.7% |
| 2009 | 63.1% | -6.1% |
| 2010 | 57.8% | -8.4% |
| 2011 | 52.8% | -8.7% |
| 2012 | 51.3% | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 53.2% | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 46.4% | -12.8% |
| 2015 | 42.5% | -8.4% |
| 2016 | 37.9% | -10.8% |
| 2017 | 30.1% | -20.6% |
| 2018 | 25.0% | -16.9% |
| 2019 | 23.8% | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 24.1% | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 22.8% | -5.4% |
| 2022 | 20.4% | -10.5% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 20.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 29.2%, 70% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
- India's 20.4% is below the median for South Asia, which is 29.2%, 70% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 73.0% | 63.1% | 81.0% | 7 |
| 2010s | 42.1% | 23.8% | 57.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.4% | 20.4% | 24.1% | 3 |
Countries ranked near India
More health data for India
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4372 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,332 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 44,822 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.3809 % 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 0.0372 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5922 % 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 India?
- Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in India was 20.4% 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 81.0% in 2003.
- What is the lowest risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.4% in 2022.
- How does India rank for risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care?
- India ranks 52nd out of 134 countries with data for 2022.
- Is risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 60.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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.