Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Least developed countries

Least developed countries: Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care was 57.2% in 2018. ▼ Falling

Latest (2018)
57.2%
Change on year
down 0.0%
Rank
2nd
of 39 groups
All-time high
77.1%
in 2003
All-time low
57.2%
in 2018
Years of data
14
2003–2018

Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Least developed countries, 2003–2018

0204060802003201020182003: 77.1 % of people at risk2004: 73 % of people at risk2006: 71.5 % of people at risk2007: 71.3 % of people at risk2008: 70.1 % of people at risk2009: 67.8 % of people at risk2010: 66 % of people at risk2011: 70.9 % of people at risk2013: 62.8 % of people at risk2014: 59.2 % of people at risk2015: 58.1 % of people at risk2016: 57.6 % of people at risk2017: 57.2 % of people at risk2018: 57.2 % of people at risk

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 Least developed countries is 57.2%, measured in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 14 years on record.

The figure is down 18.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Least developed countries peaked at 77.1% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 57.2%, in 2018.

Least developed countries ranks 2nd of 39 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.

Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Least developed countries, year by year

Annual values for Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care (% of people at risk) in Least developed countries, 2003 to 2018.
Year % of people at risk Change
2003 77.1%
2004 73.0% -5.3%
2006 71.5% -2.0%
2007 71.3% -0.4%
2008 70.1% -1.6%
2009 67.8% -3.3%
2010 66.0% -2.6%
2011 70.9% +7.4%
2013 62.8% -11.5%
2014 59.2% -5.7%
2015 58.1% -1.8%
2016 57.6% -0.9%
2017 57.2% -0.6%
2018 57.2% -0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 71.8% 67.8% 77.1% 6
2010s 61.1% 57.2% 70.9% 8

Countries ranked near Least developed countries

  1. 1 Côte d'Ivoire 100.0% compare
  2. 2 Burundi 97.8% compare
  3. 3 Yemen 93.4% compare
  4. 4 Latvia 89.9% compare
  5. 5 Central African Republic 89.7% compare

See the full ranking of 173 places →

More health data for Least developed countries

All data for Least developed countries →

Frequently asked questions

What is risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Least developed countries?
Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Least developed countries was 57.2% in 2018, 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 Least developed countries?
The highest recorded value was 77.1% in 2003.
What is the lowest risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care recorded in Least developed countries?
The lowest recorded value was 57.2% in 2018.
How does Least developed countries rank for risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care?
Least developed countries ranks 2nd out of 39 groups with data for 2018.
Is risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care rising or falling in Least developed countries?
Over the last ten years it is down 18.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Least developed countries 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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Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Least developed countries. Statizoid, drawing on Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), Harvard Medical School. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/risk-of-catastrophic-expenditure-for-surgical-care-percent-of-people-at-risk/least-developed-countries-un-classification/

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About this data

Indicator
Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care (% of people at risk)
Unit
% of people at risk
Source
Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), Harvard Medical School
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
173 places, 3,065 data points, 2003–2022
Last refreshed

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.