Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Low & middle income

Low & middle income: Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care was 20.9% in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
20.9%
Change on year
up 2.9%
Rank
18th
of 39 groups
All-time high
63.8%
in 2003
All-time low
20.3%
in 2021
Years of data
20
2003–2022

Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Low & middle income, 2003–2022

20304050602003201220222003: 63.8 % of people at risk2004: 61.6 % of people at risk2005: 59.8 % of people at risk2006: 55.9 % of people at risk2007: 51.5 % of people at risk2008: 48.6 % of people at risk2009: 45.3 % of people at risk2010: 42.7 % of people at risk2011: 39.5 % of people at risk2012: 37.4 % of people at risk2013: 35.5 % of people at risk2014: 32.2 % of people at risk2015: 30.1 % of people at risk2016: 28.5 % of people at risk2017: 25.8 % of people at risk2018: 23.7 % of people at risk2019: 21.8 % of people at risk2020: 22.3 % of people at risk2021: 20.3 % of people at risk2022: 20.9 % of people at risk

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 Low & middle income stood at 20.9%.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.9% on the previous year and down 44.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Low & middle income peaked at 63.8% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 20.3%, in 2021.

Low & middle income ranks 18th of 39 groups on this measure, 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 Low & middle income, year by year

Annual values for Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care (% of people at risk) in Low & middle income, 2003 to 2022.
Year % of people at risk Change
2003 63.8%
2004 61.6% -3.4%
2005 59.8% -2.9%
2006 55.9% -6.5%
2007 51.5% -7.8%
2008 48.6% -5.7%
2009 45.3% -6.9%
2010 42.7% -5.8%
2011 39.5% -7.4%
2012 37.4% -5.3%
2013 35.5% -5.0%
2014 32.2% -9.3%
2015 30.1% -6.7%
2016 28.5% -5.4%
2017 25.8% -9.3%
2018 23.7% -8.1%
2019 21.8% -8.1%
2020 22.3% +2.3%
2021 20.3% -9.0%
2022 20.9% +2.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 55.2% 45.3% 63.8% 7
2010s 31.7% 21.8% 42.7% 10
2020s 21.2% 20.3% 22.3% 3

Countries ranked near Low & middle income

  1. 15 Uganda 68.4% compare
  2. 16 Tajikistan 68.2% compare
  3. 17 Congo 63.7% compare
  4. 18 Sudan 63.3% compare
  5. 19 Madagascar 59.0% compare
  6. 20 Nepal 58.2% compare
  7. 21 Guinea 57.5% compare

See the full ranking of 173 places →

More health data for Low & middle income

All data for Low & middle income →

Frequently asked questions

What is risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Low & middle income?
Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Low & middle income was 20.9% 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 Low & middle income?
The highest recorded value was 63.8% in 2003.
What is the lowest risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care recorded in Low & middle income?
The lowest recorded value was 20.3% in 2021.
How does Low & middle income rank for risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care?
Low & middle income ranks 18th out of 39 groups with data for 2022.
Is risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care rising or falling in Low & middle income?
Over the last ten years it is down 44.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Low & middle income 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 Low & middle income. Statizoid, drawing on Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), Harvard Medical School. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/risk-of-catastrophic-expenditure-for-surgical-care-percent-of-people-at-risk/low-and-middle-income/

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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.