Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Malaysia

Malaysia: Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care was 11.3% in 2018. ▼ Falling

Latest (2018)
11.3%
Change on year
down 3.4%
World rank
69th
of 134 countries
All-time high
33.7%
in 2003
All-time low
11.3%
in 2018
Years of data
16
2003–2018

Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Malaysia, 2003–2018

1015202530352003201020182003: 33.7 % of people at risk2004: 33.6 % of people at risk2005: 32.3 % of people at risk2006: 26.5 % of people at risk2007: 28.8 % of people at risk2008: 24.8 % of people at risk2009: 22.7 % of people at risk2010: 22.9 % of people at risk2011: 19.9 % of people at risk2012: 17.9 % of people at risk2013: 14.4 % of people at risk2014: 21.6 % of people at risk2015: 12.2 % of people at risk2016: 12.6 % of people at risk2017: 11.7 % of people at risk2018: 11.3 % 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 Malaysia is 11.3%, measured in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 16 years on record.

The figure is down 3.4% on the previous year and down 54.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Malaysia peaked at 33.7% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 11.3%, in 2018.

That places Malaysia 69th out of 134 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 16 years of available data.

Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Malaysia, year by year

Annual values for Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care (% of people at risk) in Malaysia, 2003 to 2018.
Year % of people at risk Change
2003 33.7%
2004 33.6% -0.3%
2005 32.3% -3.9%
2006 26.5% -18.0%
2007 28.8% +8.7%
2008 24.8% -13.9%
2009 22.7% -8.5%
2010 22.9% +0.9%
2011 19.9% -13.1%
2012 17.9% -10.1%
2013 14.4% -19.6%
2014 21.6% +50.0%
2015 12.2% -43.5%
2016 12.6% +3.3%
2017 11.7% -7.1%
2018 11.3% -3.4%

Malaysia compared with similar countries

  • Malaysia's 11.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10.4%, 1.1× the median. (41 countries reporting)
  • Malaysia's 11.3% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.4%, 4.8× the median. (18 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 28.9% 22.7% 33.7% 7
2010s 16.1% 11.3% 22.9% 9

Countries ranked near Malaysia

  1. 66 El Salvador 13.3% compare
  2. 67 Namibia 11.5% compare
  3. 67 South Africa 11.5% compare
  4. 70 Algeria 10.8% compare
  5. 70 Russian Federation 10.8% compare
  6. 70 Seychelles 10.8% compare

See the full ranking of 173 places →

More health data for Malaysia

All data for Malaysia →

Frequently asked questions

What is risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Malaysia?
Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Malaysia was 11.3% 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 Malaysia?
The highest recorded value was 33.7% in 2003.
What is the lowest risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care recorded in Malaysia?
The lowest recorded value was 11.3% in 2018.
How does Malaysia rank for risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care?
Malaysia ranks 69th out of 134 countries with data for 2018.
Is risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care rising or falling in Malaysia?
Over the last ten years it is down 54.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Malaysia 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 Malaysia. Statizoid, drawing on Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), Harvard Medical School. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/risk-of-catastrophic-expenditure-for-surgical-care-percent-of-people-at-risk/malaysia/

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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.