Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Pakistan

Pakistan: Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care was 33.7% in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
33.7%
Change on year
down 6.6%
World rank
36th
of 134 countries
All-time high
72.6%
in 2006
All-time low
33.7%
in 2022
Years of data
20
2003–2022

Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Pakistan, 2003–2022

0204060802003201220222003: 71.3 % of people at risk2004: 70.5 % of people at risk2005: 71.9 % of people at risk2006: 72.6 % of people at risk2007: 71.9 % of people at risk2008: 70.7 % of people at risk2009: 69.2 % of people at risk2010: 69.8 % of people at risk2011: 65.9 % of people at risk2012: 60.5 % of people at risk2013: 60.6 % of people at risk2014: 60.7 % of people at risk2015: 58.8 % of people at risk2016: 51.2 % of people at risk2017: 45.5 % of people at risk2018: 37.2 % of people at risk2019: 38.3 % of people at risk2020: 40 % of people at risk2021: 36.1 % of people at risk2022: 33.7 % 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 Pakistan stood at 33.7%. That is the lowest value across all 20 years on record.

That represents a change of down 6.6% on the previous year and down 44.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Pakistan peaked at 72.6% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 33.7%, in 2022.

That places Pakistan 36th 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 Pakistan, year by year

Annual values for Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care (% of people at risk) in Pakistan, 2003 to 2022.
Year % of people at risk Change
2003 71.3%
2004 70.5% -1.1%
2005 71.9% +2.0%
2006 72.6% +1.0%
2007 71.9% -1.0%
2008 70.7% -1.7%
2009 69.2% -2.1%
2010 69.8% +0.9%
2011 65.9% -5.6%
2012 60.5% -8.2%
2013 60.6% +0.2%
2014 60.7% +0.2%
2015 58.8% -3.1%
2016 51.2% -12.9%
2017 45.5% -11.1%
2018 37.2% -18.2%
2019 38.3% +3.0%
2020 40.0% +4.4%
2021 36.1% -9.7%
2022 33.7% -6.6%

Pakistan compared with similar countries

  • Pakistan's 33.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 29.2%, 1.2× the median. (36 countries reporting)
  • Pakistan's 33.7% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 23.6%, 1.4× the median. (12 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 71.2% 69.2% 72.6% 7
2010s 54.9% 37.2% 69.8% 10
2020s 36.6% 33.7% 40.0% 3

Countries ranked near Pakistan

  1. 33 Iran, Islamic Republic of 43.7% compare
  2. 34 Papua New Guinea 39.5% compare
  3. 35 Nicaragua 38.3% compare
  4. 37 Lithuania 32.6% compare
  5. 38 Lesotho 30.0% compare
  6. 39 Belize 29.5% compare

See the full ranking of 173 places →

More health data for Pakistan

All data for Pakistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Pakistan?
Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Pakistan was 33.7% 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 Pakistan?
The highest recorded value was 72.6% in 2006.
What is the lowest risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care recorded in Pakistan?
The lowest recorded value was 33.7% in 2022.
How does Pakistan rank for risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care?
Pakistan ranks 36th out of 134 countries with data for 2022.
Is risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care rising or falling in Pakistan?
Over the last ten years it is down 44.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Pakistan 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 Pakistan. 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/pakistan/

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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.